Kittel Olson

As printed in 1916

KITTEL OLSON.

\ pioneer of Otter Tail county, who came to the locality when it was yet unbroken and uncultivated, and by his determined and persevering nature was able to do those things which today gives him one of the best farms of the township and a man who by his good citizenship and unselfish interest in the community and its welfare has won the rank of a leading resident and a valued citizen, the name of Kittel Olson and a review of his life are a suitable part of this work.

Kittel Olson was burn in the central part of Norway, on January 27, [852, he being the son of Ole Kittleson and Berit Ellefson, who were born in Norway, married there, and in the year 1882 came to America, to join their son, Kittel Olson, who had preceded them. On reaching America, ( )le Kittleson and Berit Ellefson went to Wining. near where Ole Kittleson was employed on farms for some years, later living in retirement with his son, Kittel. until the death of the elder Kittleson, in the year 1899. Ole Kittleson was survived by his wife. Berit, who now lives near Yining, being eighty-three years of age. To the marriage of Ole Kittleson and Berit Ellefson were born the following children: Kittel, the subject of this sketch; Ellef, a farmer who lives one and one-half miles east of the town of Vining; Knut, a farmer living one-half mile north of the town of Vining; Tom, who was a farmer and railroad worker, now deceased; Ole C, who is the manager of a grain elevator at the town of Underwood; Knut, who is a farmer of the state of North Dakota; and Rev. Adw. Olson, who is pastor at Morns. Minnesota.

Kittel Olson was educated in the public schools of Norway, and when twenty-eight years of age he came to America and settled in St. Olaf township, where he engaged in general farm work for sometime and then, in the year f883, Incame to Folden township and bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in section 27, land which being covered with unbroken timber, he proceeded to clear and to prepare for cultivation, at the same time building a log house in which to live. After some years effort and with tinaddition of many improvements, among which are a new house of modern construction, ami a new barn, together with other necessary buildings, the farm of Mr. Olson is among the best equipped, for general agricul-

purposes, of the locality. Kittel Olson engaged in general farming, each year producing excellent crops and raising first-class cattle for the market and for dairy purposes.

During the year 1880 Kittel Olson was married to Oletta Peterson, who was born in Norway, the daughter of Peder Peterson and wife. Kittel and Oletta Olson are the parents of the following children: Bella, who was born on April 13, 1881, and who married Theodore Bjerke, and now lives at Ruso, North Dakota: Olavus, November 3, 1882, who is a barber at Vining, Minnesota; Peter. February 21, 1885, who died on February 27, 1885; Matilda, July 10, [886, who died on September 11. 1889, and Clarence, October 16, 1888, who married Hilda Rakstad.

Kittel Olson has been a well-known man in the public life of Folden township. Otter Tail county, having served credibly in the office of school director and having been township supervisor, hi politics. Mr. Olson 1- an ardent Republican. Kittel Olson and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, in which congregation they are faithful and conscientious workers.

As printed in History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions : with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families (1916). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.