George M. Olsen
George M. Olsen, the owner of an excellent farm property in Barton town ship, occupies a fine residence in the rear of which stands large barns and substantial outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, and these in turn are surrounded by highly cultivated fields, making his property one of the fine farms of Worth county. Mr. Olsen is a native son of the county, having been born on the same section on which he now resides on the 4th of July, 1879, his parents being Gilbert H. and Bertha (Gilbertson) Olsen. The father was born in Hallingdal, Norway, while the mother's birth occurred between Hallingdal and Valders, the home farm being situated on the dividing line between those districts. On coming to the new world in the year 1868 the father made his way to Wisconsin and for a year was employed at farm labor in Dane county. He then continued his westward journey to Iowa and settled in Mitchell county in 1870. He had been married in Norway before leaving the land of the midnight sun and after bringing his family to Iowa he took up his abode upon a farm, which he rented for a short time. He afterward purchased eighty acres of land which he developed and improved, but at a subsequent period he disposed of that property and bought land in Barton township, Worth county, becoming owner of fifty-seven acres on section 22 in 1881. With this as a nucleus he added to his possessions from time to time until he was the owner of two hundred and seventeen acres of excellent land, remaining thereon until his death. He was born in 1846, and died in 1896, at the age of fifty years, one month and nineteen days, -while his wife died in 1915. They were both consistent members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Olsen did a great deal for his community. He was of a generous disposition, aiding largely in promoting every plan and movement for the public good, and he was numbered among the valued citizens of his district. His old homestead is now operated by his son, Mat C. Olsen.
George M. Olsen spent his boyhood days in Barton township, Wrorth county, and attended the public schools through the winter seasons, while in the summer months he assisted his father in the work of the farm. Following his father's death he and his brother, Mat C, took charge of the old 'homestead, which they cultivated together for ten years, at the end of which time George M. Olsen disposed of his interest in the property and bought one hundred and sixteen acres elsewhere, to which he afterward added a tract of ten acres. He is also the owner of forty acres just across the road on section 19, Barton township, and he is now devoting his time and energies to general farming with good results. He has a splendid property which has been improved with all modern accessories and con-Veniences of the model farm of the twentieth century. His home is a beautiful country residence and he has large and commodious buildings upon his place, all of which stand as monuments to his progressive spirit.
On November 18, 1908, Mr. Olsen was united in marriage to Miss Alice Hanson, a daughter of Andrew G. Hanson and a native of Deer Creek township. Worth county, where her father followed farming. He was a native of Norway, but her mother was born in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Olsen have become the parents of four children: Alcienne, Dorothy, Elaine and Avis. Their home is the abode of warm-hearted hospitality and its good cheer is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Mr. Olsen is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and in politics is independent. He seeks earnestly the welfare and progress of the community in which he makes his home and cooperates heartily in many well defined plans and measures for the general good. He ranks with the progressive farmers of his section of the state and his prosperity has come to him as the direct and merited reward of earnest, persistent and honorable effort.
SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; Pages 520 & 521
Transcription by Gordon Felland, 8/14/2006