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Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.

     PAUL SWANSON.  Without doubt the subject of this biographical sketch is the largest farmer on the lake of Chelan.  His estate lies about eight miles northwest from Chelan and consists of two hundred and eighty acres of his own land and two hundred acres of land leased from the school authorities.  He makes a beautiful and valuable estate of it all and raises abundance of grain, as wheat, oats, barley, corn, and so forth.  He owns the only threshing machine on the lake and threshed out one thousand bushels for himself this year.  Mr. Swanson also raises cattle, having about fifty head, as well as hogs and other stock.  He is a man of ability and has shown it in his enterprises here.  Mr. Swanson has a beautiful place, and has stimulated much improvement and effort in others, while he has by his industry and wise management made this excellent holding for himself.
     Paul Swanson was born in Sweden, on August 2, 1867, the son of Swen P. and Pernill (Parsdotter) Swanson, natives of Sweden, where they died in 1900 and 1895, respectively.  Our subject was well educated in his native land and in 1887 came thence to the United States.  He landed in Grand Forks county, North Dakota, in due time and worked on a farm for one year.  After that he journeyed to Montana and rode the range for three years, when he came direct to Lake Chelan, locating where he find him at the present time.  He at once set to work to make his ranch one of value and productive and he has succeeded in a remarkable degree, being now the leading farmer in this vicinity.
     In October, 1902, Mr. Swanson married Miss Etta Yerden, whose parents are natives of St. Lawrence county, New York, where they now live.  Mrs. Swanson has one brother, Frank, living near our subject; and one sister, Mary.  To Mr. and Mrs. Swanson one child has been born, Paulina, an infant.  Mr. Swanson is a stanch Republican and is always interested in the welfare and advancement of the community.