WRITINGS OF 5Al.'l·l HOUSTON, 1860
76
Jeanette did not live long after this marriage. Swenson's second marriage, September 29, 1851, was with Cora Susan Hudson McReady, a cousin of his first wife. The first .marriage was childless, but there were four chil- dren of the second: two sons--Eric Pierson, April 24, 1855; and Sven Albin, May 30, 1860; also two daughters, Margaretta, and Mary · Eleonora. Of these children, only Mr. E. P. Swenson, of New York City, is now living. S. M. Swenson was a far-sighted man, so before the Civil War broke out, he had already sold most of the negro slaves inherited from his wife, Jeanette Long. He was a radical antisecessionist, and because of these views was made to leave Texas in 1861. Enmity against him was so bitter that his life was actually in danger, therefore he and several friends fled to Mexico. Afraid to carry money with him, he buried $25,000 in gold, under the hearth of his fireplace, a fortune that was later dug up by his uncle, Sir Swante Palm, and sent to him in Mexico. After the war was over, Swenson did not return to Texas to live, but made his home in New Orleans. From there he later moved to New York state where he became a great merchant and banker. At the time of his death, his wealth was estimated to be more than eight million dollars. He frequently made trips from New York to his sugar plantations in Louisiana, and as regularly visited Texas to see his kin, and to inspect his real estate holdings. He died at his home in Brooklyn, New York. During his travels, and through- out his life, he was interested in collecting coins. He donated his coin col- lection, valued at $100,000, to the Museum of The University of Texas. See Ernest Severin, Swedes in TexM, I, 166; August Anderson, Hyphenated or the Life Story of S. M. Swenson (1916); H. G. Andrews to the Editors of "Houston's Writings," June 6, 1942; also E. P. Swenson to H. G. Andrews, June 1, 1942. These letters are in The University of Texas Library. To W. s. HoTcHK1ss 1 June 4, 1860. To Hon. W. S. Hotchkiss, Commissioner of the Court of Claims: Sir, In accordance with an Act approved, February 14th, 1860, I hereby make application for a certificate •for one League of land, having been so entitled under the provisions of the Act of December 18th, 1837. And I have not received any land here- tofore on account of wounds,2 or disabilities from the State of Texas. Sam Houston [Rubric] 1 Court of Claims AppUcations, General Land Office of Texas. 2 Enclosed with Houston's letter are two medical affidavits, one each from M. A. Taylor, M.D., and E. D. Rentfro; M.D., declaring that Houston's wound, 1·eceived at San Jacinto, was a permanent disability.
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