Svend Svendson Sneve Papers

An autobiography of Svend Sneve published in Oppals Lag Bogen, an account from a newspaper article announcing the funeral of Svend, an account from a newspaper article about the death and funeral of Svend’s wife, Mette Olson Sneve, and a short biography of Svend’s mother, Sigri Olsdatter Sneve, written by Alvina Sneve.

Biographical Note

Svend was born on 25 April 1848 in Oppdal, Norway, to Svend and Sigrid Swenson. He was a hired farm boy and then went to Switzerland to learn the cheese-making trade. He was in the army for only fifteen days and then decided to go to America. He immigrated to America at the age of twenty-four and worked in the mines of Michigan, and shortly after went to La Crosse, Wisconsin, to work in the saw mills and logging camps. He met Mette Olson and married her in 1875. They had twelve children together, six of whom survived to adulthood (the others died as a result of diphtheria and other contagious outbreaks). A year after their marriage they filed on a homestead in Medary township in Dakota Territory where they experienced the many hardships of pioneer life. They farmed, raised their children, interacted with members of the local Native American nations, and were active in the Lutheran church. They retired in 1909 and lived in Volga for twenty years. In 1929 they moved to Glenwood, Minnesota, to live with their daughter, and the following year to stay with another daughter in Brookings, where both lived until their deaths. Mette passed away of pneumonia on 10 May 1933, and Svend on December 29 1938. However, earlier that year, in 1938, Svend was able to travel to Seattle, Washington, to visit his daughter and brother.

Mette Olson Sneve was born on 3 March 1856 near Levanger, Norway. She immigrated with her parents at the age of twelve to La Crosse, Wisconsin. She married Svend Sneve in 1875.

Svend’s mother, Sigri Oldsdatter Sneve, was born on Sneve Gaard, Oppdal, Norway, on 17 December 1818 to Ole Johnson Bjerkager and Mari Oldsdatter. She married in 1844 to Svend Svensen Vikelund, who took the name Sneve. They had nine children, Svend being one of them. Sigri came to America and died in 1905.