Olof Olson

OLSON, BENGTSON, NILSSON, ERICKSSON, SWANSON, WOLF

Posted By: Tamara (email)
Date: 10/15/2010 at 21:03:15

From the History of Boxholm and Grant Township in Boone County, Iowa, 1986, by David C. Peterson, p. 260:

OLOF OLSON (1865-1956)
Olof Olson was born in Elgo forsamling, Varmland, Sweden on June 1, 1865, the eldest of five children born to Anders Olson (1832-1925) and his wife Martha (Bengtson) Olson (1837-1890). The parents were likewise natives of Sweden and the family immigrated to this country in 1876, coming to Grant Township in 1877 where the father homesteaded land in Section 15. Both are buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery east of Boxholm.
Arriving in Grant Township at the age of 12 years, Olof Olson helped his father farm and later worked as a farm hand for other farmers. In the years 1887 and 1888 he worked as a farm hand near Valley Springs, South Dakota, where he helped oranize a band at that place. Returning to Grant Township in 1889, he organized and was the director of the first band in this township.
On Sept. 18, 1891 he was married to Miss Anna Sophia Nilsson. She was born in Hofves, Arvika forsamling, Varmland, Sweden on Jan. 7, 1870, the daughter of Nils Nilsson (b-1842) and his wife Maria (Ericksson) Nilsson (1842-1876). The parents passed their entire lives in Sweden, the mother dying when Anna was six years old. Anna came to this country in 1890, coming directly to Grant Township.
To Mrs. and Mrs. Olson were born three children: (Oscar) Edwin (1892-1975), Mrs. Swen W. (Minnie Viola) Swanson (1897-1969), and Axel Elmer (1899-1982). Mrs. Olson was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Sweden and Mrs. Olson was confirmed in the Lutheran Church at Dayton, Iowa in 1881. Both joined the Boxholm Lutheran Church on May 23, 1909, where Mr. Olson served as trustee and treasurer.
In 1895 the Olson family moved to Curlew, Iowa where they were engaged in farming for 12 years. In 1907 they returned to Grant Township and settled on a 160-acre farm in Section 11 (S1/2 of NE 1/4 and N1/2 of SE1/4), which Mr. Olson purchased on March 4, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Olson spent the rest of their lives on this farm. Mrs. Olson died there on July 7, 1930, aged 60 years. After Mr. Olson's retirement, the land was farmed by his son, Edwin, and is currently owned by Edwin's daughter, Mrs. Bruce (Velma) Wolf, who is their only descendant still residing within Grant Township. Olof Olson died on Dec. 22, 1956, aged 91 years. Both are buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery near Boxholm. The son Edwin was well-known in Grant Township. He was a WWI veteran and charter member of the Boxholm American Legion, and served on the Lutheran Church board, the elevator board, the Webster-Calhoun Telephone board, and the Prairie Lawn Cemetery board. He died May 13, 1975, aged 82 years.