The Olson Families of Jackson County, Minnesota

PETER A. OLSON (1866), Belmont township farmer, has spent the entire forty-three years of his life on the farm upon which he now lives, having been born in the old fort located on the farm, which was built by the early settlers as a protection against the hostile Indians.

Peter Olson's parents were Anders Olson Slaabaken and Patnella (Peterson) Olson Slaabaken. The former piloted the first Norwegian families to Jackson county and for many years was the most influential man in the Norwegian settlement — a man who had the respect and confidence of all his neighbors. Much of his life's history is to be found in the chapters in the first part of this volume. He and his wife were both born in Norway and came to the United States when young. They resided several years in Wisconsin, a short time in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and came to Jackson county to reside permanently in 1860 with the vanguard of the Norwegian settlers.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

OLE J. OLSON (1862). There are few residents of.Jackson county who have a period of continuous residence of greater length than Ole.J. Olson, of this sketch, who owns a farm on sections 34 and 35, Belmont township. He is the son of John Olson and Anna (Ellingson) Olson, whose arrival in the county and adventures in this frontier region have been told in the historical part of this volume.

John and Anna Olson were born in Tolen, Norway, and soon after their marriage in 1851 they came to America. They resided in Rock county. Wisconsin, several years, and came to Jackson county in 1862. where they took a homestead — the land upon which the son now resides..John Olson died in 1879. His wife, who is now 84 years of age, resides with her son on the old homestead. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are now living, as follows: Christie, Anna, Lena (Mrs. P. H. Berge), of.Jackson; Ole J., Peter J., Petria (Mrs. Lojiis Ellingson), of Polk county. Wisconsin; Mrs. Ingebor Hoaas, deceased; Peter, deceased.

Ole J. Olson was born to these parents in Rock county, Wisconsin, December 17, 1858,

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After the massacre the family fled south and for a year lived at Spirit Lake. Then they returned to Belmont. Ole was a njemhcr of the party which met disaster in a prairie fire on the return while near the present villafre of Jackson, a detailed account ot which is to be found in the historical section of this volume. He continued to make his home with his parents and as a child and young man encountered many hardships and adventures incident to the settlement of a new country. After his father's death in 1879 Mr. Olson conducted the farm a fewyears for his mother and then bought the place and has since operated it on his own account. Mr. Olson has never married. He makes his home with his mother and a sister. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SIMON OLSON (1861), deceased, was one of the pioneers of the county and a gentleman worthy a place in its history. He was born in Tolgen, Norway, June 14, 1837, and came to America in 1856. From that date until 1861 he lived at Jefferson Prairie, Wisconsin.

In the spring of 1861 Mr. Olson, in company* with a colony of Norwegian settlers came to Jackson county, then very sparsely settled, and took a homestead in Belmont township. In the summer of 1861 he enlisted in Brackett's battalion of the Second Minnesota and served in the army nine months.

He again took up his residence in Belmont in 1862, only to be driven out in August by the Indians. He went to Spring Grove, Houston county, Minnesota, in 1863, was married there, and came back to his former home in Belmont in 1864, being with the first party to return to Jackson county after the mab- secre. Mr. Olson engaged in farming from that date until his death on April 27, 1907. During his long residence in the county he held several offices of trust, among them being county commissioner and judge of the probate court.

Judge Olson was married at Spring Grove, Houston county, Minnesota, in 1868, to Bertha Olson. She died April 17, 1877, and in 1883 he married Anna Minde. He was the father of ten children.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EDWARD E. OLSON (1869), a Jackson grain buyer, was born in Belmont township forty years ago, on December 6, 1869, and with the exception of a few years spent in Cottonwood county has spent his entire life in the county. His father, Ole E. Olson,.\Tme from Sweden when thirteen years old, and at the age of nineteen enlisted in the Unitekl States army and fought for the preservation of the union. He located in Belmont township in (he sixties and took as a homestead a piece of land that had been taken by one of the settlers who was killed in the massacre of lS(i2. He was a resident of Belmont township until his death. Our subject's mother was Clnistiiia (Anderson) Olson, who was present at the lime of the massacre.

Edward Olson, who w-as one of a family of ciglit children, lived with his parents until 1890. He worked on the farm and received an education in the district school and in the Breck school at Wilder. He bought a farm in Cottonwood county in 1890 and for eight years lived there, engaged in farming. Selling out in 1898, he located in Jackson and built an elevator in partnership with Lee Brothers, which they conducted three years. Thereafter Mr. Olson bought grain for the Hyde Elevator company five years, for James Lowe one year and since that time for M. H. Lee. Mr. Olson owns a home in the village. He is a member of the Lutlieran church.

In Des Moines township March 20, 1897, Mr. Olson was married to Emma J. Lee, a daughter of Oliver Lee and a native of the township in which she was married. Two children, Hayes and Clark, have been born to Mr. and Jlrs. Olson.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ANDREW C. OLSON (1SC8) is county commissioner of Jackson county and one of the most successful farmers of Christiania township. He is one of the oldest settlers of the precinct and has resided there since he was two years of age. He owns and farms 240 acres of land on sections 8 and 9 and has other business interests.

jNIr. Olson was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, Marcli 30, 1866, the son of Carl Olson, who died December 21, 1881, and Ingeborg (Simonson) Olson. His parents came to the new world from Norway in 1858 and located in Iowa, from which state his father enlisted and fought with the union forces during the civil war. He was with General Sherman on ids famous march to the sea and was wounded in tiic service. Andrew accompanied his parents to JacksoTi county in 1808 at the age of two years, and his home has ever since been in Christiania township. His father homesteaded land on the south bank of Fish lake, and there our subject lived until he was twenty'-two years of age, securing an education and working on the farm.

At the age of twenty-two Mr. Olson was married and began farming on his own account, locating on a farm on the west side of Fish lake. In 1890 he bought the farm he now owns and in 1897 he moved onto the place.

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As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

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Sir. Olson has taken a prominent part in the affairs of the county. He served as county commissioner from the fifth district from 1899 to 1906, inclusive, during which time two of the hotly contested battles for the pos.session of the county seat were waged. During his incumbency the contract for the present handsome court house was let. He is clerk of the township board, an office he has held for many years, and for several years he was clerk of school district No. 39. Mr. Olson is a lifelong republican, having cast his fir.st vote for U. S. Grant for president.

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As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

PETER T. OLSON (1870) has lived in Belmont township since he was six years of age. He owns and farms 200 acres of land on section 13 and engaged quite extensively in stock raising. He is the son of Thore O. Flatgard and Ingebor (Waldon) Flatgard, both past seventy years of age and residents of Belmont. They came from Norway in 1870 and less than a year later to Jackson county, where they homesteaded land on section 14, Belmont. They have nine children, as follows: Ole Peter, Mary (Mrs. J. F. Ellefson), Andrew, Edward, John, Julius, Ida and Lena (Mrs. Ole Eide), of Jackson.

Peter T. Olson was born in Norway November 21, 1864. At the age of five years he came to America with his parents, lived one year in Fillmore county, and then located in Jackson county. Until 1892 Peter resided on his father's homestead, attending school and helping work his father's farm. In the year last named he bought forty acres of his present farm on section 13 and began to improve it. He was married the next year and moved onto his own farm. Later he bought the other property adjoining. He is treasurer of school district No. 39 and has held the office for eight years. For a period of eleven years he has been a member of the board of township supervisors. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

In the Christiania church on July 8, 1893, Mr. Olson was married to Rosa Peterson, a native of Jackson county and a daughter of Ole Peterson, one of the early settlers of Belmont. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Olson, namely: Tillie, born June 4, 1894; Ida, born January 31, 1896; Clara, born January 31, 1896; Olga, born February 27, 1899; Lillian, born October 4, 1900; Mabel, born February 10, 1903; Josie, born September 14, 1905; Ruth, born March 16, 1908.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

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Tollef lived in his native county until 1870, when he accompanied his parents to.Jackson county. Until he was twenty-five j-ears of age lie lived on the parental farm on section 10, Belmont. Then he engaged in farming on his own account, renting land in Christiania township. Five years later lie bought his present farm, the northeast quarter of section 18. then iininiprnveil land, and he has made his home on the place ever since. He now has a model farm, improved with substantial buildings. In addition to his own farm lie rents a quarter section adjoining.

On Deeember I'.i, 1SS7, Mr. Olson was married in Belmont township to Betsey Johnson, al.so a native of Iowa. The following four children have been born to them: Sophia, Anna (!Mrs. Arlo Christensen), Obena and Thea. Mi-. Olson has held the oft'ice of clerk of school district No. 18.

lie moved to Alpha, where ho served as village marshal one year and as bartender for Carl Thuesen two years. He then returned to the farm. He is a member of the Catholic church of Jack.son.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

OLE R. OLSON (1880), Christiania township farmer, is a native of that precinct, having been born April 26, 1880, the son of Ryar and Gertie Olson. His parents came from Norway and to Jackson county in an early day and homesteaded land on section 12, Christiania township. They are still residents of the county.

Our subject has spent his entire life in Christiania township. He received a common school education and until he grew up worked for his father. Then he engaged in farm* ing for himself. He farms 200 acres of land, the home place being the northeast quarter of section 22. Besides his farming operations he has conducted a threshing machine for the last fourteen years.

Mr. Olson was married March 12, 1903, to May Hjony, of Des Moines township. Mr. Olson is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and of the Sons of Norway lodge.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.