- GUSTAV OLSON was born near the city of Christiania, Norway,
March 13, 1853, a son of Ole
- OLSON, who came to America in 1872. He has risen to prominence
in the agricultural circles of the town of York, Green county,
where he owns a fine farm, and is very prosperous. His home is
three miles east of Blanchardville, and twenty miles northwest
of Monroe, on section 29. Recently he has purchased a tract of
bottom land, consisting of twenty-two acres, paying for it $75
an acre, and has refused $50 an acre for his entire farm. Mr.
OLSON arrived in Green county in 1870, working for wages for
two years, and then went to Clear Lake, Iowa, but on account
of the hard times returned to Wisconsin and bought a small place
of forty acres, but soon sold this, and for two years rented
a farm in the town of Moscow, Iowa county. He then bought a place
of 100 acres; this again was sold, and the proceeds invested
in his present home.
- On Sept. 11, 1876, Mr. OLSON was married to Miss Bertha ANDERSON,
who was born in
- Norway, April 8, 1855, a daughter of Christian ANDERSON,
a noted clockmaker of Norway, who made the clock in the Main
street tower in Christiania, and she accompanied her parents
on their removal to Green county in 1869. To this marriage have
come the following children: Clara H., born Nov. 19, 1877, is
the wife of Lewis WAHL, of the town of York; Oscar, born July
4, 1880, married Lena PETERSON, of York; Alfred, born June 16,
1882, is at home; Ida Helena, born Jan. 5, 1885, is the wife
of Carl SKINDINGSRUD (both born twins), of the town of York;
Ella O., born Jan. 29, 1886; Clarence, born May 23, 1888; Bennie,
born March 15,1890; Nellie, born April 22, 1893; Mary, born Sept.
18, 1896; Lydia, born Aug. 26, 1899. Two children not mentioned
above died in infancy. The children are bright and intelligent,
most of them natural musicians. Mr. OLSON has two sisters now
living: Johannah (the wife of Gilbert PAULSON), and Caroline
(the wife of Christian ANDERSON), both living in South Dakota.
Mrs. OLSON has a brother and two sisters: Alfred (who lives near
Blanchardville), Helen (the wife of Ole THOMPSON), and Andrenna
(the wife of Knudt PEDERSON).
- Mr. OLSON came to this country a very poor boy, but his success
in this country illustrates the
- possibilities of life in this country to the children of
hopeless old world conditions. The farm which he owns and cultivates
is one of the best in this part of the State. On it is a handsome
three-story dwelling house and two barns, and it is supplied
with every convenience for profitable and progressive agriculture.
It has one orchard containing 200 apple trees. Mr. OLSON has
always done his own work, even to shoeing his horses, and Mrs.
OLSON has proven herself a most valuable helpmeet in the accumulation
of this world's goods, as she has done all her family sewing,
made all her own carpets, and, with the exception of nine weeks
during illness, has never been obliged to hire assistance. Their
competence is the result of their united effort, and is a source
of just pride to them. At the present time Mr. OLSON devotes
his attention not only to general farming and stock raising but
to dairying on an extensive scale, being a partner in a cheese
factory located on his farm, for which he furnishes daily the
milk of forty-five cows.
- In his politics our subject is a stanch Republican, and both
he and his family belong to the Lutheran
- Church.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; p. 941.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
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