1882 Biographies, beginning with O, Allamakee County, Iowa Transcribed by Phyllis Peterson and Roxanne Barth for the USGenWeb Archives. Submitted August 1999 by Roxanne Barth , IAGenWeb Allamakee County Coordinator. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any 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. ************************************************************************ History of Winneshiek and Allamaee Counties Iowa 1882 By W. E. Alexander Sioux City, Iowa: Western Publishing Company 1882 Reprinted by Winneshiek County Genealogical Society Decorah, Iowa: The Anundsen Publishing Company O A. G. Olson, P.O. Lansing; farmer, sec. 21; son of Andrew and Bertha Olson; born December 19, 1830, in Sweden: emigrated to the United States in 1853, stopping in Rock Island county, Ill., till in 1854, when his parents also came from the old country, and they all came on to Allamakee County in a steamboat up the Mississippi River to Lansing. The cholera prevailed to a considerable extent on the vessel, from the effects of which his mother died soon after reaching here. Located in Center township, there then being few families in the township. He was married to Miss Anna C. Lindburg, January 6, 1855; their children are Mary A., Albert G. and Ada E. Mr. O. now owns nearly 200 acres of land, mostly on the Village Creek bottom, which is considered far superior to the high lands. He is one of the enterprising men of his township, having served his township in some official capacity, most of the time since living in it, and is at present one of the trustees. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 519. L. Olson, farmer, was born in Norway in 1834. In 1854 he came to America and settled in Village Creek. He was engaged in the mercantile business in Lansing for a number of years, has also carried on the same business in Village Creek, and in 1882 settled on his present farm. He married Christina Carleson in 1856. Their children are Carl, Albert, Leonard S., Elizabeth and Caroline. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 519-520. H. F. Opfer, dealer in hardware, farming implements and machinery. This enterprising young merchant is a son of Simon and Christena Opfer, and was born in Sheboygan County, Wis., in 1853. In 1865 he came with his parents to Iowa and settled in Allamakee County. Here he helped till the soil until 1870, at which time he entered the store of W. C. Earle, where he served as clerk for over six years. He now concluded to engage in business for himself, and in April, 1877, opened a hardware store. The year following he removed to his present location, and is meeting with marked success, carrying a stock of about $5,000. He also does an extensive business in farming implements and machinery. Mr. Opfer was married in 1879 to Miss Mary Hager, and now has two children, Elmer G. and Leonard J. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 518. Simon Opfer, farmer, sec. 22, Ludlow tp.; P.O. Waukon; a native of Germany, born in 1822. In the fall of 1849 he was married to Christina Stuckman, and in 1851 emigrated to the U.S., and first settled in Sheboygan County, Wis. In 1865 he removed to Iowa and located in Allamakee County. Mr. Opfer has been quite successful in the accumulation of this world's goods, as he now owns 532 acres of land, a house and lot in Waukon, and the store now occupied by his son. The children are Simon and Henry F. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 519. James Orr, Postville, farmer; owns 280 acres of land valued at $50 per acre. He was born in Ireland in 1829, his parents emigrating to the United States in 1834, locating in Schuyler county, N.Y. He received his education in the common schools and at the Plattsburg and Starkey seminaries; followed teaching several winters in New York and six terms since coming to Iowa. In 1855 he came to Allamakee County, Iowa. He married Miss M. A. Ellison, January 1st, 1856. She is a native of New York; they have seven children, Ellison J., Darius S., Frank M., Mary E., Jennie B., Carrie and Ollie. Mr. O. has served in several important positions in his tp., and is a prominent and influential citizen. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 519. J. L. Orre, dealer in hardware; was born in Norway in 1852. In 1854 the family emigrated to the U.S. and settled in Allamakee County. Here J. L. received a common school education and helped till the soil until 1873, at which time he entered the store of L. Olson, Lansing, for whom he clerked one year, then dealt in agricultural implements and machinery until July, 1879, when he removed to Waukon and established his present business; carries a stock of from $4,000 to 5,000. He was married in 1876 to Mary Ann Hansen, and has two children, Herman and Tinka. History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, p. 519.