There is a sizable remnant left for observers to visibly see that the Swenson family settled in Stephens County in 1879. After beginning with sheep and then going to raising cattle, the senior Swenson embarked on building a stately, three-story mansion of substantial size, which still stands to this day. Go east of Breckenridge to the rest stop and take CR #102 south about two and a half miles on a gravel road. On the right side of the road, you will see the large Swenson mansion with a wide porch and green roof, but needing a paint job. Inside, it has wide hallways, large rooms and a grand staircase. It is not open to the public because it is currently occupied. The house was built in 1911-12, by the senior Swenson, Peter, for his wife Christina Torstenson Swenson and children, Selmar Torvald, Nellie Bergenia, Clara Josephine and Alma Bennett Cecilia. Also, Peter’s brother, Nelse, had joined them in Stephens County.
The home is among the historic homes built in Stephens County and is more than 100 years old. The current residents have done some needed renovations, which included a new roof.
The Swenson brothers had originated in Sweden and Christina had traveled to America from Norway, in 1854. Nelse was well-established in Swedes Forrest, Minnesota where Peter joined him. Peter and Christina met, married and had three children, which included, Selmar, Nellie and Theodore Parker Swenson, who had died in infancy and was buried there in 1874. Clara was born in Bosque County, TX. where Peter and Nelse had built a cabin.
Initially, it took nine weeks in a covered wagon to reach Bosque County in 1876. After two years in Bosque County and the birth of Clara, Peter heard of the cheap land in Stephens County and he and Nelse went there to purchase some land and then built a cabin. Peter went back to Bosque County to gather his family and move them to their new home south of Caddo, where the Swenson family initially raised a herd of 2,000 sheep. Each spring, the sheep were sheared and the wool was sold to finance the purchase of more land. Eventually, Peter would acquire 4,650 acres and maintained a herd of 800 well-bred Hereford cattle on what was called a ’stock farm,’ named ‘the Swenson and Son Stock Farm.’
Before the next exciting adventure began, Peter’s brother, Nelse, died in April of 1917, at the age of 81 and was buried in the Bradshaw Cemetery, located one mile north of Necessity, which was near the Swenson home. Their infant son, Alfred Bennett Swenson, who was born in Stephens County, was also buried there in 1883. Another child was also born in Stephens County, Alma Bennett Cecilia, who had survived to adulthood.
The next exciting adventure was the Oil Boom to hit Stephens County in 1917. Swensondale #1 hit at 11 p.m. on May 19, 1918, as the first of 42 wells struck on the Swenson land. This first well caused an environmental hazard because a deluge of rain fell just as the well was spurting over the top and ran into the nearby creek. Swenson had to use most of his early profits to clean up the environmental hazard of pasture land and the creek. The well delivered 5,000 barrels a day at the going rate of $2.50 a barrel, which gave Swenson more than $11,230 dollars from that first well per day. So, in a month, that one well made over three million dollars, just to give readers an idea of the money made in that era. At this point, Peter was 77 years old and Christina was age 73 with more money than they had ever had or ever thought about. However, there was no change in their frugal habits except for Peter’s pursuit of mostly fraudulent investments. In other words, Peter Swenson was a soft touch for any money-making scheme that came along.
By 1920, Christina’s health was failing and Selmer decided to take his mother back to her first home in Minnesota for a visit. The children, Nellie and Alma, would also go along, which left Clara home to manage the ranch and their father. It took the family three weeks by train to reach their destination that had taken them nine weeks by wagon to travel to Bosque County, in 1876. While there in Swedes Forrest, the Swenson family unveiled a monument in honor of Nelse Swenson, who had initially settled there in the 1850s. The family also visited the grave of the son and brother, Theodore Parker Swenson, who died in infancy in 1874.
After their return to Stephens County, Christina’s health continued to deteriorate and she died Feb 22, 1922, at the age of 77. The private Swenson Cemetery was created at that time and would eventually be the final resting place of Peter Swenson and the rest of the Swenson family.
Selmar, Clara and Alma all taught at the area schools and Selmar had invested in an electric company, but he had a full-time job extricating his father from one bad investment after another. Peter had invested in the First National Bank of Caddo, but after the Oil Boom declined, it failed as many of the area banks did at that time. Selmar took it upon himself to pay off many of the bad notes that had accumulated at the bank. Peter also had invested in the Stephens County Water Co., which also failed. Additionally, Peter invested in the Caddo Ice, Light and Power Co., which also failed. In another scheme, Selmar had to go to Federal Court to get back land for the Swenson family.
Eventually, Peter died in 1935, at the age of 95. However, there was a huge court case involving all the Swenson children on different sides that will be explored next week.
To add additional stories or photos, contact Jean Hayworth at office@breckenridgeamerican.com.
