This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Hawkinson, Swenson, Thorene, Russell, Stendahl, Peterson, Rydeen, Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/3FC.2ACI/3867.1 Message Board Post: I do not research the Hawkinson family, but found this write up in one of my history books: (taken from "History of the St. Croix Valley", pub 1909) J. A. Hawkinson was born in Marine township, in a part now known as Scandia township, Washington county, Minnesota, September 17, 1877, a son of Peter G and Eva (Swenson) Hawkinson, both natives of Elmbo, Sweden, the former born December 11, 1833, and the latter January 5, 1832. They were married in Elmbo, Sweden, coming to America in 1863, direct to Washington county, where the father purchased 200 acres of land. They were the parents of seven children: Swen A., born February 3, 1863, died December 9 of the same year; August H., born July 22, 1864, lives on the old homestead; Ida H., born September 27, 1866, married Joseph Thorene, of Washington county; Hannah C., born June 17, 1869, married Gust Russell, of Stillwater, Minn.; Amanda M., born August 31, 1872, married S. E. Stendahl, of Washington County; Minnie C., born December 5, 1874, married C. F. Peterson, of Washington County, and J. A., the youngest, is the subject of this sketch. The mother died March 15, 1! 904, and the father still lives with his son, August H., on the old homestead in New Scandia township. J. A. Hawkins(on) received his education in the district schools, finishing with a complete course in the Gustavus Adolphus School of Commerce at St. Paul, Minn. In 1904 he formed a partnership with F. J. Lake, and opened a lumber yard, handling a full line of building material, with a feed and planing mill and grain elevator in connection, at Copas, Minn., where they have an annual output of about 100,000 bushels of produce. They also deal in flour and feed. December 30, 1906, Mr. Hawkinson married Amanda C. Swenson, born in Washington county, Minnesota, January 14, 1882, a daughter of Solomon and Anna C. (Peterson) Swenson, both natives of Sweden, the father being born March 15, 1845, and the mother March 31, 1861. The father came to this country and settled in Washington county in 1864 and the mother settled here two years later. They were married in Scandia, Nov! ember 16, 1879, the union resulting in eleven children: Hannah M. was born August 26, 1880; Amanda C. is the wife of the subject of this sketch; Jennie M. was born February 7, 1884, and married Charles Rydeen, of Minneapolis; Emma D. was born February 19, 1886; Albert B. was born February 7, 1888, and lives in Scandia; Solomon R. was born February 28, 1890; Frank E., February 28, 1892; Josephine E., June 11, 1894; Carl O., August 28, 1896; Gust H. T., April 17, 1900, and Clarence V. E., August 2, 1902/ The parents are still living in New Scandia township, Washington county. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkinson have one daughter, Pearl Dorothy, born November 3, 1907. The family worships at the Swedish Lutheran church, of Scandia. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hawkinson come of families that stand high in this section of the country, all the brothers and sisters being honored and successful men and women. Mr. Hawkinson is a man of foresight and business ability, as well as of unquestioned integrity. He has the details of his large business at his finger ti! ps, and possesses that acuteness of vision that enables him to judge of produce conditions to the advantage of his business. He is one of the leading business men of the county.