One of the most unexpected opportunities that we have had as we travel through these United States is finding the places where our grandparents grew up. The phenomena has been fascinating as we both have felt a little closer to them through the experience. It’s almost surreal walking the streets that you imagine them having walked as children or seeing the school that they attended. The experience has told us a lot about who our grandparents are and why they loved what they loved. A connection that we had never put together, until we found them on the road.
We went to North Dakota specifically for this reason. For most RVers North Dakota is the last to check off their list of the lower 48 but we put it on the agenda for our first summer so that we could meet the farmer who still farms the Swedlund homestead. We were originally under the impression that since the land was in Marmarth, North Dakota that most likely meant that Elmer Swedlund, Mitch’s maternal grandfather, also grew up there, but that was not the case. So after a wonderful tour and meeting with Wes and Wanda the farmers we headed east to the town of Elgin, North Dakota to find out more about Elmer Swedlund.
Mitch’s has very fond memories of this gentle man who was adventurous, inventive, curious, and fun loving. This man who was just as comfortable on a horse as a snow mobile, who could build a house and plant a plentiful garden, who loved planes and trains and all things that go. So to Elgin we went wondering how had the family come to Elgin when the homestead was in Marmarth.
Located about 130 miles to the east of Marmarth, Elgin like most towns on the plains came to be with the advancement of the railroad. It was just getting it’s start when Elmer was born in 1915 to August and Alida Swedlund. The towns population was no more than 400 people and was mostly comprised of German Russians who settled in the area prior to the incorporation of the town. Curious we found that Alida was a Swedish immigrant and that August was born in Minnesota to Swedish immigrants Erick and Anna Swedlund. So we went on the hunt trying to piece together the stories that we did know.
Elmer was raised on a horse ranch and it was said that his father August had up to 300 horses during Elmer’s youth. Mitch’s mom had mentioned that there was a Swedlund mansion in North Dakota so now we were determined to find it. The home that Elmer grew up in was a modest home however his father August had to of had some capital to own so many horses, so we did more digging. That led us to Velva, North Dakota another 120 miles north and Mitch’s great great grandparents Erick and Anna who immigrated to America in 1869 and when they moved to Velva in 1910 he would own his property mortgage free. While Erick and Anna are a handsome couple who look well dressed there was only one house in town that resembled a mansion and we could not connect it to the Swedlund family.
Eric 
Anna
August and Alida move to Elgin in 1910 and also own their property outright, this property must be the horse ranch of Elmer’s youth, and when you see the old home movies it’s obvious how comfortable Elmer felt on the back of a horse. It was said that Elmer and family were well known about town and Elmer was quite upset when the family moved to Marmarth. A drought was killing the horses and August was forced to sell the horses and property before moving to the current plot of land in Marmarth. Starting in a new town as a young teen Elmer felt that he had lost his status and never really had a kinship with his new home. He did however hold onto the property that was his parents and returned often to check in with the farmer who share cropped the land.
Leona and Elmer Swedlund
Fate must have dealt Elmer his cards when he moved to Marmarth as it would lead him to the next part of his journey, his life partner of 57 years. Elmer and Leona met in Marmarth and from what we gathered they were both probably dissatisfied with life in there. At first opportunity Elmer asked Leona to skip town with him so that he could go work on airplanes and she gladly obliged. Elmer followed his heart, built himself a home in the Los Angeles area and went to work for Boeing.
As we walked the countryside outside of Elgin we could picture the young Elmer hopping on his horse and galloping across the plains. We now understood his joy of a good sled ride and his green thumb in the garden. Elmer grew up at a time when hard work was necessary to live and ingenuity a must to survive. It was all these things that made him the grandpa that Mitch loved so dearly, his kindness, his inventiveness, his adventurous spirit. For a brief moment this summer Mitch was able to see the world through Elmer’s eyes and his understanding and admiration grew tenfold.