Olaus E. Holter Biography

	This biography appears on pages 1036-1037 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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	OLAUS E. HOLTER, one of the well-known and prosperous farmers of 
Lincoln county, is a native of Norway, where he was born on the 29th of 
March, 1840, and he is a son of Engebret and Carrie (Olson) Holter, both 
of whom passed their entire lives in Norway, where the father was long 
and prominently identified with the lumber business. The subject of this 
sketch was reared and educated in his native land, and after he attained 
years of maturity he there devoted his attention to lumber work until 
his emigration to America. Prior to this radical change he was married, 
in 1864, to Miss Maren Axelson, a native of the same locality, and she 
has proved to him a true helpmeet and materially aided him in the 
winning of independence and definite success. It may be stated at this 
point that they have six children, and in the connection we are pleased 
to enter a brief record concerning them: Lizzie, who has been 
successfully engaged in teaching school for the past ten years, is now 
residing in that state of Washington; Annie is the wife of Lauritz 
Olson, a successful farmer of Lyman county, South Dakota; Martin is 
associated with his father in the work of the home farm; Laura has taken 
up a claim of land in Lyman county and is residing on the same, in order 
to secure title to the property: Otto remains at home and assists in the 
work of the farm; and Cora also remains beneath the parental roof.  

	In April, 1869, Mr. Holter left his native land and came with his wife 
to America, landing in New York and forthwith making his way westward to 
the great territory of Dakota. He settled in what is now Lincoln county, 
being among the first to take up a permanent residence here, while only 
a few dugouts marked the habitations of the pioneer settlers, the most 
of these being located along the course of the Sioux river. Mr. Holter 
took up a tract of government land in what is now Canton township, and 
on the same constructed one of the rude and primitive dugouts, in which 
he placed his few household effects. and he then left his devoted wife 
with two little babies in charge of the place and went to Sioux City to 
secure work, being variously employed for some time and in the meanwhile 
carrying forward the development and improvement of his farm. The 
passing years have not only shown the result of his labors but have 
brought him a full measure of prosperity. He is now the owner of two 
hundred and forty acres of very productive land, and nearly all is under 
cultivation, while he has embellished the same with hardy trees and good 
fences and buildings, his fine large barn having been erected in 1896. 
He gives his attention to diversified farming and also raises live stock 
of high grade. In politics Mr. Holter is an independent voter, and he 
has served as a school officer of his district.