The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-01
STORY OF CAREER
READS LIKE ROMANCE

Senator Swanson is high tyne of
the self-made man. "A statesman who
has ever stood for the Hottest ideals
and MODEST traditions of Virginia,
served his people honorably and with
distinction in the House OF Represen-
tatives ten years. and with even great
success and credit TO himself and his
State as Governor
Born in the little town OF Swan
sonville. Pittsylvania county, named
after his farhaars, who were among
the earliest settlers along the Dan
river on March 81, 1852, Claude
Swanson has always been a credit to
the family name. and his section Of
the State. He was the son OF John
Swanson, who married Miss Catherine
Pritchett.
Young Swanson. because Of his pre-
eocity and aptitude for study, was
started 10 school st tender age. His
father was well Off and planned to
make a barrister of the bright boy
Financial adversely overlook the par
ent when Claude was only fairly start
ed on his studies, and the Lad was
compelled to abandon school and go
10 work on the farm. To n majority
OF boys this would have been decid-
edly discouraging and q setback. Not
so with young Swanson. however for
~ ptoNu0 q AQi AGuS AK
and was in no small measure re-
sponsible for his fighting his way to
the high place OF honor and distine-
tion he now occupied.
For two years he iahored on the
farm, devoting the majority OF the
time he was not working with his
muscles In the field to study and de-
veioping his mind. He had an In
satiate crayintg for knowledge and
frequently read e. book for lunch. At
the age Of sixteen. there being a va
canay In the county school teaching
force. and he being one of the bright
est youths in the county. he started
teaching school. BY frugal living and
determination he saved enough OF the
money he received for teaching to pay
his tuition at the Virginia Polytech-
mic Institute at Blacksburg for two
sessions. At the end of this time,
however, his finances were gone, and
he was compelled to return TO work.
Clerked In Store.
Going to Danville, near his old
home, he obtained a position as a
clerk in a grocery store. He per-
formed his duties well promptly. and
in business-like way. commanding
the respect of his employer and the
customers as we'll. By his close ap--
pIication to the grocery business and
his personal interest in It. he won
high favor with the man for whom
he MAS working Permanent business
men in Danville were attracted to
him by his manliness, cleanliness,
straightforwardness and never-ending
study.
Four prosperous business men in
Danville learned OF his ambition to
become a lawyer and offered to give
him the necessary funds to take the
law course at the University of vir-
ginia. Poor. but proud. ambitious but
content to earn his own way and fight
his own battles. young Cwanson de-
clined this generous offer which meant
more to him than almost anything
that could have been proffered. They
finally coerced him into accepting the
money as loan. but he insisted on
giving his individual notes to each OF
them for the sum they lent him, plus
interest
With this money he was enabled to
attend Randolph-Macon College. at
Ashland. three years. Professors there
said he was one of the most brilliant
students who ever attended the in
atitution. He took the degree OF