Theodore Oleson Biography


	This biography appears on page 799 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				THEODORE OLESON.  

	In the passing of Theodore Oleson of Clay county that section of 
the state lost a successful agriculturist and valued citizen. He was 
born in Norway in 1837 but in the early '50s emigrated to America and 
at first resided in Chicago, where he followed his trade of shoemaking. 
After residing in that city for a year or so he went to Michigan and 
worked in the pine woods. He subsequently removed to Wisconsin, where 
his marriage occurred. He worked at farm labor for others for three 
years in that state and then came to South Dakota, taking up a claim in 
the vicinity of Vermillion. However, for a considerable length of time 
he was unable to live there on account of hostile Indians. In 1863 he 
enlisted in Company B, First Battalion, Dakota Cavalry, and remained in 
the service for three years and four months, being a blacksmith in a 
company which was engaged in Indian fighting. After he was mustered out 
he took up his residence upon his homestead about seven miles northwest 
of Vermillion and devoted his time to its cultivation during the 
remainder of his life. His death occurred in May, 1891.  

	Mr. Oleson was married in Wisconsin in 1858 to Miss Anna Knutson, 
a daughter of Knute and Martha (Thorson) Oleson, and to them were born 
ten children, five of whom are living, as follows: Martin, a farmer of 
Yankton county, this state, who is married and has three children; Jim, 
the auditor of Clay county; Clara, the wife of Albert Thorsen, of 
Wakonda, and the mother of four children; Lena, who is at home; and 
Ole, a farmer of Clay county. The last named rents and operates the 
farm which belongs to his mother and which contains two hundred acres 
of land, one hundred and sixty of which is the homestead. Mrs. Oleson 
also receives a pension from the Federal government.  

	Mr. Oleson was a republican in his political allegiance and 
staunchly supported the candidates and measures of that party. He was 
equally loyal to the Lutheran church, of which he was a member, and was 
active in church work. He came to this state when it was a pioneer 
region and when the presence of hostile Indians made the settler's life 
a dangerous one and hived to see the state develop into a prosperous 
agricultural section with many thriving towns and cities. He found 
satisfaction in knowing that he had a part in the work of 
transformation and his useful life gained him the respect of his fellow 
men.