P. E. and Ellen Svinhufvud
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud
(born in 1861, died in 1944) was the Chairman of the Senate that declared and fulfilled the national independence of Finland in 1917. He was the Prime Minister during 1917-1918 and Finland´s first Head of State in 1918. He served as the Prime Minister again during 1930-1931 and as the President of the Republic of Finland during 1931-1937.
After studying law Svinhufvud became a judge and a lawyer, working in Helsinki, Turku and Heinola, before moving to Kotkaniemi in Luumäki. Svinhufvud became a politician during the Russification of Finland. He became a politician who fought against injustice as a member of the nonviolent Kagal resistance movement. It is said that Svinhufvud had a strong sense of justice. As a strict constitutionalist he was removed from office twice 1903 and 1914 and was banished to Siberia for over two years in 1914.
P.E. Svinhufvud was elected Member of Parliament into the new unicameralist parliament in 1907. He served as the chairman of the Parliament until 1913.
Svinhufvud spent most of his free time in nature, shooting, hunting, and fishing. He joined the White Guards in 1919 and found great success in target shooting competitions.
Ellen Svinhufvud
maiden name Timgren (born in 1869, died in 1953) was the firstborn child in her family, joyful and outgoing. She met Pehr at the summer place of Ellen´s family, while Pehr was serving as an assistant judge for Ellen´s law speaker grandfather. The couple got engaged in 1887 when Ellen was 17 and married in 1889. They had six children, two girls and four boys.
Ellen was an active woman, who enjoyed being in high society just as much as working in a busy farmhouse. In addition to taking care of the garden and animals at their Kotkaniemi home she was active with different organizations and loved doing handicrafts. She was a reliable support for her husband and took care of their home.
