Swen Loge was born near Stavanger, Norway, October 27, 1852. He married Serina Thime and they purchased some land in Norway, which he farmed for about two years.
They became interested in sailing for America and April 9, 1881 they, with their child, Elizabeth, left Norway on a cattle boat named "Johan Sverdrup.€ During the voyage, the little girl became ill and died. They traveled from New York to Saint Paul by train and when they reached Saint Paul a son, Swen, was born in the railroad station.
They went to Granite Falls, Minnesota, but finding no land available there and hearing they could get land in North Dakota by "homesteading", Swen and a neighbor, Valdemar Klubben, decided to take their oxen and equipment by railroad as far as Fargo, leaving their families in Granite Falls until they were somewhat settled. At Fargo they unloaded their oxen and supplies and drove along the railroad to Valley City where they stocked up on supplies and went on until they came to a place near the Sheyenne River which they liked very much and later became Sverdrup Township, Section 26, Range 145-58.
They built a two-room sod house over the quarter line. One room was for the Loge family and one for the Klubben family. It had no floor, a small opening for a door and no windows. On July 5 they met their families in Valley City.
As it was late that first year, they broke only about nine acres for wheat, which was sold for 90 a bushel. Swen and Valdemar worked in the Valley City area during threshing to provide for their winter needs. Their provisions for the winter were three sacks of flour, two gallons of syrup, and two gallons of kerosene. They shot prairie chicken and antelope for meat.
After living in the sod house three years, Swen built a log house I n which they lived for thirty-two years. It was replaced with the present home.
Eight children were born to Swen and Serina Loge. They were Swen, Lars, Elizabeth, Martin, Bernard, Pauline, Inga and Hans.
In 1905 Swen Loge built a home in Cooperstown and lived there until he died in 1906. While Serina Loge lived, her sons Martin, Hans, and Lars lived at and farmed the homeplace at different times. Melvin Loge, son of Swen Loge 11, also operated the farm after military service in World War 11. Serina died in 1937. The farm was purchased by her daughter Mrs. Knute (Inga) Ueland. Presently the farm is owned by Kermit Ueland, son of Mrs. Knute Ueland.
Source: Cooperstown, North Dakota 1882-1982 Centennial page 88