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History of Story County Iowa O ANDREW A. OLSON submitted by Dick Barton Andrew A. Olson, a member of one of the well known families of Roland, was born in Howard township, Story county, on the 16th of September, 1863, a son of Abel and Jorena Olson. The father was born in Norway and on coming to the United States located in Chicago, where he followed the life of a sailor on Lake Michigan, serving for seven years as first mate of a vessel. In 1854 he came to Story county, Iowa, and, buying forty acres of land, engaged in farming. He later sold that tract and bought eighty acres, which he soon disposed of, and then purchased another eighty of section 16, Howard township, where he continued to live up to the time of his death. He was a persevering and industrious man and had accumulated six hundred and eighty acres of land in Story county at the time of his demise. He was for many years identified with the business interests of Roland, being one of the first men to engage in general merchandising there. In connection with Jona Duey, Paul Thompson and John Evenson, he conducted what was called the granger store, but later withdrew and embarked in the general merchandise business on his own account, with which he was connected at the time of his death. He was a member of the republican party and always took an active interest in all local political issues. He was justice of the peace for twenty years, which fact alone is assurance of his capable as well as faithful discharge of the duties of the office. He was also one of the first assessors of Howard township and was for many years regarded as the political leader in that township. He was one of the organizers of the Lutheran church of Roland, contributing liberally toward the founding and maintenance of the same. He married Jorena Olson, and unto them were born four children, all of whom are still living: Ole, who resides in Minnesota; George, living in Howard township, Story county; Carl, a resident of California; and Andrew A. The father passed away in 1898, having resided for forty-four years in Story county, upon which he left the impress of his strong personality and worthy character. The mother still lives in Roland. Andrew A. Olson attended the district schools of Story county and on laying aside his school books he worked for his father until he was twenty years of age, at which time he started out in life for himself. He had decided to follow agriculture, feeling that it offered better and more certain opportunities than almost any other line. In addition to his farming he has been a feeder of stock, in which he has met with reasonable success. Mr. Olson has been married twice, his first wife being Miss Berth Barka, and they became the parents of five children: Ella, who married I. M. Cole; Josie; Abel; Orville; and Arthur. The mother of these children passed away in 1901. For his second wife Mr. Olson chose Miss Julia Johnson and unto them has been born one child, Viola. The family worship in the Lutheran church, with which denomination the parents are identified by membership. Since reaching his majority Mr. Olson has voted the republican ticket and he takes an active interest in politics. OLE B. OLSON submitted by Dick Barton The stock-breeders have been of inestimable benefit to farmers and indirectly to the whole country, adding vastly to the value of domestic animals and making the business of the farmer, when properly conducted, highly profitable. Ole B. Olson of Story county should be named in the class that is accomplishing this good work, being a successful stock- breeder whose opinions are an authority on shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. He was born in Union township, Story county, June 17, 1872, son of Brit and Sarah (Sandeno) Olson, both of whom were born in Norway. They were married in their native country and after their emigration to the United States became residents of Union township, Story county, Iowa, where the father engaged in farming. He departed this life in 1882, but the mother is now living with her daughter, Mrs. E. H. Sheldahl, in Story county. Ole B. Olson was the youngest member of the family and was ten years of age when his father died. The mother, however, bravely kept her children together until they were grown up. The subject of this review attended the district schools and assisted in the support of the family until after arriving at twenty-one years of age, when he began farming on his own account on rented land. At the age of twenty-four he purchased one hundred and thirty acres on section 2, Palestine township, which he cultivated for seven years and then sold, buying his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 26 in 1902. He has made many improvements, rebuilding the residence, setting out trees, etc., so that he now has one of the most beautiful farms in his section. He makes a specialty of breeding thoroughbred shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs and has succeeded in raising some of the choicest animals of the kinds named that have yet been bred in this county. On the 20th of February, 1895, Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Miss Martha S. Kalsem, a daughter of John V. Kalsem, a record of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Six children have been born to this union, five of whom are now living, namely: Elmer J., who is now attending the Huxley high school; John F., also a student in the high school; Mollie S. and Ollie M., twins; and Milford S. Mr. Olson and wife are members of the Lutheran church, of which he is secretary and one of its liberal supporters. Ever since arriving at voting age he has adhered to the republican party, believing that in so doing he is best advancing the interests of the entire county. A sincere friend of education, he is a member of the school board, upon which he has served for several years past. The life of Mr. Olson is one of the great activity and the success he has attained is the result of his own unwavering and well directed industry. OLE J. OLSON submitted by Dick Barton
A substantial element in the citizenship of Roland is that which has been furnished by Norway. From the land of the midnight sun have come many who have proven loyal to American interests in this locality. Their diligence and enterprise has contributed to the development of the wonderful resources of the county and to business progress, while in matters of citizenship they manifest a patriotic spirit. To this class belongs Ole J. Olson, who is now living retired after many years' identification with agricultural interests in Howard township. He was born in Norway, January 8, 1843, and is a son of Andrew and Julia Olson. The mother died in her native country when her son was only seven years of age, and the father afterward came to the United States with his three sons, making his way to Chicago. Two years later they were joined by two daughters of the family. Andrew Olson spent three years in Chicago and afterward went to Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he secured a claim. He was a carpenter by trade and followed that pursuit which brought him immediate returns for his labor. His last days were spent with this children and he died in Story county at the home of his son Jeremiah in 1877. His family numbered five children of whom Ole J. Olson is the youngest. The others are: Marcalius, of Story City; Julia, who is the widow of Abel Olson, a resident of Story county, living southeast of Roland; Jeremiah, who is living in Howard township; and Malinda, who became the wife of John Evanson and died in Roland. Ole J. Olson was a lad of eleven years when he arrived in Chicago and almost immediately he sought employment, which he secured in lathing houses. At fourteen years of age he went to Wisconsin, where he began working by the month as a farm hand, and in 1863 he came to Story county, Iowa, where he invested the money that he had saved from his earnings in a tract of one hundred acres of prairie land a mile west and a mile and a half north of Roland. With characteristic energy he began the development and improvement of this place, carefully tilled his fields and in time brought the farm under a high state of cultivation. As the years passed he also added to his holdings until he is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in the home place on sections 3 and 10, Howard township, while his wife also owns ninety acres elsewhere in the same township. Year by year he carried on the work of the farm and annually gathered good crops, for his methods of cultivating the fields were practical. He secured modern machinery to facilitate his work and introduced modern improvements upon the farm, where he lived until a year ago, when he retired from active business life with a substantial competence and is now living in Roland. On the 11th of July, 1868, Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Miss Helen Hill, who was born in La Salle county, Illinois, on the 18th of December, 1848. She lived for ten years in Kendall county, Illinois, and then came to Story county in 1860. Her parents were Henry and Christina (Erickson) Hill, both natives of Norway. They came to the United States in June, 1848. The father had previously spent five years in this country, after which he returned to Norway, was married and remained a resident of his native land through the succeeding two years. He then took his wife to Illinois in 1848 and his death occurred in that state. A year after his death Mrs. Hill was married, in December, 1850, to Knudt Thompson, and in 1860 they removed to Iowa, their remaining days being passed in Story county. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Olson were born eight children. The first two were named John Henry and both died in infancy. The others of the family are as follows: Julia Ann, who died at the age of five years; Christina Amelia, who became the wife of Martin Johnson and passed away two years later; Julia Ann, who was the second of the name and died in 1905 at the age of twenty-seven years; Andrew Cornelius, who died when ten years of age; Jane Matilda, the wife of George G. Norbeck, of Aberdeen, South Dakota; and Henrietta Mabel, the wife of Simon Simonson, of Newman, Nebraska. The family are members
of the Lutheran church and Mr. Olson is a republican in his political
views. He has held school and road offices but has never been a politician
in the sense of seeking political preferment. His time and energies
were for many years given almost exclusively to the work of the farm,
and his close application, perseverance and business integrity constituted
forces in the substantial success which he has achieved.
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