The first settlers in the Hannaford area had to haul their lumber for their homes and farm buildings from Sanborn, Valley City or Cooperstown. E. H. Groven carried a small stock of lumber in his general merchandise business and this Crane & Johnson bought out in 1897, and put in a complete stock of lumber. Their name was changed to Crane-Johnson in 1903, when they incorporated.
The Hannaford Lumber Co., was organized in February 1905, with a capital stock of $25,000. The stockholders were H. Anundson, president; A. H. Berg, S. H. Berg, N. K. Markuson, W. S. Hyde and H. H. Swingen. Mr. Swingen was the promoter of the enterprise. He was an experienced lumber man from Lake Mills, Iowa, and was the manager of the new yard. This lumber yard was sold to the McCoy Lumber Co., in January 1906, but Mr. Swingen remained as the manager. In January 1915, Crane-Johnson purchased the McCoy Lumber Yards at Hannaford, Karnak and Revere and from then on Hannaford had only one lumber yard. Mr. Swingen also managed this combined yard. He was with Crane-Johnson until his death in 1957. After Mr. Swingen, Paul Vance managed the Crane-Johnson yard for many years. He was followed by Ted Sonderby, Elton Kloster, Roger Haugrud and Ed Carlson. Crane-Johnson closed its yard in Hannaford in 1972. Claude Freer served as assistant manager for 15 years prior to the closing.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 22