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Genealogical Charts

JENNY (MANKELL) GORDHAMER (1858-1948)
Daughter of HW and Elizabeth Mankell

HW and Elizabeth Mankell had nine children. Jenny was the oldest, born in Northfield MN; she died in 1948, the last of the Mankell siblings.

1. Jenny (1858-1948) m. Andrew Gordhamer
2. Mary (1860-1887) m. Johnny Young
3. Anna (1862-1914) m. Nels Quam
4. Amanda (1864-1947) m. Julius Landquist
5. Hulda (1866-1931) m. Hans Melgaard
6. Oscar (1868-1936) m. Minnie Swenson
7. Sophia (1871-1894) m John Quam
8. Otto H. (1872-1939)
9. Esther (1874-1915) m. Gustave Erixon

On June 24, 1876 pioneer settlers and neighbors gathered at the Mankell homestead for the wedding of HW and Elizabeth's oldest child, Jenny, and Andrew Gordhamer. In his Willmar Tribune Pioneer Kid column, Gabriel Stene wrote in 1926, about this wedding. It was on this "Midsummer Day...we had a good pioneer time running around a midsummer pole decorated with midsummer June flowers." He later wrote that the "pole was planted in the front of the house and decorated with wild flowers from bottom to top. A good old settlers time was indulged in during the day and the pioneer kids enjoyed a good time...singing" and playing "Drop the Handkerchief. Being a fine evening, the enjoyment lasted the most part of the night." Stene continues his writing about Jenny and Andrew's 50th wedding anniversary:

Many of the good old settler and familiar faces of those days of their wedding 50 years ago were not present, but a group of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were there, more than I am able to enumerate. A group of strangers to us--so an old pioneer would be tempted to ask: "Is this the good old Norway Lake country or what part of the world is it?" But they were all busy entertainers to help promote the entertainment given in honor of parents, grandparents and great grandparents and another day of merriment was spent for the honor of the venerable couple, reminding us of the good old time of fifty years ago.

After an elaborate dinner where about 100 were seated in a tent enjoying a good meal, the toastmaster, L.A. Tjosvold of St. Paul, called on Rev. Baalson for a speech who also handed a purse of gold to Mr. and Mrs. Gordhamer...When the Pioneer Kid took leave he told them that to judge from conditions they were good for another run of 50 years and wished them good luck and Godspeed for many more years to come.

Jenny (Jennie) Mankell Gordhamer died on May 26, 1948. She was the eldest of nine children and the last one to pass away. Funeral services were held at East Norway Lake Lutheran Church, located near the Gordhamer home in the small community of Jericho (just 1.5 miles west of the Mankell homestead). She and Andrew (and son Austin) are buried in the church cemetery, section K.

1. Norway Lake Creamery, est. February 1896 by Martin Walby.
2. East Norway Lake Lutheran Church and Cemetery, est. 1875.
3. General Store and Post Office, est. 1879.
4. Feed Mill
5. Blacksmith Shop,
6. Swen and Guri Swenson home
7. Andrew and Jenny (Mankell) Gordhamer farm
8. Lake Mary
9. Slough

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Jenny and Andrew had 12 children:

1. Dena (Andine) (1877-) m. Severin O. Tjosvold (1872-1932), brother to Louis
2. Mary Elizabeth (1879-1951) m. Oliver Halvorson (1870-1932)
3. Johanna Wilhelmina (1881-1941) m. Louis A. Tjosvold (1868-1960), brother to Severin
4. Anna Jeannette (1886-?)m. Hoaglund (Hoglund)
5. Harry (1883-1950) m. Thea Quisberg (1884-1955)
6. Theoline (Tella) (1885-1962) m. Gilbert M. Anderson (1879-1965)
7. Victor (1889-1944) m. Carrie Erickson (1891-1978)
8. Arthur Walter (1890-1920)
9. Austin (1893-1969)
10. Eddie (1895-1976) m. Astrid
11. Axel (1895-1981) m Clara (Byrdie) Aasen (1896-1995)
12. Joseph (1898-1976) m. Christine Vold

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