I'm looking for any info on the Swansons(John, Augusta, Lena, Fred, Emma, Sven, Hulda) who lived in Port
Blakely. They arrived after 1886 from Sweden.
Sven, the youngest son, died on the SS Dix in 1906.

Oldest son Fred may have had a house on what is now Taylor
Ave.
Edward (Fred's son) was the last member of the family to pass away (in Seattle in the 1970's).
Any and all info. appreciated.

Hi,
In 1900 the Swanson family were living in Port Blakeley Precinct, Kitsap Co., WA.
John Swanson, b. Sweden, June 1845, marr 27 yrs, immigrated 1884, pending application, day laborer.
Augusta, wife, b. Sweden, Nov 1845, had given birth to five children who were all alive in 1900, immigrated 1893.
Fred, b. Sweden, Oct 1877, single, imm 1893, alien, day laborer.
Emma, b. Sweden, July 1881, single, imm 1893.
Sven, b. Sweden, Feb. 1884, imm 1893.
Hulda, b. Sweden, March 1886, imm 1893.

In 1910 most of the family were living in Port Blakely.
John Swanson, b. Sweden, 64 yrs old, marr 35 yrs, laborer sawmill.
Augusta, wife, b. Sweden, 65, had given birth to five children but only four alive in 1910.
Fred, b. Sweden, 33, single, s___ carpenter, s___ yard.
Hulda, b. Sweden, 23, single.

In 1920 John, Augusta and Hulda were living in Port Blakely.
John Swanson, b. Sweden, 74, naturalized 1900, no occupation.
Augusta R., wife, b. Sweden, 75, milliner, naturalized 1900.
Hulda M., b. Sweden, 33, single, nat 1900.

A Fred J. Swanson of Kitsap Co. and Signe Sjadin of King Co were married 16 Oct 1915 in Seattle. Source: Washington State Digital Archives. You can go to this web site and print a free copy of their marriage cert.

A Fred John Swanson on Sept. 12, 1918 was living in Kitsap Co. He was born 27 Oct 1877. Occupation=Ship carpenter, D. W. Honey? Inc., Winslow. Nearest Relative=Mrs. Signe Swanson, Port Blakely. Source: World War I Draft Registration Cards 1917-18, www.ancestry.com.

Fred and family in 1920 were living in Port Blakely.
Fred J. Swanson, b. Sweden, 42, imm 1893, naturalized 1904, ship wright w_____.
Signe M., wife, b. Sweden, 30, imm 1907, naturalized 1915.
Edward F., b. WA, 3 5/12ths.
Elmer W. Jacobson, boarder, b. WA, 13.
Ruben F. Jacobson, boarder, b. WA, 11.

In 1930 Fred and family were still living in Port Blakely.
Fred J. Swanson, b. Sweden, 52, marr @ 38, house carpenter.
Signe, wife, b. Sweden, 40, marr @ 26.
Edward, b. WA, 13.

A John Swanson died 20 Jan 1926 in Poulsbo, Kitsap Co., WA. Spouse=Augusta Swanson. Source: Washington State Digital Archives, http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/ .

You can request a copy of his obituary from the Washington State Library, www.secstate.wa.gov/library/ask.aspx . They will search the newspaper microfilm up to 60 minutes and email you with what they do or don't find. Takes about two weeks.

A Hulda Marie Swanson, age 43, died 20 Oct 1929, Seattle, King Co., WA. Mother's Name=Agusta Ekstrom. Source: Washington State Digital Archives.

If you request a copy of her obituary be sure to tell them that she was living in Port Blakely. Successful Searching!

Charles,
It "appears" you are the son of Chester?, or Cecil. What makes it difficult is the family is basically gone. You "may" have family photo albums, perhaps family address books? The family members "might" be identified on them. I'd start with your father and his siblings. Contact any of the children of your aunts and uncles to see what information they may have. (But, from your posting, there may not be any members left). Obtain the obituaries of all the members. Then go back to Lena and obtain her obituary, then of course the rest of her siblings.

I found a family tree posted by a "BillStone": http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/562084/person/-563386397?ssrc=
I'm "guessing" he is a relative of some type, perhaps of Edith or Mabel's? If you don't know him, contact him to see what information he might have.

There are two volunteers in the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness working in Kitsap County. READ THE GUIDELINES FIRST.
http://www.raogk.org/washingt2.htm Betty does lookups at the courthouse (the County Auditor/Recorder would have recorded documents, deed info, wills [if one was recorded], Superior Court would have probate records, Assessor would have property records). Sara identified a source for obits at Kitsap County. The library might also have local information at one of their nine branches.

I would also recommend for future searches you try your local library. Many make Ancestry.com available through their library card at the branch. Some make Heritage Quest available for your use at home through your library card. It is an enjoyable endeavor and soon you will know enough to do your own searches. You WILL get incomplete or even WRONG information from some, so you have to be careful. AND, try to use a local researcher.

Ron Bestrom