Swante M. Swenson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Swante Magnus Swenson
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Sven Magnus Svensson
February 24, 1816 Barkeryd, Sweden-Norway
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| Died | June 13, 1896 (aged 80) |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Citizenship | American |
| Occupation | Banker, businessman |
| Known for | Father of Swedish emigration to Texas; founder of Swenson Land & Cattle Co.; introduced the Colt revolver in Texas |
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Swante M. Swenson (born February 24, 1816 – died June 13, 1896) was a very important businessman. He started the famous SMS ranches in West Texas. He is also known for helping many people from Sweden move to Texas starting in 1848. Because of his big impact, he was honored in 1972. He joined the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to America
Svante Magnus Svenson was born in a place called Alarp, in Barkeryd Parish, Sweden. This was in Jönköping County. When he was 20 years old, in 1836, he decided to move to America.
He first worked in New York City. After that, he traveled to Baltimore, Maryland. Finally, he made his way to Galveston, Texas.
Starting a Business in Texas
In 1850, Swenson moved to Austin, the capital of Texas. There, he opened a general store with his uncle, Swante Palm. A general store sells many different kinds of goods. While running this store, Swenson also started buying a lot of land in Texas.
Helping Swedish Families Move to Texas
Swenson played a big role in helping Swedish families come to Texas. He arranged for them to travel from Sweden, especially from a region called Småland. These families would then work for Swenson to pay back the cost of their journey. Many of these early Swedish immigrants also bought land from Swenson. This is why he is known as the "Father of Swedish emigration to Texas."
Business Ventures and Land Ownership
Swenson was very good at business. He started shipping Texas pecans (a type of nut) to the northern and eastern parts of the United States. In 1850, he also began a banking business in Austin.
He was active in his community too. He served two terms as a commissioner for Travis County. This means he helped manage the county's affairs. In 1853, he became the first treasurer of the State Agricultural Society.
Investing in Railroads and Land
In 1854, Swenson invested in a railroad company called the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway. This investment helped him get even more land in Texas. Swenson was most interested in owning land. He often traded supplies from his large store for special papers called Texas railroad land certificates. These certificates allowed him to claim state land that wasn no one else had taken.
By 1860, Swenson owned a huge amount of land. He had over 128,000 acres around Austin. He also owned nearly 500,000 acres in West Texas.
The SMS Ranches
Eventually, Swenson's land holdings grew into the SMS ranches. These ranches became some of the largest landowners in Texas. Swenson later leased these ranches to his sons. His sons managed the ranches under the name Swenson Brothers Cattle Company. Their main office was in Stamford, Texas.
Later Life and Legacy
Swenson also started a banking company in New York City called S. M. Swenson and Sons. Even though he lived in New York, he stayed connected to Texas. He helped Texas businesses sell their products and continued to work as a cotton agent. He also regularly visited his many land properties.
Swenson passed away in Brooklyn, New York, on June 13, 1896. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, New York). His two sons continued to run the family business, including the SMS ranches.
Swenson's Family
Swenson was married twice. With his second wife, Susan McRady, he had five children:
- Sarah Margareta "Greta" Swenson (1852 – 1879)
- Eric Pierson Swenson (1855 – 1945) – He later founded a company called Freeport Sulphur.
- Ebba McRady Swenson (1858–1859)
- Swen Albin Swenson (1860 – 1927)
- Mary Eleonora "Nora" Swenson (1862 – 1958)
