OLSEN, Clara Annette 1886-1980

OLSEN, LARSON, SYSE

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 1/25/2015 at 17:15:06

Clara Annette Olsen was born September 30, 1886 at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa to Lars Iver (Syse) Olsen and Anna Regina Larson, the third of their seven children and the second daughter to be named Clara.

She was baptized on October 31, 1886 at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church at Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa. Her baptismal sponsors were: Nels O. Nelson & wife; Iver Nelsen and Oline Goplerud.

Clara was confirmed at RCLC on June 2, 1901. She never married, nor had children.

Clara attended country school at Walnut Grove Cedar #7 in Meroa, across from the Rock Creek Lutheran Church. She remembered being given a ride to school in a wagon because the road was flooded and the students dancing in the hall during the noon hour accompanied by Martin Johnson playing the harmonica. She stated that Nick Peterson (who operated the Meroa General Store) had an ice house west of his store so he could sell ice and sometimes he kept food in a spring to keep it cold. When Clara was 13, her mother died and so she had to help care for the family. She continued to live with and take care of her father until his death. She was an avid seamstress and crocheted and often made Norwegian pastries or lefse.

Found in the 1900, 1925 - 1940 censuses living at Osage, Mitchell, Iowa:
1900: Lars I Olson 50, Anna R Olson 37, Ida Olson 16, Clara Olson 13, Matilda Olson 10, Lawrence Olson 7.

1925: Lars Olson Junior 75, Clara A Olson 38

1930: Lars I Olsen 80, Clara A Olsen 43.

1940: Clara A Olsen 53, Sadie Obrein 58 (renting a room). Clara owned her home. Her father, Lars Iver built it and the one just south of it, both on Sixth Street, Osage. Clara's sister, Ida eventually lived in the other home.

Found in the 1910 - 1920 censuses at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa:
1910: L I Olson 60, Clara Olson 23, Matilda Olson 20, Laurence Olson 17.

1915: Clara Olsen age 28.

1920: Lawrence A Olsen 27, Lars Olsen 69, Clara A Olsen 33.

Clara A Olsen died July 11, 1980 at Osage, Mitchell, Iowa and was buried at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery, Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa.

There is a memorial for her at Find a Grave #99561251.