Ole C. Olson

OLSON, PETERSON

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/5/2011 at 07:12:57

O. C. Olson, who is actively connected with farming interests in High Lake township, Emmet county, his home being on section 15, owns and cultivates two hundred and seventy-five acres of rich and valuable land. He was born in Norway, March 8, 1866, and is a son of Colman and Carrie Olson. The mother died in the land of the midnight sun and the father afterward came to the United States but has now passed away. In their family were eight children; seven of whom are yet living.

O. C. Olson was a lad of twelve years when he accompanied his father to the United States and through much of that time until he attained his majority he was employed at farm labor. After reaching man's estate he was married in 1892 to Miss Tena Peterson, a native of Emmet county and a daughter of William and Carrie Peterson, who were also natives of Norway, but became pioneer residents of Emmet county and homesteaded in High Lake township. They lived for a time in a log cabin and met the usual hardships and privations incident to settlement on the frontier. Both the father and mother are now de-ceased. Their family numbered eight children, of whom five are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Olson became the parents of seven children, Clarence L., Blanche L., Lloyd P., Artie A., Myrtle A., Orlando I. and Nor-man R., but Artie A., the fourth in order of birth, is deceased.

Following his marriage Mr. Olson began farming on his own account on rented land, which he continued to lease for eight years, but during that period he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase the farm where he now resides, situated on the south half of section 15, High Lake township. He owns altogether two hundred and seventy-five acres of rich and productive land, from which he annually gathers good crops. He is also a stockholder and one of the directors of the Farmers' elevator at Wallingford and his business interests have been so wisely and care-fully conducted that he is now numbered among the substantial citizens of his part of the state.

Mr. Olson votes with the Republican party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has served for the past eight years as township trustee and has also been township school director. Those who know him recognize him as a man of sterling worth, and in his business career he has so managed his interests and directed his efforts that he has won substantial success and his life history indicates what may be accomplished when there is the will to dare and to do.

Source: History of Emmet County and Dickinson County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, The Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1917, page 149.