David Ivar Swanson (September 14, 1884 – April 8, 1950) was an Illinois state representative (Republican Party). He served as Representative from the 53rd through the 66th General Assemblies, except for the 60th and 64th legislative sessions. He was Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary for the 54th–57th, 62nd–63rd and 65th Assemblies. During the 1945 session Swanson was Legal Adviser to the Speaker of the House in Springfield, and during 65th session was Republican House caucus chairman, and member of the Policy Committee. Childhood David Ivar Swanson was born in Chicago, Illinois to John and Beata Swanson, immigrants from Sweden, and raised at 531 West 56th Place, Chicago. Most of the Swanson's immediate neighbors were Swedish immigrants or children of Swedish immigrants. In the 1880s the Sweden-born population in Chicago numbered more than 43,000. Many of these lived in largely Swedish-American neighborhoods. Swanson was the oldest of five children. His brothers and sisters were Ruth, Almeda, Henry and Joel. His father was a carpenter constructing the interiors of Pullman railroad passenger cars. In 1900 at age fifteen Swanson was working as an errand boy while attending Chicago public schools. Early career In 1910 Swanson at age 25 was living with parents, brothers, and sisters, working as an assistant buyer in a Swift's packing company, and attending the John Marshall Law School (Chicago) in the evenings. He graduated in 1912 and was admitted to the Bar in 1913. On June 29, 1913 he married Ruth E. Agnew. Ruth was 19. Following Swanson's admission to the bar in 1913 he was associated with the Lumberman's Mutual Casualty Company, and afterwards set up his own law practice appearing before federal and state courts, and handling a large volume of litigation in real estate, criminal law, commercial law and probate law. Swanson was a member of the committee on banking, building and loan associations, and insurance. During World War I, Swanson served with the Motor Transport Corps at Camp Meigs, Washington, D.C. Also in 1918, Swanson was nominated for the state legislature on the republican ticket, but lost. Four years later in 1922, he ran successfully for the Illinois state legislature. By this time he and Ruth had divorced. In 1923 Swanson married Margaret Ulreka Carlson. Margaret had two sons from a previous marriage, Stanley, age 9, and Wilber age 6. Swanson adopted the two boys. They lived at 622, 62nd Street, Chicago. Political