Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

PER OLSON

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

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


 
For more than a half century Per Olson has resided in Sutter County, and during 
all those years he has been a successful farmer.  He was born in 
Christianstadlan, Skane, Sweden, March 20, 1849, a son of Ole Olson and Anna 
(Person) Olson, both natives of Sweden, where they spent all their lives, the 
father passing away at the age of seventy-three and the mother living to reach 
the age of ninety-three years.  Five children were born to them: Anders; Elna, 
now Mrs. J. L. Gronquist; Per, our subject; Lars; and Malena, Mrs. Oredson, 
deceased.
Per Olson attended public school in Sweden, and in 1869 came to the United 
States and first settled in Chicago, where he worked for nine months.  Then he 
came to California, in March, 1870, and settled in Sutter County, fourteen miles 
southwest of Yuba City in what is now the Central-Gaither school district, then 
known as the Gaither district.  He worked for wages for three years, driving an 
eight-mule team in the grain fields.  In 1874 he leased a farm for one year; and 
in 1875 he bought a half-section of land, on which he built a home, and where he 
has since resided.
On May 1, 1875, at Gridley, Mr. Olson was married to Miss Mary Carlson, also a 
native of Sweden, born at Smaland, a daughter of John and Johanna Soderlund 
Carlson.  John Carlson brought his family to the United States in 1870 and 
settled in Chicago, where they lived for nine months.  Then they came to Sutter 
County, Cal., in 1871, and later removed to Butte County, and farmed for a time 
near Gridley.  Afterwards the family returned to Sutter County, and there John 
Carlson passed away.  Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Olson: Oscar 
Peter, of Oswald; Carl Alfred, deceased; Amanda G., who is now Mrs. Charles 
Johnson, of Sutter County; Elvina M. J., now Mrs. France Salmonson, of Sutter 
County; Mabel Pauline, now Mrs. Harry M. Gledhill, of Sutter County; Albert 
Theodore, who served for nine months over seas in the World War, and is now a 
farmer in Sutter County; Allen Fritzof; and August McKinley, a farmer on the old 
home place.  Mrs. Olson passed away on December 8, 1906.  Mr. Olson sold a 
quarter-section of his land, and today he and his sons farm the other 
quarter-section.  Three of his sons are members of Lodge No. 360, Woodmen of the 
World, of Yuba City; and Albert H. [T.] is a member of the American Legion.  Mr. 
Olson is a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church South.  In politics he is 
a Republican.
 
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 667