Mankell Family History
Maps of ancestral homes in Norway
Oscar Mankell (1868-1936) and Minnie (Swenson) Mankell (1875-1959)
Oscar and Minnie (Swenson) Mankell, undated.
Oscar (also spelled Oskar) was born on May 26, 1868, and was the sixth child born to homesteaders HW and Elizabeth Mankell. While his four oldest sisters were born in Northfield MN and older sister Hulda was born in St. Cloud MN, Oscar and his younger siblings were born on the homestead in Lake Andrew Township, Kandiyohi County MN. As a boy he lived on the farm; at the age of 12 he and his family moved to Willmar for the purpose of educating their children. Oscar was a student at Willmar Seminary which opened in 1883 on the north side of Willmar, overlooking Foot Lake. Oscar, who studied business, was probably one of the first students at the school.
The family returned to the farm; Oscar married Minnie Swenson on June 29, 1895 at her parents' home on Lake Mary. Minnie was the oldest daughter of Gunder and Gemine Swenson.
Wedding Picture of Oscar and Minnie (Swenson) Mankell
June 29, 1895
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
Oscar and his family had three children lived on the farm until 1929:
- Herman (1896-1985) m. Cora Christopherson
- Edna (1898-1987) m. Alvin Halvorson
- Alice (1903-1991) m. George Alvig
Also living on the farm were Oscar's parents. Father HW died in 1889 and mother Elizabeth died in 1914. Oscar's youngest sister Esther lived on the farm too, though she also lived in Willmar whenever she sewed and cleaned for clients. In 1898 Esther kept a diary and writes about her life on the farm and the time when Minnie gave birth to her second child, Edna, on January 21.
Oscar worked in the banking and insurance fields in New London. In 1902 he was named director of the Arctander and Lake Andrew Insurance company and in 1926 he was named president, a position he held until his death. Oscar was a director of the Farmers State Bank on New London and a director of the New London Co-operative Creamery.
In 1929 Oscar and Minnie moved from the farm to WIllmar and lived at 910 W. Litchfield Avenue. Son Herman, his wife Cora and their growing family remained on the homestead. Oscar and Minnie moved to Willmar because Oscar was named Register of Deeds by the Kandiyohi County commissioners; he completed the unexpired term of his predecessor. After completing the term he did not seek election to another term.
Oscar's letterhead for his position as Register of Deeds, c1929.
Oscar and Minnie lived in Willmar until Oscar's death in 1936. Later Minnie lived with her daughter Edna Halvorson and then at the New London Rest Home, where she lived until her death in 1959.
Oscar's Obituary:
Oscar Mankell died on September 2 at his home in Willmar, following a stroke. His obituary, published in the Willmar Tribune on Saturday, September 5, 1936, is as follows:Oscar August Mankell, a resident of Kandiyohi county all of his life, was born May 26, 1868, in Lake Andrew township. His boyhood days were spent on the home farm, and at the age of 12 years he came with his parents to Willmar. The elder Mankells came to this city to educate their children. Oscar attended the Willmar Seminary and when he completed the business course at that school he worked for a short time in this city. He was confirmed by Rev. D. T. Booth of St. Luke's Episcopal church in Willmar.
When the family returned to the farm home in Lake Andrew township, he returned with them and continued to reside in that community until the year 1929, when he was named register of deeds by the county board to complete the unexpired term of the late August Lundquist. Upon receiving that appointment, Mr. Mankell moved to Willmar, purchasing a residence at 910 West Litchfield avenue, and here he resided until his death.
Mr. Mankell was not a candidate for the office for which the commissioners seleted him, and upon completing the term he retired from public life. Since that time he has been associated with various insurance companies.
His kindly nature, his business ability and honesty endeared him to all in the community in which he lived, and he was called upon to fill many positions of trust. He served as a member of the town board and on the school board. June 1, 1902, he was named a director in the Arctander and Lake Andrew Insurance Co., and he remained a director until 1926, at which time he was named president, a position he held at the time of his death. He was for many years a director of the Farmers State Bank of New London, holding this position at the time of his passing. Always interested in cooperatives, he was a director for a long period in the New London Co-operative Creamery.
On June 29, 1895 Mr. Mankell and Miss Minnie Swenson were married at the home of the bride in Arctander, and they made their home in the Lake Andrew community until seven years ago, at which time they come to Willmar. Surviving are his widow and three children, Herman, who lives on the home farm; Edna (Mrs. Alvin Halvorson) of Lake Andrew, and Alice (Mrs. G. M. Alvig) of Montevideo. Four grandchildren survive, as does one brother, Otto of Lake Andrew and two sisters, Mrs. Jennie Gordhamer of Arctander and Mrs. Amanda Landquist in Minneapollis.
Mr. Mankell was possessed of a quiet and retiring nature. Never pushing himself forward, he possessed many sterling qualities which were recognized by all with whom he came in contact, and his friends were legion.
He had not been in the best of health for several years, and his death came as a result of a stroke suffered the evening of August 27.
Funeral services were held from the residence Sunday afternoon, August 30, with Rev. C. H. B. Peterson of the Willmar Mission church and Rev. C. B. Dahlberg of the Florida Mission church officiating. Rev. and Mrs. Dahlberg sang a duet at the home, and at the church both pastors spoke and a duet was sung by Rev. and Mrs. Dahlberg and a solo by Miss Adeline Sundberg.
So large was the attendance of friends at the services at the church that the service was brought to them out of doors, by means of loudspeaking equipment installed for the purpose.
Burial was in the church cemetery [Lake Florida Mission Church]. Honorary pallbearers were Swen Swenson, J.S. Christenson, M.O. Rustad, L.H. Larson, K.H. Nelson, and Martin Hatlestad. Active pallbearers were Emil Peterson, Oscar Larson, Henry Swenson, Carl Danielson, Paul E. Anderson and Elmo Halvorson.
Relatives from a distance at the funeral included Mrs. Amanda Landquist, Austin and Herman Landquist, Mrs. Dena Tjosvold, Mrs. L.A. Tjosbold, Harry Gordhamer, Miss Florence Swenson, and Mrs C.H .Brace, Mr and Mrs Nels Quam, Mr and Mrs. Oscar Quam and Eddie Quam, all of Minneapolis; Mrs. Marie Negaard, Mr and Mrs A.W. Danielson and son Danny of St. Paul; Mr. and Mrs Gilbert Anderson of Granite Falls; Nordahl Alvig of Montevideo; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gordhamer of Begrade; Mrs. Minnie Hagen of Murdock; Mrs. Amanda Negaard, Arnold Negaard and children, Dr. and Mrs. S.C. Leuben, Dr. and Mrs. Hans Johnson and children of Kerkhoven.
The New London Times wrote this about Oscar:
TWO NOTABLE MEN PASS ON. This community was doubly grieved by the deaths, Wednesday, of two outstanding men, both closely identified with the management of the New London Farmers Bank. The one was L. E. Covell, cashier of said bank and the other, Oscar Mankell, a director of the bank. Business associates will especially miss these co-workers, for both were men of strong character who will be definitely missed in this community....Mr. Oscar Mankell, for the past seven years a resident of Willmar, died at his home there on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. at the age of 68 years.
Minnie's Obituary
Minnie Mankell died on August, 31, 1959. Her is her obituary:
Mrs. Minnie Mankell passed away on Aug. 31, 1959 at the age of 84 years after a lingering illness. She lived in this community all her life and was a member of the Lake Florida Mission Church.
Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. Jerry Johnson at the Covenant church in New London. Two songs were sung by Reynold Nelson, accompanied by Mrs. Rudy Lindquist.
Pallbearers were Orlynn Mankell, Sherman Mankell, Ray Swenson, LeRoy Swenson, Earl Peterson and Martin Sakariason. Interment was made at the Lake Florida cemetery.
She was born June 12, 1875 and was the eldest daughter of the late Gunder and Gemine Swenson of Arctander township. Three sisters and three brothers survive her namely Mrs. Clara Berg and Mrs Axel Quale of California, Mrs Helen Lamphere of South Dakota, George and Gerhard Swenson of Spicer and Melvin Swenson of Minneapolis.
In 1895 she was united in marriage to the late Oscar Mankell. Her three surviving chilren are Herman and Mrs. Edna Halvorson of New London, Mrs. (Alice) George Alvig of Spicer. Eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren survive her.
She lived on the Mankell farm before moving to Willmar in 1929. Her later years were spent with her daughter, Mrs. Edna Halvorson and at the New London Rest Home where she passed away.
The three children of Oscar and Minnie Mankell.
Siblings in 1981: Alice Alvig, Edna Halvorson, and Herman Mankell