John Christin Swenson

By Mabel Metcalf

My father was born July 29, 1857 in Ronge, Hallands, Sweden. He was raised in Sweden and for a time was in his country's service as a member of the King's Guard. He was always very proud of that service to his country and he always walked very straight and tall and, was always very strong and vigorous. He was converted to the church in Sweden He was the son of Swen Johanson who was born March 20, 1820 in Eftra, Hal1and, Sweden and died March 9, 1884 in Halmsted, Sweden. His mother was Johanna Anderson who was born June 6, 1830 (or January) in Vra Kroneborg Lan, Sweden and died March 10, 1913 in Twin Falls, Idaho. John, his mother and his brothers August, Alfred, and Peter came to Utah after the railroad. His other brother Anders, Sister Amanda and his father died in Sweden. John was a carpenter here and lived in Ogden then in Salt Lake where he met and married Alice Anderson May l5, 1889. This picture was taken in Sweden in about 1892 while he was serving a mission for the Church. His wife and baby daughter were waiting in Salt Lake. He traveled without purse or script but the Lord blessed him and he never went hungry. When he came home there was a great depression. His business partners had lost everything he had had. He would offer to work for 50 cents a day but still could not get work. One time when they were complete without food they woke to find a sack of flour on their door step. It was during this hard time that they moved to Smithfield to take care of Mary Johanson Swenson, my mother’s grandmother. He was the father of five children. He died April l5, 1937 in Salt Lake City.