The Swenson family originated in Randeberg, Norway. Gabriel and Marne had five children. They were Sven, Elias, Christina, Inga and Karen.
Of the five children only three came to the United States. Christina came over first in 1899. She married Robert Ryerson and together they had ten children. They built a house and barn on what was then the Ryer Ryerson farm but later moved to a different location. The Ryersons had ten children €“
Ruby,
Roy,
Gilbert,
Amelia,
Ernest,
Lena,
Robert,
Rachel (deceased)
Louise (deceased) and
Christina (deceased).
Sven was born on March 9, 1878 in Randeberg, Norway. He attended school in Randeberg and was later confirmed in the Dom Churka Church. He became a merchant seaman and stayed in that trade until he and a member of his fellow crewmen jumped ship because it was in such an unsailable condition. After jumping ship outside of Savannah, Georgia, he went on to Chicago. Robert Ryerson then paid his fare from Chicago to Valley City. He went to work for John Ellingson for a wage of $25.00 a month. That was where he met Berthea Ellingson, whom he was later destined to wed. They were married by a judge, in Fargo, in 1903. They continued to live at the Ellingson farm and shortly thereafter John Ellingson and the remainder of his family moved to Valley City. Sven and Berthea continued to farm the Ellingson homestead. It was here that two of their eight children, Clara and Hjalmer, were born.
In 1908, Sven moved his family to Valley City. He worked at the Russell Miller Milling Co. for a number of years. While in Valley City, four more children, Florence, Emma, Barnet' and Emil, were born. In 1917 Sven finally decided to settle down in Sanborn. It was in that community that the Swensonshad their last two children, George and Lillian. Sven died at the age of 49 August 19, 1926. Berthea still resides in Sanborn at the age of 91. Clara Swenson, was born January 7, 1904; Hjalmer Swenson was June 13, 1906; Emil Swenson, born November 13, 1917; Emma Swenson born November 16, 1910, and married Arthur Falvey and has no children. She lives in Valley City. Lillian Swenson born July 30, 1925, is married to Roy Martin and has three children. She resides in Valley City.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 243