Henri H. Swingen was born August 17, 1880 in Lake Mills, Winnebago County, Iowa. He was educated in the Lake Mills public schools and attended Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa. His early business training was in the retail lumber business in Iowa and he came to Hannaford in 1904 where he helped found the Hannaford Lumber Company. This company was merged with Crane-Johnson Company and Mr. Swingen managed the Hannaford yard and was a director of the company until his death in 1957. He was active in community and church affairs serving over 25 years as treasurer of Hannaford Lutheran Church. Mr. Swingen had great pride in the lumber business and in North Dakota agriculture. He was preceded in death on May 19, 1957 by brothers Thomas M. Swingen, Alfred T. Swingen, and Lewis Swingen and by sister Amanda Larson. One sister survives, Mrs. Julia Holte, Fargo, North Dakota
Anna Beata Stai Swingen was born on April 20, 1885 in a sod shanty on the Stai homestead. She was educated in the Township schools and attended the Valley City School of Music. She was the only daughter of Edward and Marthea Stai. Anna B. Stai was married to Henry H. Swingen on October 5, 1910 and made their home in Hannaford until parted by death. Mrs. Swingen's recollections of the country schools were vivid. The couple is survived by one son, Eldred M. Swingen, attorney-at-law, Madison, Wisconsin and by one granddaughter, Regina Anne Swingen. Mrs. Swingen died June 6, 1973 having been preceded in death by her only brother, O. H. Stai.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 page 159