Swen W. Edland was born in Mastera, Stavanger, Norway in 1865. As a young man he wanted to go to sea, but because of his somewhat reckless nature where on two occasions he almost drowned, his parents decided he would be safer on dry ground. As a result they sent him to America when he was 17 years old and he settled in Audubon, Minnesota He entered a trade of carpentry and painting.
Martha Lee was born in 1867 in Kongsberg, Norway and at the age of seven she came to America with her parents and settled in Audubon, Minnesota She eventually met and married Swen and they lived in Audubon till 1898. At that time Swen and a group, which included his brothers-in-law, Fred and John Lee, came to the Cooperstown area with a threshing rig to do custom thrashing. They were so impressed with the Dakota prairie that the following year they came back to homestead in Sverdrup Township.
The children born to Martha and Swen were Constance, Norman, Dagney (Ueland), Arthur, Clarence and Selmer.
Many people remember Swen as being a member of an excellent singing quartet who performed for many churches and gatherings. He was also known for his reckless and fearless ways while performing his painting trade such as scrambling on rooftops without any supports, much to the delight of the children.
Swen Edland passed away in 1931 in Cooperstown. Martha, his wife, passed away in 1934 also in Cooperstown.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 426