- OSCAR R. OLSON holds a conspicuous place amount the thrifty
and prosperous young farmers
- of Green county, where his good sense, kindly disposition
and industrious habits have won him many friends and made him
a useful and honored citizen of his county. He was born March
24, 1869, a son of Rollin and Mary (PETERSON) OLSON, both of
whom were born in Norway. They came to this country in 1845,
and were married in Lafayette county, Wis., nine years later.
By this marriage they became the parents of the following family:
Caroline, the widow of Lars O. GROVE, of Jordan township, whose
sketch is found elsewhere; Morgan is dead; Clara is the wife
of E. B. TOLLEFSON, of South Dakota; Oscar R. will be referred
to farther on in this sketch; and William and Henry are both
farmers in the town of Jordan.
- Rollin OLSON was born Nov. 10, 1831, and died in the town
of Jordan March 31, 1898, and
- within these limits of almost seventy years lived an exceedingly
active and useful life. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, 15th
Wis. V.I., and served throughout the war with honor and distinction,
being first lieutenant at the time of his discharge. He took
part in some of the severest battles of the war, and everywhere
bore himself gallantly and well. For many years he was one of
the leading citizens of the town of Jordan, and at different
times was called upon to fill many of the town offices. In 1880
and in 1890 he served as census enumerator, and was always a
stanch Republican. In religion he was a member of the Lutheran
Church, and his honorable and upright career brought no stain
upon his faith. A man of correct and unquestionable character,
he was highly esteemed in every relation in which an active and
honorable manhood may manifest itself, as citizen, business man,
husband and father.
- Oscar R. OLSON, whose name appears at the introduction of
this article, was married to Carrie
- J. JOHNSON, Jan. 12, 1897. Mrs. OLSON is the daughter of
John JOHNSON, one of the old settlers of the town of York, and
has become the mother of two children, Irene (who died in infancy)
and Eva (born Jan. 8, 1901). Mrs. OLSON was born April 18, 1869,
and was one of a family of six children: John, of Green county;
Rachel, the wife of John ORDEGARD, of Buffalo county; Lewis,
of Dane county; Carrie; Martin; and Sever, of the town of York.
- Mr. OLSON was reared on the paternal estate in the town of
Jordan, and had his education in
- the Green county public schools, completing his schooling
at the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind. For
some years he was a successful school teacher in Green county,
and in 1892 was elected register of deeds in Green county, serving
for six years. Mr. OLSON enlisted in company H, 1st Regiment,
Wisconsin National Guard, in 1893, and served through all the
grades, and was made regimental adjutant, with the rank of captain,
in 1895. This regiment was mustered into the United States service
as the 1st Wis. V.I., on the outbreak of the Spanish-American
war, and he retained his position as captain and adjutant of
that command. This regiment was stationed at Jacksonville, Fla.,
during the summer of 1898, and there he was promoted to the position
of acting adjutant general of the brigade to which his regiment
was attached, and served in that office until he was mustered
out of service.
- Mr. OLSON purchased a part of the old J. C. ULA farm in the
spring of 1899. This is one of the
- desirable farms of this section, and consists of 241 acres
in section 17, of the town of York, twenty-five miles northwest
of Monroe, and three miles northeast of Blanchardville. Mr. OLSON
is one of the prominent men of the community in which his active
and useful life is passing. At the present time he is chairman
of the town board. Starting in life without a dollar, he went
to Dakota, where he earned his first fifty dollars, which he
spent in going to school. In politics Mr. OLSON is a stanch Republican,
and in religion a member of the Lutheran Church. Personally he
is a man of high character, and is devoted to the general welfare
of his country and to his family. Fraternally he is a member
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a past grand of
Monroe Lodge, No. 72, and is also a member of the Jerry Rusk
Garrison, Knights of the Globe, also of Monroe.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; pp. 845-846.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
|