Mr. & Mrs. Bjorn Svenson Loken (Bennett Swenson) family

LOKEN, SWENSON, BENNETSON, ODEGAARDEN, ÖDEGAARDEN, SKAVLEM, THOMPSON, RISVIG, SANDO, HAGA, HAMRE, KOLSRUD, EKEDAL, ROLDSON, ANDERSON, JOHNSON

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 7/29/2010 at 03:04:36

Bjorn Svenson Loken (Bennett Swenson)
and Astrid Tostensdatter Ödegaarden

Bjorn Svenson Loken (Bennett Swenson) was born in Gol parish, Hallingdal, Norway, December 25, 1824. He emigrated to the United States in 1845, and made his home in Rock County, Wis., until 1850, when he joined the gold seekers for California, going by way of New York, by ocean passage through the "straits" to Sacramento, Cal., where he engaged in mining until 1853, when he returned by way of Panama and New York, to Rock County, Wis., in 1854. He married and moved to Allamakee County, Iowa, where he continued to reside until his death, May 18, 1897.

Astrid Tostensdatter Ödegaarden was born April 14, 1828, at the Ödegaarden homestead in Nore parish, Nummedal, Norway. With her mother she came to the United States in 1839, making her home with her mother, and later with her brother-in-law, Herbrand Skavlem, until 1854, when she married Bjorn Svenson Loken, who changed his name to Bennett Swenson. The same year they moved to Allamakee County, Iowa, where they located on government land and soon took rank as one of the leading and substantial pioneer families of that locality, where they continued to reside for the balance of their lives.

Although educational opportunities were very limited in those early pioner days, Mrs. Swenson was well equipped in her knowledge of both Norwegian and English. E.J. Johnson, the old retired choirister of the parish church in which Mrs. Swenson was a much valued and able worker during her active life, speaks of her in very complimentary terms, as being remarkably well posted on all religious questions pertaining to their church, both doctrinal and otherwise. In the early days of the settlement, she was considered one of the "best" in the English language.

An untiring worker and solicitous of the welfare — not only of her own family — but of all with whom she came in contact, she held the respect and was honored and cherished by all of her acquaintances. She died at her home in Allamakee County, Iowa, September 29, 1875, leaving a devoted husband and six children to mourn her loss.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Swenson were prominent and influential members of the Lutheran Church. Their children, all born in Allamakee county, were: Sven and Tosten, twins, born July 4, 1855; Olavus, born Aug. 14, 1859; Julia, born April 14, 1864; Andrew, June 29, 1866; and Gunnil Isabell, born March 30, 1868.

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Sven Swenson (Sven Bennetson), was born at the Swenson homestead in Allamakee County, Iowa, July 4, 1855; received a common school education, and spent his minor years assisting his father on the home farm. About 1877-1878 he made a tour of inspection through Nebraska, Dakota Territory and Minnesota, for the purpose of locating a permanent home. He decided to locate on a place then known as the "College Homestead," near Appleton, Swift County, Minn., which became his home for the balance of his life. In 1880 he was united in marriage to Anna Thompson. To them were born four children: Astur, Louise, Isabelle and Mildred. Mr. Bennetson died at his home in Swift County, Minn., December 9, 1904.

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Tosten Swenson (Tosten Bennetson), was born on the old Swenson homestead in Allamakee County, Iowa, July 4, 1855. He received a common school education and was trained to the pursuit of farming on his father's farm, working there and residing there until of mature years. He was continually engaged in farm work in various places until 1889, when he married Sanna Johnson Risvig, and they began housekeeping on a farm. Sanna was born in Trondhjem, Norway, June 11, 1855. She came to the United States in 1880 or 1881. In 1891 they purchased a farm near Fertile, Minn, (in Polk County) where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Bennetson have no children.

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Olavus Swenson (Louis Swenson). Olavus was born on the old Swenson homestead, in Sec. 11, Painted Creek Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, August 14, 1859. His baptismal name was Olavus, but common usage rendered it into Louis. He received a common school education, and spent his early days in farm work with his father. For several years he and his brother, Andrew, engaged in threshing grain in the fall, and in winter sawed hardwood lumber on the farm.

In 1901 he married Bertha Sando, and together they took up their home at the old Swenson farm where they still continue to reside. Mr. Swenson is owner of the old homestead and carries on general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of registered Aberdeen Angus cattle. He has been very successful in his business and is now enjoying the reward of his labors. In politics Mr. Swenson acts on his own opinions and judgments, unhampered by party lines. Independent in thought and action, he is one of the reliable men of the community in which he lives.

Bertha Sando was born in Allamakee County, Iowa, June 17, 1875. She received a common school education and lived the life of the ordinary farmer's daughter until she married Mr. Swenson, since which time she has faithfully filled the responsible place of wife and mother of a happy family. Her parents were Torkel and Ingeborg (Haga) Sando. Torkel Sando was born in Aals parish, Hallingdal, Norway, May 17, 1831. He came to the United States in 1850, and located in Allamakee County, Iowa. Ingeborg Haga was born in Gol parish, Hallingdal, Norway, November 15, 1840. She came to the United States in 1860, and in 1863 married Torkel Sando. Mr. and Mrs. Sando took up a homestead in Allamakee County, Iowa, where they have since resided. Mr. Sando died January 19, 1910. Mrs. Sando still resides on the old homestead. They were members of the Lutheran Church.

To Mr. and Mrs. Louis Swenson seven children were born. Six now survive.
Irene Amanda, born May 19, 1902.
Bernard Theodore, born July 9, 1904 & died July 2, 1906.
Bernice, born Sept. 2, 1906.
Stella May, born May 2, 1908.
Myrtle, born Jan. 27, 1910.
Julia Isabell, born Nov. 9, 1911.
Alma, born Sept. 26, 1913.

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Julia Swenson (Mrs. F.J. Hamre), was born at the old Swenson homestead, Allamakee County, Iowa, April 14, 1864. She received a common school education and lived at the parental home assisting with the household work of the farm until December 24, 1898, when she married Erik Johnson Hamre and took up her new home at Fertile, Minn., where Mr. Hamre had purchased a farm in 1887. They were engaged in farming until 1908, when Mr. Hamre sold his farm and moved to Galata, Montana, where he engaged in business until 1910, when he again changed his home and located at Crookston, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Hamre have one child, Esther Bertina, born December 12, 1900, in Fertile, Polk County, Minn.

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Andrew B. Swenson, was born on the old homestead, June 29, 1866. He received a common school education and was trained in the duties of practical farming. After the death of his father, Andrew and his brother Louis took charge of the old homestead, and together carried on the farm work for some years. Subsequently they divided the old homestead into two farms, Louis retaining the original homesite, and Andrew erecting a set of new farm buildings, and he now has a well-equipped, up-to-date model farm. He has been a successful farmer and contemplates soon to retire from the strenuous work of the farm and take life a little easier as he can well afford to do. He married Torena Kolsrud, November 20, 1903, and they soon commenced housekeeping in their new home. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Swenson are active members of the Lutheran Church and contribute their share in its support. In politics Mr. Swenson supports the Republican party.

Torena Kolsrud was born June 6, 1882, in Allamakee County, Iowa. She received a common school education; lived the ordinary life of a farmer's girl, and since her marriage has been the efficient helpmate of her husband in building up their comfortable home. Miss Kolsrud's parents were Salve and Anna Christine (Ekedal) Kolsrud. Salve Kolsrud, born in Gol parish, Hallingdal, Norway, April 21, 1849. He came to the United States with his parents in 1855. Anna Christine Ekedal, born in Nordre-Land parish, Norway, December 15, 1859. She came to the United States in 1875. Both families located in Painted Creek Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, and it was at this place that the marriage of Salve Kolsrud and Anna Christine Ekedal was performed in September, 1881. They have continued their residence in Allamakee County, and have built up a comfortable home. Mr. Kolsrud engages in farming.

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Gunnil Isabell Swenson (Mrs. Peter Roldson), was born at the old Swenson homestead, Allamakee County, Iowa, March 30, 1868. She received a common school education and lived at the parental home, assisting with the household work connected with a farmer's home until 1902, when she married Peter Roldson, and commenced housekeeping for herself. Mr. Roldson is a carpenter and builder and owns a very fine home of his own in Waterville, Allamakee County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Roldson have no children. They are members of the Lutheran Church.

Peter Roldson was born in Allamakee County, Iowa, October 22,1869. He received a common school education. His parents were Paul and Karen (Anderson) Roldson. They were married in Norway and came to the United States in 1868, locating in Allamakee County where they engaged in farming and built up a comfortable home. Paul Roldson, born at Strinden, Norway, November 24, 1829 and died in Allamakee County, August 13, 1897. Karen Anderson was born at Oskedalen, Norway, September 19, 1828, died in Allamakee County, Iowa, August 30,1902. They were members of the Lutheran Church.

~The Skavlem and Ödegaarden families: being a genealogical record and pioneer history of the Skavlem and Ödegaarden families from their emigration from Norway down to the present, by Halvor Larsen Skavlem, 1915, pgs 207-213

~Photos:
Top photo is the Bennet Swenson Family Grouped from Old Pictures
top L-R: Bennet Swenson, 1863; Tosten Bennetson and wife; Mrs. Swenson, 1863
bottom L-R: Isabell, Andrew, Toslen, Louis, Sven, Julia, 1898

Middle photo is the Louis Swenson family, 1914
back L-R: Louis Swenson, Bernice, Stella, Irene and Bertha Sando Swenson
front L-R: Julia, Myrtle and Alma

Bottom photo is Mr. and Mrs. F.J. Hamre and daughter Esther, undated.

Allamakee Biographies maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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