Mankell Family History

Sven Gunderson Borgen homestead documents.

Below are pictures and some brief information about Swenson ancestors. For more biographical information read the extensive obituaries of Gunder and Gemine Swenson.

Sven Gunderson Borgen, father of Gunder Swenson and grandfather of Minnie Swenson, was born
in Numedal Valley in Norway.

NORWAY:

The following 4 pictures are from the Borgen farm, located in Numedal Valley in Norway. Thanks to Patricia Medhus for these photos which she took on a recent trip to Norway. As you look at the furniture pictures, please take note of the log walls of the house and the beautiful rosemalling on the furniture.

The Borgen farm, c1990, in Numedal Valley, Norway.

A hutch.

A 1782 trunk.

An 1832 trunk.

Borgen-Swenson Farm:

This cabin is the first home built (1859 or 1860) by Norwegian immigrants, Sven Gunderson Borgen, his wife Margit Borgen and their three children (Gunder, Ragnhild, Bergit) on their homestead farm between Lake Mary and Swenson Lake on the eastern edge of Arctander Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnestoa.
Sven was from Numedal Valley and Margit was born in Hallingdal Valley in Norway (see maps). The three children were born in Numedal, Norway.

Location of the Borgen/Swenson farm (#8 on map) which was part of the original Norway Lake Settlement.

Gunder Swenson married Gemine Negaard in 1871. These photos are undated.

Stor-Elvdal, Norway
Gemine Negaard was from Stor-Elvdal in Osterdalen Valley in Norway (see maps).
At the age of 16, Gemine arrived in the US with her parents and other family, settling in Arctander Township.

Gemine and Gunder lived at the Swenson homestead and had 14 children.
This is the second home on the farm (c1900).
Standing in back: Clara Swenson Berg, George Swenson?, Anna Swenson Quale
Seated: Gemine Swenson, Helen Swenson Lamphere?, Gunder Swenson, Sven Borgen, Henry Swenson

Gunder and Gemine Swenson Family, June 29, 1906
Back Row: Otto, Henry, Gerhard, Swen, Lydia, Melvin, Mabel
Front Row: George, Anna, Gemine, Helen, Gunder, William, Minnie, Clara

Gunder and Gemine had 14 children, oldest to youngest: Swen; Henry who died in infancy; Minnie, Mrs. Oscar Mankell; Henry; George; Clara, Mrs. O. M. Berg; Anna, Mrs Axel Quale; Otto; Melvin; Gerhard; Mabel; Lydia, Mrs. C. H. Bruce; Helen, Mrs. Fred Lamphere; and William. Helen Lamphere's grandson, Dale Lamphere is a sculptor in Sturgis, South Dakota. Gerhard Swenson's grandson, Rick Swenson, is a sled-dog racer in Alaska and has won the Iditerod competition a record-setting five times (1977-1991).

The wedding day of Clara Swenson and O.M. Berg, undated.
Photo taken in front of the Swenson home on Lake Mary, in Arctander Township, Kandiyohi County, MN.

Gemine and Gunder Swenson (c1920) in front of their third home on the Swenson farm.
This home still remains on the farm.

One photograph featuring the three Swenson homes.
The original log cabin is in the foreground and was closest to Swenson Lake.
The second house is in the middle; the third and current home (closest to Lake Mary) is in the background.

The Swenson family had a large apple orchard. Swenson Lake is in the background.

Swenson family reunion in 1932 at the farm. 95 people attended.

My father, Orlynn Mankell (grandson of Minnie Swenson Mankell), published articles which focused on local and family history. These stories involve Minnie's father, Gunder Swenson, her uncle Thomas Osmundson, and her grandparents Sven Gunderson Borgen and his wife Margit Borgen. The Johannes Iverson story tells of his death (and what happened to his family) during the 1862 Dakota War (Sioux Uprising) and their connection to the Borgen/Swenson family.

• Why the Dakota loved Kandiyohi County
• Gunder Swenson, Norwegian Settler
• Lonely Gravestone Tells of Pioneer's Fate: Johannes Iverson
• 1863 Drought in Kandiyohi County
• Thomas and Bergit Osmundson

Acton Map