Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-20
DR.. CARL swENssoN WAS EN-
GAGGED 70 LECTURE in or.
TUMWA MARCH s.
President of Bethany College, LInds-
borg, kan.-Passed Away Monday
Personal Friend Of Rev. 4. Gun
berg.

ture IN tne Swedish Lutheran church
in this city on March 8, upon the sub
ject, 1--WE Swedes." Dr. Swensson was
personal acquaintance of Rev. An
drew Gunberg, l26 North Jefferson
street. pastor of the Swedish Luther
an church Of this city.
81 met DR.. Swensson at our synodi-
cal meetings" said Rev. Gunberg to-
day. "The last time that / met him
was at the last meeting we held at
Paxton, Ill. DR.. Swensson always at
tended these meetings and was one of
the leaders. if not the leader Of our
church in this country. He was not
only leader in our church but he was
perhaps the best educated man be-
longing to the Scandinavian race in
this country. He was broad minded
man and progressive in every way. He
was without doubt the most noted ora
tor among our people in America. He
was an eloquent and persuasive speak
err
Engagement to Lecture. i
CDR. Swensson had never been to OF
tumwa but we had an engagement
with him to deliver lecture in our
Cuul I'll Ou AdICu o. I1c WIS W uSlIS-
er his lecture entitled We Swedes.
Bethany college which he founded
and Of which he was president at the
time of his death. was the foremost
educational institution for our people
in this country. His death will mean
a tremendous loss to our people, es-
pecially along educational lines. 1t
will be a difficult matter to secure one
to even partially fill his place. His
death Is q distinct loss to our people
in Ottumwa for his lecture here would
have proven a rare treat"
His Life Story.
DIR. Carl Aaron Swensson, president
and founder of Bethany college at
Lindsborg, Kansas, and one of the
most prominent Swedish-Americans in
the United States, died suddenly of
pneumonia in Los Angeles, California,
Monday. Accompanied by Rev. L. G..
Abrahamson, pastor of the Swedish
Lutheran Salem church Of Chicago,
DR.. Swensson started west more than
a week ago to participate in a cere-
mcny attendant on the dedication of a
large new church in San Francisco.
1t is said he caught "a severe cold
while in the west and journeyed to
Los Angeles in the hope of regaining
his normal health, which was splen-
did and fell prey to pneumonia.
Born In Pennsylvania.
He was in the prime Of life and was
influential in religious, educational,
social and political affairs He was
boin in Sugar Grove, Pa, June 25,
1857. His father was Rev. Jonas
Swensson. The son showed a bent for
study at an early age and after a
common school course he became q
student at Augustana college, then To-
Gated at Paxton. ILL.,, and now at Rock
Island. He was graduated with hon
ors in 1877 and took a theological
course. He then entered the Royal
college in Upsala. Sweden. He was
ordained minister of tho Gospel on
June %. 1879 in Chicago. He removed
to Kansas and took charge Of the pas
torate of the Swedish Lutheran Beth.
any church in Lindsborg.. His force
full and brilliant personality insured
success, and in 1881 he founded the
Bethany college. Tuition was to be
in English although there were Swed-
ish departments. The institution
flourished and is now credited with be.
ing the most prosperous Of its kind in
the country.
knighted by the King.
In 1899 DR.. Swensson received the
degree Of master of arts from his alma
mater. In 1893 the Upsala university
of Sweden conferred on him the honor
airy degree Of Phi. D. In 1885 he was
chosen secretary of the general coun-
Gil of the Evangelical Lutheran church
of North America. In 1901 he was
made Knight of the Royal Order Of
the North Star by the king of Sweden.
An orator of unusual attachments he
was in almost constant demand for lee
lures and other addresses. He was a
strong republican in politics, and gen.
orally made few speeches in national
campaigns for the republican nominee
for President. He was delegate-at-large
from Kansas to the national republican
convention in st. Louis in 1896. He
was a member of the Kansas state
legislature in 1S89-90.
Leader in Education.
In an education and literary way DR..
Swensson was also eminent. He was
president of the Central Kansas Teach
ers' association from 1888 to 1890. He
was also a member of the Kansas
State Historical society, of the Austin
Historical society, almember Of the
American Academy of Political and
Social Science, and one of the leading
spirits of the Columbian exposition
auxiliary.
DIR. Swensson wrote esveral books
In 1889 he brought out ''The Swedes in
America, this being the translated IT,
tie. A year later he published ovid
Hemmets Hard" or AT the Home Fire
side. In 1901 he.wrote "Sweden-Ric-
lures and "reminiscences of My Faith
erland".