BIOGRAPHIES: John M. OLSON, Clinton Township, Barron County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Vic Gulickson 18 June 2001 ==================================================================== John M. Olson, an estimable farmer of Section 15, Clinton Township, was born in Norway, Dec. 10, 1860, the son of Mathias and Tillie (Anderson) Olson. These good people were farmers in the old country, and came to America in 1866, and located in Winnebago County, Wis., where they farmed for many years. There the father died in 1911, and the mother now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Christ Thompson, of Rice Lake, at the age of 94 years. In the family there were ten children. Angeline married Sam Thompson, of Pierce County, this state. He is dead, and she now lives in Western Canada. Hattie is the wife of Halver Olson, of Tower, Minn. Anna is the wife of Christ Thompson, of Rice Lake, Wis. Tillie is the wife of John Olson, of Waupaca County, this state. Lena married Henry Drager, of Oshkosh, Wis. Ole lives in Rice Lake. John M. is a farmer of Clinton Township. Andrew lives in New Richmond. Sarah, the wife of Hans Everson, is dead. Christina died young. John M. came to Winnebago County with his parents when he was not quite six years old. He attended school there and worked on the farm. In 1884 he went to Winchester, Wis., and spent a year. In 1885 he came to this county and bought a farm in Cumberland Township. But after doing a little clearing, he sold the same year, and bought 80 acres of heavy timber land in Section 15, Clinton Township. He built a log house and log barn, cleared some of the land, and started developing a farm. There he has since continued to carry on general farming and stock raising and dairying, and he has a herd of about 20 head of high grade Holsteins. As prosperity increased, he sided and plastered the log house and enlarged it. In 1902 he put up a modern barn, 34 by 80 feet, with full basement, and modern equipment. In building up his own success, Mr. Olson has not been unmindful of the needs of the community. He was one of the first to join the Norwegian Lutheran congregation, and assisted in building the first church in Section 14, Clinton Township. He believes in good schools, and donated material and labor to build the first schoolhouse in District No. 5, in his township. He is likewise interested in good roads and has done excellent service as pathmaster. Mr. Olson was married at Prairie Farm on Oct. 13, 1886, to Isabel Johnson, the daughter of Barney and Sarah (Olson) Johnson, early settlers of Clinton Township, the former of whom is dead, and the latter of whom is now living with her son, John B. Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have an adopted son, Edwin, who was born Nov. 22, 1894. He is an energetic young farmer, a good citizen, and well liked, who carries on the home farm in partnership with his father. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 468.