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Swenson, Oscar A.

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1913-14 (District 20); House 1915-32 (District 15); Senate 1937-50 (District 15)

Party when first elected: Republican

Counties Served: Nicollet, Sibley

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 3/27/1877

Birth Place: New Sweden, Minnesota

Birth County: Nicollet

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death: 6/20/1951

Gender: Male

Religion: Lutheran

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Nicollet

Occupation (when first elected): Farmer

EDUCATION

New Sweden Township Rural Schools; At Least Elementary School;
Luther Academy, Albert Lea, Minnesota; Secondary; 3 years
Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota; Attended College; 1 year course

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Municipal Government: New Sweden, Minnesota (Township Supervisor, 7 years); 1??? to 1???

Municipal Board/Commission: New Sweden, Minnesota (Town Board, Chair, 4 years); 1909 to 1913

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Bertha Jenson (married on March 29, 1900)
Children: Five children: Maurice (died while his father was in office) and Bernhard (sons); Constance, Clara, and Eda (daughters)

Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Carl L. Swenson - Brother
Douglas G. Swenson - Grandson
Howard Swenson - Grandson
Swen Swenson - Father
Lars Swenson - Uncle

GENERAL NOTES

He had Norwegian ancestry.

He was a member of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of Norseland.

He died due to complications from a cerebral hemorrhage at Miller Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. His funeral was held at the Norwegian Lutheran Church of Norseland in Nicollet County, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the Minnesota Journal of the Senate, April 8, 1953.

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Total Days Served: 12429

SESSIONS SERVED

56th Legislative Session (1949-1950) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1949

Body: Senate

District: 15

Elected: 11/5/1946

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/6/1947 to 12/31/1950
Oath Date: 1/7/1947

Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Civil Administration
Committees
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Finance
Insurance
Public Highways
Workmens Compensation

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55th Legislative Session (1947-1948)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1947

Body: Senate

District: 15

Elected: 11/5/1946

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/6/1947 to 12/31/1950
Oath Date: 1/7/1947

Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Civil Administration
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Finance
Insurance
Public Highways
Workmens Compensation

54th Legislative Session (1945-1946) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/2/1945

Body: Senate

District: 15

Elected: 11/3/1942

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/4/1943 to 1/5/1947
Oath Date: 1/5/1943

Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Civil Administration
Cooperatives
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Finance
Insurance
Public Highways
Workmens Compensation

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53rd Legislative Session (1943-1944)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1943

Body: Senate

District: 15

Elected: 11/3/1942

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/4/1943 to 1/5/1947
Oath Date: 1/5/1943

Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Civil Administration
Cooperatives
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Finance
Insurance
Public Highways
Workmens Compensation

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52nd Legislative Session (1941-1942) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1941

Body: Senate

District: 15

Elected: 11/8/1938

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/2/1939 to 1/3/1943
Oath Date: 1/3/1939

Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Civil Administration
Cooperatives
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Finance
Insurance
Public Domain
Public Highways
Workmens Compensation

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51st Legislative Session (1939-1940)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1939

Body: Senate

District: 15

Elected: 11/8/1938

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/2/1939 to 1/3/1943
Oath Date: 1/3/1939

Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Civil Administration
Cooperatives
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Finance
Insurance
Public Highways
Taxes and Tax Laws
Workmens Compensation

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50th Legislative Session (1937-1938) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1937

Body: Senate

District: 15

Elected: 11/3/1936

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 12/17/1936 to 1/1/1939 (Special Election)
Oath Date: 12/17/1936

Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Civil Administration
Cooperatives
Finance
Insurance
Markets and Marketing
Motor Vehicle and Motor Tax Laws
Public Highways
Taxes and Tax Laws
Workmens Compensation

Session Notes: He won a special election after the death of Senator Claude H. MacKenzie. He was sworn in on December 17, 1936.

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49th Legislative Session (1935-1936)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1935

Body: Senate

District: 15

Elected: 11/3/1936

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 12/17/1936 to 1/1/1939 (Special Election)
Oath Date: 12/17/1936

Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Session Notes: He won a special election after the death of Senator Claude H. MacKenzie. He was sworn in on December 17, 1936.

47th Legislative Session (1931-1932)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1931

Body: House

District: 15

Elected: 11/4/1930

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/5/1931 to 1/1/1933
Oath Date: 1/6/1931

Counties Represented: Nicollet

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Leadership Position: Speaker of the House

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46th Legislative Session (1929-1930)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1929

Body: House

District: 15

Elected: 11/6/1928

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/7/1929 to 1/4/1931
Oath Date: 1/8/1929

Counties Represented: Nicollet

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Appropriations
Markets and Marketing
Public Buildings
Public Highways (Chair)
Railroads and State Motor Transportation
Reforestation
Rules

45th Legislative Session (1927-1928)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1927

Body: House

District: 15

Elected: 11/2/1926

Residence: Lafayette

Term of Office: 1/3/1927 to 1/6/1929
Oath Date: 1/4/1927

Counties Represented: Nicollet

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Appropriations
Markets and Marketing
Public Highways (Chair)
Railroads and State Motor Transportation
Reforestation
Rules

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44th Legislative Session (1925-1926)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1925

Body: House

District: 15

Elected: 11/4/1924

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/5/1925 to 1/2/1927
Oath Date: 1/6/1925

Counties Represented: Nicollet

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Appropriations
Civil Administration
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Drainage
Public Highways
Railroads and Motor Vehicle Transportation (Chair)

43rd Legislative Session (1923-1924)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/2/1923

Body: House

District: 15

Elected: 11/7/1922

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/1/1923 to 1/4/1925
Oath Date: 1/2/1923

Counties Represented: Nicollet

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Appropriations
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Drainage
Public Highways (Chair)
Railroads
Telephones and Telegraphs

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42nd Legislative Session (1921-1922)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1921

Body: House

District: 15

Elected: 11/2/1920

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/3/1921 to 12/31/1922
Oath Date: 1/4/1921

Counties Represented: Nicollet

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Appropriations
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Public Highways (Chair)
Public Utilities
State and County Fairs

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41st Legislative Session (1919-1920)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1919

Body: House

District: 15

Elected: 11/5/1918

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/6/1919 to 1/2/1921
Oath Date: 1/7/1919

Counties Represented: Nicollet

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Appropriations
Banks and Banking
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Public Highways (Chair)
State and County Fairs
State Hospitals

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40th Legislative Session (1917-1918)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/2/1917

Body: House

District: 15

Elected: 11/7/1916

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/1/1917 to 1/5/1919
Oath Date: 1/2/1917

Counties Represented: Nicollet

Occupation: Farmer/Secretary and Manager, New Sweden Creamery Association

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Appropriations
Dairy Products and Live Stock
General Legislation (Chair)
Reorganization of State Government
Roads and Bridges
Rules and Joint Rules
State Hospitals

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39th Legislative Session (1915-1916)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1915

Body: House

District: 15

Elected: 11/3/1914

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/4/1915 to 12/31/1916
Oath Date: 1/5/1915

Counties Represented: Nicollet

Occupation: Farmer/Secretary and Manager, New Sweden Creamery Association

Party: Nonpartisan Election

Committees:

Appropriations
Dairy Products and Live Stock (Chair)
Elections
Grain and Warehouse
Roads and Bridges
State Hospitals

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38th Legislative Session (1913-1914)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1913

Body: House

District: 20

Elected: 11/5/1912

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/6/1913 to 1/3/1915
Oath Date: 1/7/1913

Counties Represented: Nicollet

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Republican

Committees:

Agricultural Schools
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Elections
Reapportionment
Roads and Bridges
State Hospitals

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OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Photographs

The Senate Agriculture committee assembles to hear views on a bill affecting farmers. 1941. Photo credit: This image courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society Visual Resources Database

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Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 321 State Capitol, Saint Paul, MN 55155