Olaf Gilbertson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1686-1687 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	OLAF GILBERTSON, one of the successful farmers and stock growers 
of Lincoln county, was born in Christiania, Norway, on the 29th of June, 
1865, being a son of John H. and Sophia Gilbertson, the former of whom 
immigrated to the United States in the spring of 1869, being joined by 
his family in the fall of the next year. The father of the subject had 
followed the trade of .blacksmith in his native land, but upon coming to 
the new world he decided to turn his attention to farming. He came to 
Lincoln county, South Dakota, and took up a quarter section of 
government land, in Canton township, there being but few settlers in the 
county at the time. He built a log house and then set to work to reclaim 
his wild land and aid in developing the resources of this section. He 
continued to live on the old homestead until his death, which occurred 
in 1899, his wife having passed away in 1885. They became the parents of 
four children, namely: Eliza, who is the wife of Andrew Lunn, of this 
county; Susanna, who is visiting in Norway at the time of this writing, 
in 1903; Olaf, who is the subject of this sketch, and John H., who died 
at the age of twenty-seven years. 

	The subject was reared on the homestead, where he has continuously 
resided, and he secured his education in the common schools. At the age 
of twenty-one years he rented the home farm, and he now has one hundred 
and ninety acres, well-improved. and under effective cultivation, the 
land lying partly in Lincoln county and partly in Lyon county, Iowa. In 
addition to diversified farming he also raises good live stock, 
including Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs. He is a Republican in 
polities, is a member of the Lutheran church and is affiliated with the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen at Canton, his postoffice address.