- ROLLIN OLSON (deceased), who in his lifetime was one of the
best known and most highly
- respected citizens of Jordan township, Green county, is worthy
of more than mere passing notice in the pages of this work.
- A native of Norway, Mr. OLSON was born Nov. 10, 1831, near
the city of Christiania, a son of
- Ole and Carrie (IVERSON) OLSON, who passed their entire lives
in Norway. In 1846, then a lad of fifteen summers, Rollin OLSON
came to the United States, and first located in Dane county,
Wis., later living in Iowa and Lafayette counties, and afterward
removing to Jordan township, Green county, where he purchased
120 acres of land, and followed farming pursuits during the rest
of his life.
- On Aug. 5, 1854, Mr. OLSON married Mary PETERSON, of Lafayette
county, Wis., born
- near Christiania, Norway, Oct. 16, 1837, a daughter of Peter
and Mary (HANSON) PETERSON, also natives of Norway. Mr. PETERSON
died in that country, and his widow came to Wisconsin, settling
in Lafayette county, when their daughter, Mary, was fifteen years
old. To this union were born six children, a brief record of
whom is here given: Caroline, born April 5, 1855, is the widow
of Lars O. GROVE, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. Morgan
P., born June 17, 1859, married Miss HANSON, of Jordan township,
Green county, and died Nov. 14, 1892, in Clark county, S. Dak.,
leaving a widow and five children. Clara A., born Dec. 26, 1866,
is the wife of E. B. TOLLEFSON, of Clark county, S. Dak. Oscar
R., born March 24, 1869, married Carrie J. JOHNSON, of York township,
Green county; he was register of deeds for Green county some
six years; in the Spanish-American war he served in the 1st Wis.
V.I. as adjutant, with the rank of captain. William L. born Oct.
11, 1873, married Miss Emma BOYNTON, of Jordan township, Green
county; he is a farmer by occupation. Henry E., the youngest
in the family, born March 29, 1879, received his education in
part at the common schools of Green county, in part at Stoughton
Academy and Albion (Wis.) Academy. As a farmer, he is operating
part of the Old OLSON homestead, also 120 acres adjoining, and
has already made his mark as a scientific agriculturist, dairyman
and cheese manufacturer. On Feb. 7, 1901, he married Miss Emma
OLSON, of Jordan township, Green county. In politics he is a
Republican.
- Rollin OLSON, the subject proper of these lines, during the
war of the Rebellion enlisted in
- Company E, 15th Wis. V.I., and served from Feb. 14, 1862,
until Dec. 20, 1864, being both mustered in and mustered out
at Madison, Wis. His regiment was attached to the Army of the
Cumberland, and participated in the following battles: Island
No. 10; Union City, Tenn.; Perryville; Missionary Ridge; Chaplin
Hills; Stone River, where Mr. OLSON received a severe wound;
and Chickamauga. In these last two battles the 15th Wisconsin
took prominent part, and at the last named engagement Mr. OLSON
was taken prisoner. For many months he was confined in Libby
prison, where he was nearly starved to death, but he returned
home alive in 1864. He proved a brave and true soldier, and wore
his laurels well, going to the front as a private, and returning
with the rank of first lieutenant.
- Mr. OLSON then resumed the vocations of peace, buying 120
acres of land in Jordan township,
- Green county, which he continued to cultivate up to this
death. A leading citizen of his township, he served in various
positions of honor and trust; as member of the board; school
director; chairman of the township board; assessor, three terms;
and as census enumerator for both 1880 and 1890. In politics
he was always a stanch Republican, and in religious faith a consistent
member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. OLSON was called from earth
March 31, 1898, and his remains were interred in the Norwegian
cemetery in Jordan township, Green county. A man possessed of
high moral character, a brave soldier, an honorable citizen,
a noble father and model husband, he died deeply lamented by
all who knew him.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; pp. 769-770.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
|