Abel Olson came to the United States from Norway and served as a sailor before coming to Story County to farm. His mother came to the States at the age of 97, and lived an additional two years here before her death.
In addition to farming, Abel was a merchant, justice of the peace, a political leader, and one of the first assessors in Howard Township.
He married Jorene Olson in 1859 and they raised four children, Ole, Carl, George, and Andrew A.
Magnus Olson sr. came from Norway in 1883 with his parents, two sisters and four brothers. He married Isabel Wilson.
Ole F. Olson emigrated from Sevde, Norway in 1871. On October 22, 1885, he married Christina Ostrem who had emigrated from Etne, Norway in 1870. Eight children were born to them, Bella and Edward, who died in infancy, Emma, Amanda, Elmer, Bella, Obert and Milford. Mr. Olson died September 20, 1918 and Mrs. Olson died December 18, 1957 at the age of 97 years and 11 months.
John Quam was born in 1870 near Norway, Illinois. He moved to Iowa with his mother, Mrs. Theadora Schlanbusch Quam, five brothers, and one sister, and settled on a farm three miles north and one mile west of Roland. At age 19. John owned and operated a horse power threshing rig, later modernized to steam power and tractor power. John operated threshing runs for over 40 years. Mrs. Quam, nee Manda Swenson; was born in 1875 near Morris, Ill. , and moved with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. N. E. Swenson, to a farm northeast of Roland. In 1895, John and Manda were united in marriage and lived on farms north of Roland all their married lives except seven years (1913-1920) when the family lived in Roland and Mr. Quam owned and operated the Roland
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