Bio of Ole G. OLSON (b.1873), Yellow Medicine Co., MN

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OLE G. OLSON (1880)

Ole G. Olson, cashier of the Porter State Bank, is one of Porter's
substantial and prominent citizens.  He has been identified with the bank
since 1902, as cashier, and a resident of the vicinity since 1880.

Mr. Olson was born in Polk county, Minnesota, September 29, 1873.  When he
was four years of age, his father died, and the family moved to Lincoln
county, where they lived four years.  Their next move was to Porter, and
there Ole G. Olson has since lived.  He attended the public school when he
could, but owing to the death of his father when he was a babe, he early
became one of the bread winners of the family.  When a mere lad he began
hoeing his own row, working in the fields at eleven years of age and
alternating that work with clerking in stores in Porter.

Mr. Olson clerked for Fries & Gunderson, among the first merchants of
Porter, several years and later for other firms.  In the spring of 1901 he
entered the employ of the State Bank as bookkeeper, and in 1902 he was
promoted to the position of cashier, which he has since held.  He is also 
a stockholder and director of the bank.  Mr. Olson has had a very 
prosperous business life.  He owns considerable farm lands and has one 
of the finest residences in the county, which is built on an entire block 
in the northeast part of Porter and cost more than $7000.

Mr. Olson was married in Wergeland township in July 1893, to Emma 
Gunderson, who was born in Wisconsin and who is a daughter of Charles 
Gunderson, a homesteader of Wergeland township.  They have seven children 
viz: Norma Adline, Silas Clifford, Frances Lillian, Pearl Viola, Effie
Ornelda, Lester Linden Lyman and Russell LeRoy.

Mr. Olson is a member of the Masonic and Modern Woodmen lodges.  He has 
been village treasurer five years, school clerk several years, was village
recorder the first five years after incorporation, and was elected mayor 
in 1913.  He is the treasurer of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Ole G. is the son of Soren and Julia (Gunderson) Olson, both natives of
Norway.  They came to America about 1865 and were married in Minneapolis is
1870.  They lived in that city until 1873, when they moved to Polk county
and homesteaded, residing there until 1877.  Mr. Olson died there June 25,
1877, aged thirty-seven years.  Mrs. Olson and the children then moved to
Lincoln county, Minnesota, lived there until 1880, when they moved to
Porter.  Mrs. Olson and two daughters later located in Minneapolis.  There
are three children in the family: Ole G., of this sketch; Annie (Mrs. Henry
Ingvalson), of Minneapolis; and Mary (Mrs. Alex H. Fjelstad), of Chisholm,
Minnesota.

Source: "A History of Yellow Medicine County" by Arthur P. Rose
Published 1914