About the Chairman
Chairman Quintin Johnson-Swanson
Raised in Tokeland and an enrolled Shoalwater Bay member, serving the Tribe since 2018 and as Chairman since 2024.
Quintin Johnson-Swanson (aka Quintin Swanson) is an enrolled member of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe, born in Redding, California, and raised in Tokeland since he was eight months old. He has served the Tribe since 2018 and has been Tribal Council Chairman since February 2024.
Tokeland
where he grew up, and still calls home
Since 2018
serving the Tribe
6
roles for the Tribe, from Gaming Commissioner to Chairman and Education Director
Rooted in Tokeland
Quintin grew up on and around Shoalwater Bay’s lands, close to his family, his Elders and the Tribe’s cultural traditions. He is the son of Lynn Clark and Alan Swanson, Grandson of Rob Johnson & Debbie Johnson, and Great-Grandson of Elmer Johnson and June Johnson. He went to school at Ocosta and then Raymond, where he was class president for 3 years and made the honor roll.
In College, he was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and also graduated with honors.
Family
Quintin and his wife, Toinette Swanson, plan to raise their children in Tokeland: their son Anakin and their daughter Maribelle. The family is looking forward to welcoming a new son, Alynn, who is on the way.
Family is at the heart of why he serves: so that his children, and every Shoalwater child, can grow up on our homeland with a strong Tribe behind them.
Family tree
Quintin traces his family all the way back to Chief Satsop. His roots on Shoalwater Bay run through Chief Satsop’s daughter, Mary Sonic Nechars, and her marriage to Benjamin Charles Armstrong. Their grandchildren include two Signers, Charles Benjamin Armstrong and Anita (Armstrong) Bishop.
- Armstrong family line
- Married into the family
Where the line begins
Chief SatsopWith his first wife, Clatamule, the father of Mary Sonic NecharsFirst generation
- Benjamin Charles Armstrong1819–1857Son of William and Mary “Polly” (Cavins) Armstrong&Mary Sonic Nechars1823–1893Daughter of Chief Satsop and his first wife, Clatamule
Second generation
- Benjamin Franklin Armstrong1858–1933&Minnie Ross Smith1874–1951
Their children
- Mary Jeanette (Janet) Armstrong1889–1977&Elmer George Johnson1880–1922
- Eliza Jane Armstrong1890–1952&Hilman John Persson1888–1973
- Charles Benjamin Armstrong1892–1978Signer&First wifeMabel Magdelene Zauner1895–1927&Second wifeJessie Ann MacKenzie1907–1973
- Minnie Lovey (Lovie) Violet Armstrong1895–1934&George E. Rogers1897–1975
- Edgar Joseph Armstrong1900–1970&Verna Almeda Vincent1897–1986
- Lottie A. Jessie Armstrong1902–1965&Louis Arthur Dinkle Sr.1895–1950
- Anita Eva Armstrong1907–1980Signer&Ivan Bishop1906–1993
Prepared by Junel Davidsen, Certified Genealogist, 2013, for the Shoalwater Bay Tribe Enrollment Department.
Birth and death dates are not in public records
- Chief of the Satsop, a Lower Chehalis–area people who lived along the Satsop River, a branch of the Chehalis River.
- His eldest daughter, Mary Nechars, married Benjamin Charles Armstrong in 1855. The Tribe’s genealogy chart names her mother as Clatamule, his first wife.
Sources: Biography by Junel Davidsen · Mary’s Find a Grave memorial · About the Satsop people
October 1819 – September 7, 1857
- Born in Vigo County, Indiana, to William Armstrong and Mary “Polly” Cavins.
- Came west to Oregon Territory in 1851 and ran a sawmill on his land claim at Cedar Creek in the Chehalis Valley. Pioneer writer James Swan praised its cedar and ash lumber.
- In November 1852 he signed the Monticello Convention petition asking Congress for a new territory north of the Columbia River, the step that led to Washington Territory.
- Served as an interpreter at the treaty negotiations held at Cosmopolis.
- Married Mary Nechars on May 9, 1855. He died at home near Oakville at about 38; how he died was never explained.
Sources: Biography by Junel Davidsen · Find a Grave memorial · Monticello petition signers · Grays Harbor County marriages, 1855–1892
About 1823 – 1893
- Eldest daughter of Chief Satsop.
- Married Benjamin Charles Armstrong on May 9, 1855 (the county record spells her name “Necharz”). They had three children. After his death in 1857 she received little from his estate, and the children were placed in foster homes.
- Later married John Riddell (1836–1904). They had two sons, Eugene and Albert “Doc” Riddell.
- Buried at Bay Center Pioneer Cemetery. One cemetery listing gives her year of death as 1892.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial · Biography by Junel Davidsen · Grays Harbor County marriages, 1855–1892 · Bay Center Pioneer Cemetery listing
February 7, 1858 – March 28, 1933
- Born at Grand Mound, Thurston County, five months after his father died.
- The only one of Benjamin Charles and Mary’s children to have descendants. He worked as a logger and millwright.
- Married Minnie Ross Smith in July 1888.
- Died in South Bend and is buried at Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial · Biography by Junel Davidsen · Minnie’s Find a Grave memorial
January 10, 1874 – May 9, 1951
- Born in Canada.
- Married Benjamin Franklin Armstrong in July 1888.
- Died in Coos Bay, Oregon, and is buried at Sunset Memorial Park there.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
August 15, 1889 – January 21, 1977
- Born in Naselle, Pacific County.
- Married Elmer George Johnson.
- Died in Ocean Park at 87 and is buried at Ocean Park Cemetery, where Elmer is also buried.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
July 25, 1880 – May 1, 1922
- Son of Henry Hans Johnson Jr. and Frances Effie Potter Johnson.
- Died at 41 and is buried at Ocean Park Cemetery.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
December 26, 1890 – December 3, 1952
- Born in Naselle, Pacific County.
- Married Hilman John Persson.
- Died in Renton and is buried at Fern Hill Cemetery in Aberdeen. Her headstone reads “Mother.”
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
September 3, 1888 – December 20, 1973
- Born in Sweden.
- Worked for the U.S. Life-Saving Service from about 1910; it later became the Coast Guard. His headstone records him as a Coast Guard lieutenant (junior grade) in World Wars I and II.
- Died in Aberdeen and is buried at Fern Hill Cemetery there.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
November 27, 1892 – December 15, 1978
- Born in Naselle, Pacific County.
- Married Mabel Magdelene Zauner, who died in 1927, and later Jessie Anne MacKenzie.
- Died in Menlo at 86 and is buried at Fern Hill Cemetery there.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
March 14, 1895 – April 4, 1927
- Born in Oregon, daughter of Christian Zauner and Hermine Albert Zauner.
- First wife of Charles Benjamin Armstrong.
- Died in Raymond at 32 and is buried at Fern Hill Cemetery in Aberdeen.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
April 3, 1907 – February 6, 1973
- Born in King County, daughter of Daniel Murdock MacKenzie and Laura Belle Goldmyer MacKenzie. Find a Grave spells her name Jessie Anne McKenzie.
- Second wife of Charles Benjamin Armstrong.
- Died in Everett and is buried at Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
1895 – June 11, 1934
- Married George E. Rogers.
- Died in Raymond at about 39 and is buried at Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
1897 – 1975
- Husband of Minnie “Lovey” Armstrong Rogers.
- Buried at Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
May 28, 1897 – November 18, 1986
- Listed on Find a Grave as Verna Almeda Armstrong.
- Buried at Rose Lake Cemetery in Kootenai County, Idaho. Her headstone reads “Loving Mother.”
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
July 13, 1902 – January 14, 1965
- Born in Oregon.
- Married Louis Arthur Dinkle Sr., a Navy veteran of World War I.
- Died in San Francisco and is buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California, where Louis is also buried.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
May 27, 1895 – September 5, 1950
- Born in Connecticut, son of Jacob and Augusta Dinkle.
- Served in the U.S. Navy in World War I; his headstone gives his rating as chief storekeeper.
- Died in San Francisco and is buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
June 16, 1907 – February 27, 1980
- Born in Washington.
- Married Ivan Roy Bishop.
- Buried at Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
October 10, 1906 – March 27, 1993
- Born in Belgrade, Missouri, son of Edgar Mondell Bishop and Carrie May LeMaster.
- Husband of Anita Eva Armstrong.
- Buried at Mount Angeles Memorial Park in Port Angeles.
Sources: Find a Grave memorial
Parents
- MotherLynn Clark&FatherAlan Swanson
Quintin and Toinette
- Quintin SwansonTribal Council Chairman&WifeToinette Swanson
Children
- SonAnakin Swanson
- DaughterMaribelle Swanson
- SonAlynn SwansonOn the way
Years of service
- 2011 to 2015 Summer youth worker
- 2018 to 2022 Vice Chairman, Tribal Gaming Commission
- 2019 to 2023 Education Program Coordinator
- 2022 to 2024 Tribal Council Treasurer
- 2023 to 2024 Planning Director
- February 2024 Tribal Council Chairman
- August 2024 Education Director
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Indigenous Studies, The Evergreen State College, Native Pathways Program
- Associate’s degree in Education, Grays Harbor College
- Leadership and management certificate, Harvard Business School
- Land-use and planning studies, United Tribes Technical College
Talk with the Chairman
Call the Tribal office at (360) 267-6766 and ask for Quintin, or stop by the Tribal Office at 2373 Tokeland Road.