Nicolai Swenson was born in Eidfjord, Hardanger, Norway on December 31, 1855 and came to the United States in 1875. His older brothers, Torfin, and two by the name of Ole arrived earlier, one as early as 1856. The name of Ole in the Swenson family was very important so when a son named Ole died in infancy the next son born was named Ole. The second Ole was a very frail baby, fearing he might also die the next son born was also named Ole, and both grew to manhood. These two brothers of Nicolai took Homesteads, one in Bartley Township on the SW quarter of Section 32 and the other settled in Dover Township. Due to conflict with mail the Ole in Bartley Township changed his name to Thompson.
After graduating from Northwestern Business College at Madison, Wisconsin, Nicolai Swenson looked for Homestead land in Cass County in the area near Gardner, North Dakota He filed a claim on 160 acres there but this was the era of bonanza farmers and there were owners of large farms all around so he soon discovered he would have no neighbors so gave up his claim there and sought land in Griggs County. He took a Homestead in Bartley Township on the NE quarter of Section 32. He also acquired the SE quarter of the same Section by pre-emption. This land was proved up in 1890.
Nicolai's sister, Anna, came with him from Norway and she took a Homestead on the NW quarter of Section 32 next to the land of her two brothers. After a few years she sold her land to brother Ole and went back to Norway to live the remainder of her life. In the history of the Ladies Aid of Eidfjord Church, Anna Swenson is recorded as a charter member of that organization. This half Section once owned by Ole Thompson is now owned by Earl and Charles Heyerdahl.
When Bartley Township was organized in 1887 Nicolai Swenson was chosen chairman of the board of supervisors and held that position a number of years.
It was very important to these pioneers that churches and schools should be established and Nicolai Swenson took an active part in these projects and was the first secretary -treasurer of EIDFJORD LUTHERAN Church. Most of the early settlers in this area were from Eidfjord, Norway and they named their church after their birthplace.
Nicolai was elected treasurer of Griggs County in 1892 serving one term as he was elected to the state legislature as representative in 1894 and served the fourth and fifth sessions, 1895-1897. When the Bartley school district was organized, Nicolai was chosen treasurer and served in that capacity until he died.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Swenson - Swen Theodore, January 18, 1890, Clara Emelia, September 26, 1892, Minnie Bergetta, October 10, 1894, Albert Selmer, November 26, 1896, Walter Nicolai, June 1, 1900, Gladys Oliva, January 23, 1902 and Alvin John, July 22, 1906. As the family grew so did the house so in these early years more rooms were added to the claim shanty to accommodate the growing family and the hired help necessary for the farm work when more land was also acquired. This same house is now occupied by a grandson, Norman, and his mother.
Mr. Swenson bought a house in Valley City where they lived for a few years during the school year so the children could have educational advantages. At these times a hired couple took care of the farm. The Swensons were living in Valley City when Mr. Swenson became ill with a respiratory disease and died February 3, 1918. A few months later the youngest son, Alvin, drowned in the Sheyenne River near their home. The family then sold the house and came back to the farm to live. The oldest son, Swen, then managed the farm home. There were other deaths over the years. Minnie, the second daughter, died April 7, 1911, Walter in 1915, and Alvin in 1918.
Farm power gradually shifted from horses to tractors so Swen Swenson took a course in gas engineering and automobile mechanics in Fargo to be prepared for this different mode of farming and transportation. SWEN married Clara Pederson the fall of 1917. She died early in 1918 from the flu that took so many lives at that time. In 1927 he married Cora Fladland-Blilie and they had one son, Norman. They lived on the SW quarter of Section 29 the first ten years of their married life while Albert Swenson lived on the Homestead farm with his mother. Then came the depression years and Albert decided farming was not a paying business and the winters here were too severe so he left for the West Coast. He found work in California and is still living there in his retirement. Clara also was employed in California, but came back to Valley City to live when she retired. Gladys married Perry Stowman and they lived in Barnes County.
Mr. and Mrs. Swen Swenson moved to the home place after his brother left and his mother lived with them until she went to the nursing home. Swen was elected school treasurer of Bartley Consolidated when his father died in 1918 and held that office for 41 years until, through redistricting, Bartley school district was annexed to Hannaford. He also served as Township supervisor for 35 years. Swen suffered a stroke in October 1967 and the family moved to Valley City in 1971 where Swen died shortly afterwards, November 29, 1971.
NORMAN Swenson was born July 5, 1928. He graduated from Hannaford High School in 1946 and attended State Science School at Wahpeton graduating in 1948. He enlisted in the Air Force in December 1950 and served four years as an aircraft electrician with one year stationed in Korea during the combat there. Norman continues farming and lives on the Homestead farm with his mother the six summer months of the year.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 231