California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


ABRAM OLSON. � An interesting instance of an enterprising man who, 
having made a great success in one field, had the foresight necessary to see 
the still greater opportunities in another, is afforded in the life-story of Abram 
Olson, the well-known contractor and builder of Fresno, who bought and 
improved certain ranch property, and is now one of the foremost viticulturists 
of the vicinity. He was born in Daleslan, Sweden, in April, 1863, the son of 
a prosperous farmer, and was reared on a farm, while he attended the gram- 
mar schools in Sweden. Later, pushing out for himself according to the cus- 
tom of his country which encourages a lad early to get upon his feet, he be- 
came an expert sawyer and then a master carpenter especially familiar with 
lumber; and after that, wishing to vary his experience, he took to the lakes, 
and for three years was a sailor. 

When he was twenty-two years of age, Mr. Olson crossed the ocean and 
pushed west to South Dakota, where he went out on a farm at Elk Point. 
At the first opportunity, however � for he found agricultural conditions here 
very different from those in Sweden � he took up carpentry and building, 
and so resumed his trade. His characteristic Old World thoroughness con- 
tributed much to make him a very acceptable workman, and it was not long 
before he had established himself in the big city of St. Paul. His clever and 
satisfactory work, in fact, made him in demand by a power elevator company, 
and he had all and more than he could do helping to construct elevators. 
During these years he had a forty-acre farm in South Dakota, but he sold it 
to locate a homestead of 160 acres thirty-five miles east of Bismarck, which 
he improved and managed. 

In the fall of 1912, Mr. Olson sold that property and located in Fresno. 
He took up contracting and building, and erected several bungalows for 
Messrs. Dodds & Orr. The next year he bought the twenty acres on Ventura 
Avenue soon so well identified with his name, eleven miles east of Fresno, 
and leveled and improved the land, put up a residence and other out-buildings, 
and so made it one of the really desirable ranches of the county. It is under 
the Fancher Creek ditch, and therefore has plenty of water, and this has 
proven a consideration of the first importance. He set out a fine vineyard of 
carefully-selected Thompson seedless and emperor grapes, and also planted 
figs and with each he had phenomenal success. After improving this ranch, he 
sold it in June, 1918, and now owns eleven acres in Roeding Villa Colonies 
where he resides with his family, devoting his land to viticulture. For years 
he has been one of the enthusiastic and hard-working members of the Cal- 
ifornia Associated Raisin Company. 

During his pleasant days in South Dakota, Mr. Olson was married to 
Miss Nellie Johnson, a native of South Dakota, and the daughter of Peter 
Johnson, one of the most honored pioneers of that great commonwealth. 
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Olson, and each has reflected 
the creditable qualities of their parents. Bernice is Mrs. McFarland of 
Fresno; Milford was in the United States Navy and now in the employ of the 
Newman Vineyard; and there are Garfield who was in the United States 
Army, First Army Mobile Veterinary Hospital No. 1. He served overseas, 
stationed at Verdun, serving until September 12, 1919, when he was mustered 
out at San Francisco and returned home; Electa, Madeleine and Floyd. Mr. 
Olson is a Lutheran while his wife was raised a Baptist and he carries on his 
civic work under the banners of the Republican party, while lending the most 
helpful support to all local movements for community improvement.