Obituary:  Peter E. OLSEN, d. 4 Feb. 1936, Barron Co., Wisconsin

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Shad and Jessica James <shadj@northcascades.net>  15 May 1999
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P.E. Olsen, Pioneer Merchant and Former Postmaster, Dies

Peter E. Olsen, 80 years old, former postmaster and long-time resident of 
Rice Lake, died early Tuesday morning (4 February 1936) at a local hospital 
from a heart  ailment.  He had been in failing health for more than a year.  
Before his retirement he was active in civic affairs here.

Mr. Olsen was born in Norway, March 25, 1855, and came with his parents to 
this country in 1866.  His mother died soon after their arrival.  The father 
came to Pierce county, Wisconsin, and later moved to Menomonie.  Peter Olsen 
attended the public schools in Pierce and Dunn counties and at the age of 
13, in 1868, came to the present site of Rice Lake to work for Knapp, Stout 
& Co., remaining here until 1881, when he married Amelia Johnson of 
Menomonie.  He worked at Menomonie until 1883 and then returned to Rice Lake 
to take charge of the clothing department of the Knapp, Stout & Co. store. 
When Mr. Olsen first came here, there was only a lumber camp north of the 
river and the surrounding woods.

In 1892 Mr. Olsen left the lumber company store and engaged in the general 
mercantile business for himself.  He continued in this business until 1897, 
when President William McKinley appointed him postmaster of Rice Lake.  
During his administration at the post office, which lasted until 1916, a 
period of 20 years, as he also served under Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson, he 
gained the reputation of being an efficient official.  During his term city 
delivery was inaugurated and six rural routes established.  For a year he 
served as city treasurer of Rice Lake, and he also served a term on the 
county board. 

Following his term as postmaster, he bought a farm near Earl, Wis., where he 
remained until he sold it in 1920 and moved back to Rice Lake.  From then 
until 1928 he worked at the Omaha depot here.  Mrs. Olsen died in 1928, and 
a son Orva, died in 1916.

Surviving him are seven children:  Jasper E. Olsen, who is in the insurance 
business,  Mrs. Oliver Stark (Alba), and Abner Olsen of Hammond-Olsen Lbr. 
Co., all of Rice Lake;  Mrs. Wendell Olson (Palma) of White Rock, S. D.; 
Marshall Olsen, Presbyterian pastor at Minneapolis; Harold Olsen, assistant 
athletic director and head basketball coach, Ohio State University, Columbus, 
Ohio; and Philomen Olsen with Beckwith Lbr. Co., Hayward.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p. m. tomorrow (Thursday) at the home 
of Abner Olsen, and at 2 o'clock at the Presbyterian church conducted by the 
Rev. C. R. Johnson and the Masonic lodge, and interment will be at Nora 
cemetery.

--Taken from Rice Lake Chronicle
Consolidation of Nine Barron County Newspaper
Rice Lake, WI    Wednesday, February 5, 1936