Alfred John Olson - 1884-1952

OLSON, HEGLAND, HANSON, JOHNSON, PETERSON, ELLIS, HIRSCH, THOMPSON, KOBRIGER, ROE, WRIGHT, HAEGELAND, NICHOLS, SPELHAUG, DIETRICK

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 8/13/2013 at 20:31:49

SOURCE: newspaper clipping, unknown paper,(perhaps Clermont) December 1952
Contributor: Connie Ellis ( Alfred was the grandfather of contributor's husband, Dale Ellis)

Alfred John Olson, son of Ole Hegland Hanson and Kristina Ragnild Johnson, was born February 12,1884 in Christiansond, Norway and passed away on December 14, 1952 at the age of 68 years. He had been ill for several months.

Alfred John Olson came to America in 1903 at the age of 19. Upon arrival in New York he worked for a short time in the Adirondack Mountains as a carpenter but soon joined his sister Bertha Johnson who was already living in the Preston and Chatfield, Minnesota area. He finally settled in the Clermont, Iowa area because he had relatives living in this area. Since then he has always lived in the community farming, working at the Brick and Sand Company, and later at the Clermont Hardware Store.

On December 19, 1907 Alfred was married to Amelia Peterson of Clermont, Iowa. To this union eight children were born, of whom six survive besides his wife. They are: Agnes Ellis of Postville, Iowa; Bessie Hirsch of Marshfield, Wisconsin; Irene Thompson of Calmar, Iowa: Gladys Kobriger of Waterloo, Iowa; Julia Roe of Waukon, Iowa; and Leonard Olson of Clermont, Iowa. Two sons, Olaf S. Olson and Joseph I. Olson; and two half brothers, Martinius Haegeland and Jorgen/ George Hegland preceded him in death. Also left to mourn is one sister, Mrs. Jim Johnson of Chatfield, Minnesota; one half brother, Andreas Hegland still living in Norway; 20 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren; besides nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday afternoon at the West Clermont Lutheran Church with Rev. S. B. Knudsen officiating with burial in God's Little Acres. Casket bearers were Albert Christianson, Barney Yauslin, Lloyd Anderson, Albert Schave, Olaf Berg, and Louie Amundson. Flower girls were grandchildren Betty Ellis, Alita Hirsch, Judy Thompson, and Sherrol Kobriger.

People from a distance attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Jim Johnson of Chatfield, Minnesota, Mr. and Mrs. Orvis Johnson of Dover, Minnesota, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wright of Fountain, Minnesota, Mrs. Ardry Nichols and son, Russell of St. Charles, Minnesota, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Spelhaug of Lewiston, Minnesota, Mrs. Charles Dietrick of Winona, Minnesota and Mrs. Bertha Hirsch of Auburndale, Wisconsin.

NOTE: The Olson surname of Alfred John Olson followed the Norwegian custom of the child assuming the first name of the father (in this case, "Ole" and adding "son" -- Ole's son or Olson). Once in the United States the surname remained as Olson.