The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-16

Los Angeles, where ne was taken i'll
and died
DR. Swensson was undoubtedly one of
the great men of Kansas. His life work
was the building of Bethany college, and
it stands today as his monument. He
founded it in 1881, when it had only
few Swedish pupils who were taught in
the little church. At that time Mr..
Swensson was only "a years old. To-
day, the institution to which he gave his
life is one of the greatest colleges in the
west. Away out on the Kansas prairies
Dr. Swensson built up an educational
institution which is known throughout
the country.
His death will be a severe blow to
Bethany college. He was right in the
prime of his life, 46 years old, and was
apparently of a strong and rugged con-
stitution. He was of a large build
and tireless worker. His great execu-
tive ability is shown by the fact that
he did work which would ordinarily be
divided among q number of men of
considerable ability. The church of
which he was pastor has a membership
of upwards of 1000, which would alone
be considered a great work for an Ordi-
nary pastor. The presidency OF Beth
any, with it's thousand or more stud
ents, is another great work But in ad-
dition to both of these DR.. Swensson
looked after numerous business inter-
ests, found time to write considerable,
travelled, lectured and dedicated
churches; took prominent part in po-
litical affairs, and was the leader of
several thousand Swedish people in
central Kansas.
DR.. Swensson did not come from
Sweden himself. but was the son Of a
Swedish minister. He was born at Su-
gar Grove, Pa, on June 20, 1857. His
father, Rev. Jonas J. Swensscn,. was
for Is years pastor of the Swedish
Lutheran church at Andover, Ill., and
was at one time president of the Scan
dinavian Lutheran Synod of North
America He died in 1873. His son fol-
lowing in his footsteps, was educated
at Augustana college and theological
seminary. at Rock Island, Ill, gradual
ing from the latter in 1879, and imme-
diately afterwards he went to Linds-
borg to become pastor of the swedish
Lutheran church there, and he has held
the pastorate ever since. Two years
later he founded Bethany college, but
Dr. Olson, early the leader of the
Lindsborg Swedish colony, was presi-
dent of the college until 1889, when Dr.
Swensson was placed at its head, and
since then it has grown rapidly IN the
midst of adversely
1t was DR.. Swensson's executive
ability which has built up the great
conservatory of music at Bethany ana
has brought about those concerts
which have made Lindsborg famous
throughout the country In little
town of less than 1000 people so great
singer as Nordica has twice ap-
peared, the last time only few weeks
ago The I.indsborg renditions of The
Messiah every spring have been the
subject of ma gazine and newspaper
articles throughout the country and
always attract people for hundreds OF
miles.
For fifteen years DR.. Swensson has
been the recognized head of the Lins-
borg Swedish colony, and few men,
welded as great an influence as he. He
controlled the Linsborg Posten,
Swedish newspaper published at Linds-
borg, and also the Lindsborg Record,
one of the English papers published
there, both by the Bethany Publishing
company.
DR.. Swensson received the degree Of
doctor of divinity from his alma mater
and one or two other institutions. The
Royal university of Upsala, Sweden,
also conferred on him the degree of doc
tor of philosophy. He travelled extern
sively in Europe, particularly in the
Scandinavian countries, and at the