Olesen, Julius P; 1905 Bio, Eagle County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/eagle/bios/olesenjp.txt --------------------------------------- Donated April 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Julius P. Olesen This prominent business man of Eagle county, who is the leading merchant of Gypsum, is a brother of Hans P. and Samuel P. Olesen, sketches of whom will be found on other pages and in them the family record appears. He was born in Germany on February 16, 1876, where he was educated in the state schools, being graduated in their higher courses. In his native land also he learned his trade as a bookbinder and worked at it until 1889, when he came to the United States and joined his brothers in this state. After his arrival here he did all kinds of work that came his way in order to get enough money to pursue a course of business training at the State Agricultural College, located at Fort Collins, where he was graduated in due course. In 1892 he became associated with J.E. Mulligan at Leadville as bookkeeper, and after remaining with him seven months assumed the management of the extensive general merchandising business of F.M. Belding at Eagle. After leaving that engagement he became the manager for the Riley Company at Gypsum, and conducted its affairs two years and a half. In 1903 he bought a store for himself at Eagle, and on March 15, 1904, he started another at Gypsum, conducting them separately until the 15th of the following September, when he consolidated them at Gypsum, where he has since given his whole attention to the business. He carries a complete stock of general merchandise, groceries and fresh and salt meats, and by studious attention to the needs of the community meets the requirements of a large and growing trade in the town and throughout a large extent of the surrounding country. On June 19, 1904, he was married to Miss Iva Beck, a native of Iowa, a cultured lady who was principal of the schools at Gypsum two years, and two years a teacher and two principal at Poncho Springs. Mr. Olesen is emphatically a self-made man and his friends are proud of the job. He meets all the requirements of the best American citizenship in a manly and masterful way, and gives to the community in which he lives an excellent example in all the relations of life. On all sides he is highly respected, and in every element of progress for the people around him he is wise, active and helpful, deeply devoted to the interests and institutions of his adopted country and doing his part in promoting their welfare. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally a woodman of the World. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.