Soren Olson

OLSON, HANSON, NELSON, BRANVIG, SEVERSON, RILEY, ANDERSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/7/2010 at 05:52:00

SOREN OLSON

Soren Olson is included within Norway's contribution to the citizenship of Winnebago county, for he was born in the land of the fjords on the 3d of April, 1851, his birthplace being in the parish of Opdahl, near Bergen. His parents were Ole Hanson and Martha Nelson, who were farming people of that country. Their family numbered six children, but only two are now living: Soren; and Nels, who still occupies the old homestead in Norway. The parents never came to the United States.

Soren Olson crossed the Atlantic in 1872, when a young man of twenty-one years. The reports which had reached him concerning the opportunities and advantages of the new world proved to him an irresistible attraction and after landing at Quebec, Canada, he made his way across the country to Freeborn county, Minnesota, where he lived for a few months. Later he spent two years in Mitchell county, Iowa, where he was employed as a farm hand, and in 1875 he came to Norway township, Winnebago county, and purchased the west half of the northwest quarter of section 30. The following year he acquired the remainder of that quarter section, thus becoming owner of one hundred and sixty acres of good land which he cleared and developed, continuously farming this until 1910. He then removed to another farm, which he had previously purchased, comprising two hundred and forty acres of land on section 20. He also bought one hundred and twenty acres on section 19 and another forty acre tract on section 30. At one time he was the owner of four hundred and sixty acres of valuable farm land in Norway township, but has since sold all but two hundred and eighty acres of this. Year after year he carefully and systematically engaged in farming, winning success by his unfaltering and intelligently directed efforts, but in 1916 he retired from active life and removed to Scarville, where he and his wife now occupy an attractive home.

In May, 1878, Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Olson, daughter of Jacob and Gunilda Olson, who were natives of Norway and in 1861 came to the United States, establishing their home in Dane county, Wisconsin, where they lived for three years and then removed to Freeborn county, Minnesota, where they followed farming until called to their final rest, their remains being interred in Lime Creek Church cemetery. They were devoted members of the United Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Olson became parents of ten children: Ole, living in Scarville with his parents; Jacob, who is upon the home farm in Norway township; Matilda, the wife of Herman Branvig, of Crookston, Minnesota; Gilbert, whose home is in Logan township, Winnebago county; Carrie, now the wife of Henry Severson, of Norway township; Emma, the wife of E. A. Riley, of Norway township; Nellie, the deceased wife of Axel Anderson, of Scarville; Severt and Oscar, who are also residents of Norway township: and Minnie, at home.

The parents are members of the United Lutheran church and in his political belief Mr. Olson is a republican. For more than twenty years he acceptably filled the office of township trustee, was also road supervisor for a number of years and for some time filled the office of school director and was president one year. He was likewise interested in various cooperative companies of which he was a director, but he has now put aside all business cares and is resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. His life record should serve to inspire and encourage others, for it shows what may be accomplished through individual effort. He was practically penniless when he came to the new world, but he took advantage of the opportunities which he here found and through persistent, earnest labor, worked his way upward and is now numbered among the men of affluence in this section of the state.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 315-316.