Iver Lawson (publisher)

Iver Lawson (December 21, 1821 – October 5, 1871) was a Norwegian-American real estate investor and newspaper publisher. Together with John Anderson and Knud Langeland, he was the founder of the Skandinaven newspaper in Chicago.[1][2]

Skandinaven headquarters in Chicago c. 1890

Biography

Iver Lawson was born as Iver Larson Bø at Bø in Voss, Hordaland, Norway.[3] He migrated to the United States in 1844 with his brother, Steffen Lawson. Two other siblings, Boarky Lawson and Knud Lawson, had migrated earlier.[4][5]

Iver Lawson came to prosperity buying and selling real estate in Chicago during the mid-19th century. He entered city politics in 1864. He was a Chicago City Marshall, a member of the Chicago City Council and an Illinois senator.[3][4] He was also one of the organizers of the First Lutheran church of Chicago in 1848.[3]

Skandinaven was established by three Norwegian immigrants; John Anderson, Knud Langeland, and Iver Lawson. John Anderson administered the newspaper while Knud Langeland served as the first editor of Skandinaven. Iver Lawson was an investor and landlord who provided a location and facilities.[6]

Personal life

Lawson married Melinda Nordvig. They had two sons, Victor Fremont Lawson (1850-1925) and Iver Norman Lawson, Sr. (1865-1937)[7][8][9][10] He died on October 5, 1871. After his death, his son, Victor Lawson, took over the administration of his father's estate, which included his real estate holdings and interest in Skandinaven.[4][9][11]

Footnotes
  1. Øverland, Orm. "Skandinaven and the Beginnings of Professional Publishing". Norwegian-American Historical Association. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  2. Lovoll, Odd S. (1988). "A Century of Urban Life: The Norwegians in Chicago before 1930". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  3. Flom, George T. (1909). A History of Norwegian Immigration to the United States from the Earliest Beginning Down to the Year 1848. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  4. "Death of Iver Lawson". October 9, 1871. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  5. "Hordaland, Voss herad, Voss sokn". Matrikkelutkastet av 1950. 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  6. Hansen, Jean Skogerboe Skandinaven and the John Anderson Publishing Company Archived 2008-08-08 at the Wayback Machine (Norwegian-American studies, Volume 28, p. 35. Norwegian-American Historic Association)
  7. "V.F. Lawson Dies From Heart Attack. Publisher of Chicago Daily News Expires Suddenly in His Home. Edited Paper 49 Years. Was a Founder of The Associated Press". Associated Press in the New York Times. August 20, 1925. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  8. "Iver N. Lawson. Brother of Late Chicago Publisher Dies Here of Pneumonia". New York Times. April 2, 1937. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  9. "Victor Freemont Lawson". Chicago, Illinois: Newberry Library. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  10. "Victor Lawson, Famous Chicago Publisher, Dies". Pittsburgh Press. August 20, 1925. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  11. Biography of Victor Freemont Lawson Archived 2011-06-11 at the Wayback Machine (Inventory of the Victor Lawson Papers)
  • Strand, Algot E. (1905) A History of the Norwegians of Illinois (Chicago, Illinois: J. Anderson publishing Company)
  • Dennis, Charles H. (1935) Victor Lawson, his time and work (Chicago, Illinois: The University of Chicago press)
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