Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Olsen, John December 21, 1881 - 
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Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com April 27, 2009, 10:07 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company


     JOHN OLSEN, an influential member of Portland's Scandinavian-American 
colony, has had an adventurous and picturesque career, learning many valuable 
lessons in the training school of life, and occupies an enviable position in 
legal circles of the city, in which he has followed his profession for a 
period of sixteen years. He was born in Denmark, December 21, 1881, and his 
parents, Lars and Ane (Andersen) Olsen, have passed away. His father was an 
enterprising business man and engaged in contracting for many years.

     John Olsen attended the public schools of Denmark and at the age of 
fifteen left home. For seven years he followed a seafaring life, visiting all 
parts of the world, and arrived in the harbor of San Francisco the day on 
which President McKinley died. Mr. Olsen shipped out for London, England, and 
was five months and seventeen days en route. After visiting his parents he 
shipped out of Hamburg, Germany, for Savannah, Georgia, on a Norwegian bark 
and after it was sold he was a sailor on vessels operating along the Atlantic 
coast. He spent two years on Julius Fleischmann's yacht, which was laid up for 
the winter in 1905. A Danish ship was in port at that time and Mr. Olsen took 
the place of one of its sailors on the return trip. He spent a few months in 
his native land and in 1906 secured passage on a ship bound for the United 
States, bringing with him a younger brother. They proceeded to Kenmare, North 
Dakota, joining a brother who had taken up land in that vicinity. John Olsen 
filed on a homestead in North Dakota and on June 1, 1908, became the owner of 
the land. On the next Fourth of July he lost his left hand as the result of an 
accident and sold the ranch, which he was no longer able to cultivate. 
Courageously facing this misfortune, he took up the study of law at Valparaiso 
University of Indiana and was graduated with the class of 1911. He was 
admitted to the bar and has practiced in Portland since January, 1912, 
specializing in probate work. In this field he has met with gratifying success 
and never handles criminal cases. Since 1913 he has been attorney for the 
Danish consulate and his clientele has assumed large proportions. His office 
is located on the fourth floor of the Chamber of Commerce building and he also 
has financial interests, being a director of the Multnomah State Bank.

     In 1913 Mr. Olsen married Miss Nettie E. Dunlap, who was born in Huron, 
South Dakota, but was reared at Grants Pass, Oregon. They have become the 
parents of four children: Janet, Gerald, Margaret and Jean. Mr. Olsen is 
active in the affairs of the Danish Brotherhood and the Danish Aid Society. He 
is a member of the Multnomah County Bar Association and also belongs to 
Webfoot Camp, No. 65, W. O. W. In politics he is a republican and cooperates 
in all movements for the growth and betterment of the city and state with 
which his interests are allied. Mr. Olsen exemplifies in his conduct the high 
ideals of an ancient and noble calling and his genuine worth has won for him a 
secure place in the esteem of his fellowmen.


Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 587-588

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/olsen560gbs.txt

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