The Texas Historian, Volume 39, Number 2, November 1978 Page: 2
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Texas Historian and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Texas State Historical Association.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
tied in Texas. During the years before the Civil
War, an important Swedish immigration took
place especially in Travis and Williamson
counties. There the Swedes became a factor in
Texas's early progress.
Swedish immigrants made numerous contri-
butions to Texas's history, architecture, and
culture. In Austin's Zilker Gardens lies a me-
morial to honor the Swenson-Palm families,
influential Swedish immigrants. This monu-
ment which is a Swedish log cabin was built
about 1838 and was originally located in Go-
valle, an area just outside of Austin which
belonged to the then newly arrived Swen Mag-
nus Swenson. In 1848, the cabin became the
home of Gustaf Palm, Swenson's uncle, and his
family. It also served as a social center for
other early immigrants.
Swen Magnus Swenson was born in Liittarp,
Smilland, Sweden, on February 14, 1816. He
grew up on a small farm in Barkeryd Parish.
His reason for immigrating to America is un-
known, although August Anderson suggests
that a dispute with Swenson's employer might
have influenced his decision. In 1836 Swen-
son, while employed as a store clerk in Eksjo,
had a disagreement with his employer, Lars
Larson, concerning a job procedure. When
Swenson defended his actions as his having
"done his duty as he knew it," Larson, taking
Swen's words as "sassing back," slapped Swen
across the face. Shortly thereafter Swen de-
cided to go to America where, he wrote his
mother, he hoped to make his fortune.
Swenson's initial contact with America was
not a pleasant one, for once in New York har-
bor the ship he was travelling on burst into
flame. Although he managed to escape, his
only possessions were the clothes on his back.
Recognizing the need to conquer the language
balTrrier, he began studying English at a New
York college. Working at whatever job he
could find, Swenson later secured a bookkeep-
ing job for a railroad in Baltimore. Through his
employer's influence he made a trip to Texas.
He was probably the first Swede to set foot on
Texas soil. In 1838, at the age of 22, Swenson
arrived in Texas on a trading ship. This vessel,
however, was shipwrecked on Galveston's
beach; August Anderson reports how Swenson
made the best of the crisis: 'Having as good[a] right as anyone else to take possession of
salvage, he set up a primitive business with
the casks, bales, and boxes of goods which had
been washed ashore." Thus began his success-
ful career in Texas.
Swenson later went to work at the largest
mercantile business in Central Texas, operated
in Columbia by John Adriance. After working
a year, Swenson became Adriance's business
partner. Peddling merchandise in an old ambu-
lance which he had converted into a brightly
painted, horse-drawn wagon, Swenson was able
to expand the business throughout Brazos
County. During his travels Swenson made sev-
eral visits to the Finckley Farm, and Dr.
George Long, owner of this plantation, was
impressed by his thrift and ambition. Later,
Swenson became foreman of the plantation.
Swenson also invested in land so that when
he moved to Austin in 1850 he had more land
than almost anyone else in Texas. Among his
purchases was the territory later named Palm
S. M. Swenson,11
411111ff
5eg~
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Texas Historian, Volume 39, Number 2, November 1978, periodical, November 1978; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth391448/m1/4/?q=%221838~%2F1978~%22: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Texas State Historical Association.