Edgar C. Olson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 955-956 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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				EDGAR C. OLSON. 

	In all of his business career, progressive and successful as it 
has been, his has never been the command of the tyrant to go, but 
always the call of the leader to come, and thus Edgar C. Olson today 
occupies a conspicuous and enviable position in the commercial circles, 
not only of Sioux Falls, but of the northwest, being at the head of a 
company which owns a chain of clothing stores throughout this part of 
the country. 

	He is a native of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, born April 6, 1874, his 
parents being Gabriel and Martha (Nelson) Olson. He was the seventh in 
order of birth in a family of three sons and five daughters, all of 
whom are yet living with the exception of the eldest son, John G., who 
died in 1904. The removal of the family in 1875 to Kasson, Minnesota, 
enabled Edgar C. Olson to there pursue his education in the public 
schools. He also attended high school at St. Paul, Minnesota, and spent 
three years as a student in a night school in that city in order to 
overcome what he regarded as a lack of early educational opportunities. 
He has ever been a student of life and in the school of experience he 
has learned many valuable lessons which he has put to good use. 

	Mr. Olson became a clerk in a clothing store in St. Paul in 1890, 
and there remained until 1900, when he went to Marshall, Minnesota, and 
in partnership with a brother, established a clothing store under the 
firm name of Olson Brothers. This was successfully conducted for two 
years. In 1902 the firm of Olson Brothers opened a branch store at 
Brookings, South Dakota, which is still in operation and Edgar C. Olson 
continued in charge there until 1912, when he came to Sioux Falls, 
where the previous year he had been instrumental in organizing the firm 
of Olson, Delaney & Berdahl. This firm continued until July 15, 1913, 
at which time the business was taken over by the present E. C. Olson 
Company. Theirs is one of the leading clothing establishments, not only 
of the city, but also of this section of the country, and their store 
presents a most attractive appearance. The fixtures are of late design 
done in fumed oak. The big suit rack will accommodate twelve hundred 
men's and boys, suits and overcoats, and the stock includes clothing, 
hats, haberdashery and men's furnishings. 

	As the years have passed Edgar C. Olson has established business 
in various sections until he now has a chain of nine stores. The one at 
Watertown, South Dakota, established in 1907, which was conducted under 
the name of Olson-McCosham Company, is now under the name of The Olson-
Lee Company. The business at Rapid City was started in 1909 and has 
always been conducted under the firm style of Olson & Company. M. G. 
Olson, brother of E. C. Olson, established stores at Montevideo, 
Minnesota; Wheaton, Minnesota; Sisseton, South Dakota, and Grand Forks, 
North Dakota. These are all owned by the E. C. Olson Company, together 
with the stores at Rapid City, at Brookings and at Sioux Falls. The 
business today is extensive, being one of the important commercial 
enterprises of the northwest and the capability, progressiveness and 
laudable ambition of E. C. Olson and his brother have constituted a 
substantial foundation upon which their success has been built. 

	On the 8th of January, 1905, at Brookings, South Dakota, Mr. 
Olson was united in marriage to Miss Callie T. Williams, a daughter of 
Edward Williams, and they have one son, Lyle Williams, born July 31, 
1907. The parents are members of the Baptist church, while Mr. Olson 
belongs also to the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degrees of the 
York Rite and the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise connected with the 
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and with the Commercial Club and 
his political allegiance is given to the republican party. While he is 
never neglectful of the duties of citizenship and in fact stands many 
times as a leader in support of public projects, he has never sought 
political preferment, giving to his business affairs that close 
attention which is largely the secret of success. He keeps in touch 
with the most modern commercial methods and conforms his interests to 
the highest requirements of commercial ethics.