Charles Edward Swanson
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Swanson served two terms as a Republican U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 9th congressional district
. His congressional career ended in the landslide that accompanied the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt
to his first term as president.
Swanson was born on a farm near Galesburg, Illinois
and attended the public schools there. In 1890 he moved to Iowa with his parents, who settled on a farm in Ringgold County
. He resumed his studies in the public school at Clearfield, Iowa
.
He returned to Galesburg to attend Knox College, where he graduated in 1902. He then served as principal of schools at Altona, Illinois
from 1902 to 1904. He attended law school at Northwestern University
and graduated in 1907, when he was admitted to the bar. He went into private practice in Council Bluffs, Iowa
, where he served as prosecuting attorney of Pottawattamie County, Iowa
from 1915 to 1922.
In 1928, Swanson was elected as a Republican
to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was re-elected once, two years later. However, after reapportionment in 1931 placed him in Iowa's 7th congressional district
, he prevailed in the Republican primary but lost in the general election to Democrat Otha Wearin
. After resuming the practice of law, Swanson attempted to regain his seat in 1934, but was again defeated by Wearin. In all Swanson served in the Seventy-first and to the Seventy-second Congresses from March 4, 1929 to March 3, 1933.
Swanson later served as chairman of the Council Bluffs Board of Tax Review from 1949 to 1968. He died in Council Bluffs on August 22, 1970, and was interred in Walnut Hill Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 9th congressional district
Iowa's 9th congressional district
Iowa’s 9th congressional district existed from 1873 to 1943. The district was configured four times, first as part of a nine-district plan, then twice in eleven-district plans, then again in a nine-district plan...
. His congressional career ended in the landslide that accompanied the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to his first term as president.
Swanson was born on a farm near Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
and attended the public schools there. In 1890 he moved to Iowa with his parents, who settled on a farm in Ringgold County
Ringgold County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 5,131 in the county, with a population density of . There were 2,613 housing units, of which 2,047 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. He resumed his studies in the public school at Clearfield, Iowa
Clearfield, Iowa
Clearfield is a city in Taylor and Ringgold counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 371 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Clearfield's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 40.800133, -94.476286....
.
He returned to Galesburg to attend Knox College, where he graduated in 1902. He then served as principal of schools at Altona, Illinois
Altona, Illinois
Altona is a village in Knox County, Illinois, United States. The population was 570 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Galesburg Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Altona is located at ....
from 1902 to 1904. He attended law school at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and graduated in 1907, when he was admitted to the bar. He went into private practice in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
, where he served as prosecuting attorney of Pottawattamie County, Iowa
Pottawattamie County, Iowa
Pottawattamie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 93,158 in the 2010 census, an increase from 87,704 in the 2000 census and is the second largest county by area in Iowa. The Pottawattamie county seat is located at Council Bluffs. It is one of three Iowa...
from 1915 to 1922.
In 1928, Swanson was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was re-elected once, two years later. However, after reapportionment in 1931 placed him in Iowa's 7th congressional district
Iowa's 7th congressional district
Iowa's 7th congressional district is a former congressional district in Iowa. It was eliminated after the 1970 election, leaving Iowa with six congressional districts. The state has since been reduced to five congressional districts.-Redistricting:...
, he prevailed in the Republican primary but lost in the general election to Democrat Otha Wearin
Otha Wearin
Otha Donner Wearin was a writer and politician. Elected as the youngest member of Franklin D. Roosevelt's first "New Deal" Congress, his political career stalled in 1938 when he gave up his seat at Roosevelt's urging to run for a U.S. Senate seat held by another Democrat, Guy M. Gillette, but...
. After resuming the practice of law, Swanson attempted to regain his seat in 1934, but was again defeated by Wearin. In all Swanson served in the Seventy-first and to the Seventy-second Congresses from March 4, 1929 to March 3, 1933.
Swanson later served as chairman of the Council Bluffs Board of Tax Review from 1949 to 1968. He died in Council Bluffs on August 22, 1970, and was interred in Walnut Hill Cemetery.