Andrew Olson 1845-1940

OLSON, OLESON, NELSON, BIRKLAND, BERKELAND, HOLMES, HANSON, THOMPSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/28/2013 at 23:47:42

Mrs. Ole Berkland of Fenton came last week to the home of her parents, called here by the death of her father, Andrew Olson, who died Friday. Services were held at the Immanuel church Tuesday by Rev. Nordsletten. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, March 21, 1940)

Andrew Oleson [Olson], Sr., passed away at his home Saturday morning. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, March 21, 1940)

Mrs. Andrew Larson was brought to her home Saturday after recovering from a major operation which she underwent some time ago at a hospital in Fairmont. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, March 21, 1940)

Mrs. Olef Berkeland mourns the death of her father, Andrew Olson of Halfa. Mr. Olson had been in poor health for some time and he passed away Saturday evening at the age of 90 years. Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Immanuel church at Wallingford. (Emmetsburg Reporter, Emmetsburg, IA, March 21, 1940)

Mr. and Mrs. Truman Thompson and children attended the funeral services for Andrew Olson at Wallingford Tuesday. Mr. Olson was the grandfather of Mrs. Thompson. He was 96 years old at the time of his passing. (Emmetsburg Democrat, Emmetsburg, IA, March 22, 1940)

Olson Obituary
Andrew Olson, who passed away at his farm home in the Jack Creek township, Emmet county, Iowa, on last Saturday afternoon, March 16, 1940, was born in Nummedal, Norway, on May 7, 1845. When death took him from our midst, Mr. Olson had attained 94 years, 10 months and 9 days as his advanced age. He had suffered several minor paralytic strokes during the last 12 years of his life, and these gradually weakened him.

At the age of 25 years Mr. Olson, believing that the United States could offer him a better future than could his own country, he bade his closest kindred and friends goodbye and immigrated to America. His first place of residence was at Austin, Minn.

At Anoka, Minn., he was united in marriage to Eli Nelson on December 27, 1877. Reverend J. Waage officiated. After a stay of only two months in Anoka, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Olson moved to Austin, Minn., where Mr. Olson worked as a section hand for four years, receiving 90c a day for his labor. From Austin, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Olson with their two children, Anna and Lewis, moved into Emmet county and settled on the place where Mr. C.F. Wolden lives. This is on the east edge of High Lake township. The family lived there four years. Mr. Olson made his living by hiring out to the scattered settlers in his community, especially to the different Scotch families. Among other things that he did at this time was the clearing away of the timber on that piece of land, which is now the High Lake cemetery, which shortly before had been measured off as a burial ground. The earthly remains of the departed Mr. Olson was laid to rest in this cemetery.

In 1886 Mr. and Mrs. Olson bought a piece of land, some less than 80 acres, in the Jack Creek township for $8.00 per acre. On this farm the Olsons reared and raised their many children and where Mr. and Mrs. Olson lived for more than 50 years. Two years ago the Olsons celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Mr. Olson is survived by his wife, who physically was not able to be present at the funeral and by his children: Mrs. Olai Birkland of Ringsted, Iowa; Lewis Olson of Lily, South Dakota; Mrs. Edward Holmes of Genoa, Colo.; Ole Olson of Walnut Grove, Minn.; James Olson of Lemmon, S.D.; Andrew Olson of Comfrey, Minn.; and Martin Olson of Armstrong, Iowa. He is also survived by 38 grand children and 25 great grand children. And also by a brother, Charley of Waterloo, Iowa, and two sisters, Kari and Anna, living in Norway.

Four children have preceded their father in death, namely, Mrs. Amos Hanson, who passed away in 1933, and Christine, who died in infancy. A son, Johnnie, passed away in France shortly after the close of the world war as he was on his way back to American, and Christian [Christena] who died in Iowa City while she was taking a course in nurses’ training about the same time.

The funeral was conducted on Tuesday, March 19, 1940. A brief service was conducted at the home. The service proper was held in the Immanuel church at 2 p.m. Reverend Peder Nordsletten of Wallingford, was in charge. Reverend A. Gaard of Cylinder spoke also. A male quartet, composed of Sylvester Berge, Edgar Iverson, Clarence Olson and Leland Annonson sang two numbers at the church, namely: “Rock of Ages” and “Nearer My God to Thee.” This latter song was sung in the Norwegian language. At the cemetery the song: “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” was sung by Mrs. P.G. Paulson, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Berge and Mrs. Edw. N. Iverson.

The pallbearers were the five sons of the departed, namely Lewis, Ole, James, Andrew and Martin and the son-in-law, Mr. Edward Holmes.

The funeral of Mr. Olson was very well attended as he had lived in the country for 58 years and was very widely known. Many pretty floral offerings decked the casket and adorned the church. In addition to the flowers $47.00 was given by relatives and neighbors to various worthy causes, including the Ebenezer Home for the aged, Minneapolis, Minn.; Beloit Orphans’ Home, Beloit, Iowa; the Zion Society for Israel as well as the Hauge Inner Mission Federation with headquarters in Minneapolis, Minn. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, March 28, 1940)