Swenson, S. M. (Svante Magnus), 1816-1896

S. M. Swenson was the founder of the Swenson (SMS) Ranches in northwest Texas. He and his sons formed the S. M. Swenson & Sons banking corporation in New York. Stamford, in Jones County, was founded by their Stamford and Northwestern Townsite Co.

From the description of Papers, 1871-1909. (Texas Tech University). WorldCat record id: 25475287

Swante (Svante, Sven, Swen) Magnus Swenson (Svenson) (1816-1896) was the first Swedish immigrant to Texas and the founder of the SMS Ranches of West Texas. In 1836, he immigrated to America, where he worked as a store clerk in New York and a railroad bookkeeper in Baltimore, Maryland, before settling in Texas in 1838. Swenson worked for John Adriance, who operated a large-scale carriage delivery service of general merchandise. At this time, Swenson met Dr. George Long, who, due to his poor health, requested that Swenson tend to him and his plantation. The doctor died in 1842, and Swenson took control over the estate, buying out a neighboring plantation a year later. In 1847 Swenson began encouraging Swedish immigrants to move to Texas, with the assistance of his uncle Swante Palm, creating what became known as the “Swedish pipeline”. Swenson moved to Austin by 1850 and founded the SMS Ranch on West Texas lands in 1851. He served as county commissioner for Travis County and the first treasurer of the State Agricultural Society (1853). He moved to New York City in 1865, where he started S. M. Swenson and Sons banking company.

Swante Palm (1815–1899), also known as Swen Jaensson, the son of Anders and Ingerd Jaensson, was born in the province of Småland, Sweden. In 1844, Palm followed his nephew Swen Magnus Swenson to Texas and worked as the bookkeeper for Swenson’s general store in Austin before serving as the diplomatic secretary to Thomas William Ward, the United States consul in Panama in 1853. A year later, he returned to Austin and married Agnes Christina Alm. After the Civil War, Palm served as a member of the Austin City Council, Travis County justice of the peace, and appointed vice consul for Norway and Sweden.

Sources: Swenson, Swante Magnus,” Handbook of Texas Online. Accessed on March 2, 2011. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/fsw14.html.

Rogers, Alfred E. “Jaensson, Swen [Swante Palm],” Handbook of Texas Online. Accessed on March 2, 2011. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/fja41.html.

From the guide to the Swenson-Palm Letter Book, 1863-1873, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

Swante (Svante, Sven, Swen) Magnus Swenson (Svenson) (1816-1896) was the first Swedish immigrant to Texas and the founder of the SMS Ranches of West Texas. In 1836, he immigrated to America, where he worked as a store clerk in New York and a railroad bookkeeper in Baltimore, Maryland, before settling in Texas in 1838.

Swenson worked for John Adriance, who operated a large-scale carriage delivery service of general merchandise. At this time, Swenson met Dr. George Long, who, due to his poor health, requested that Swenson tend to him and his plantation. The doctor died in 1842, and Swenson took control over the estate, buying out a neighboring plantation a year later. In 1847 Swenson began encouraging Swedish immigrants to move to Texas, with the assistance of his uncle Swante Palm, creating what became known as the "Swedish pipeline." Swenson moved to Austin by 1850 and founded the SMS Ranch on West Texas lands in 1851. He served as county commissioner for Travis County and the first treasurer of the State Agricultural Society (1853). He moved to New York City in 1865, where he started S. M. Swenson and Sons banking company.

Swante Palm (1815-1899), also known as Swen Jaensson, the son of Anders and Ingerd Jaensson, was born in the province of Småland, Sweden. In 1844, Palm followed his nephew Swen Magnus Swenson to Texas and worked as the bookkeeper for Swenson's general store in Austin before serving as the diplomatic secretary to Thomas William Ward, the United States consul in Panama in 1853.

A year later, he returned to Austin and married Agnes Christina Alm. After the Civil War, Palm served as a member of the Austin City Council, Travis County justice of the peace, and appointed vice consul for Norway and Sweden.

Sources: "Swenson, Swante Magnus," Handbook of Texas Online. Accessed on March 2, 2011.http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/fsw14.html.

Rogers, Alfred E. "Jaensson, Swen [Swante Palm]," Handbook of Texas Online. Accessed on March 2, 2011.http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/fja41.html.

From the description of Swenson-Palm Letter Book, 1863-1873 (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 773284306