BIOGRAPHIES:  Jorgen OLSON, Chimney Rock Township, Trempealeau Co., 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:  
Nance Sampson, Trempealeau Co. WIGenWeb Coordinator,  10 April 2001      
====================================================================

Jorgen Olson

One of the oldest and best known residents of Chimney Rock Township is the 
subject of this sketch, who has been a resident here for nearly 48 years, 
having been one of the early Norwegian settlers in the county.  He was born 
in Valdres, Norway, Nov. 3, 1844, a son of Ole Jorgenson, a mason, and his 
wife, Annie Uldrikson.  Both parents died in Norway.  It was in 1867, at the 
age of 23 years, that Jorgen Olson left his native land for the United 
States, attracted hither by reports that had reached Norway from those gone 
before of the opportunity to obtain free land in the great northwestern 
states.  On his arrival in the country he located first in Dane County, 
Wisconsin, where he remained three years, earning and saving money and 
keeping his main purpose steadily in view.  Then, having saved enough to 
purchase equipment and make a fair start, he came to Trempealeau County in 
1869 and homesteaded a farm in section 2, on which he spent 18 years of his 
life, carrying on agriculture and stock raising and improving his property, 
so that when he finally sold he obtained a good price for it.  Since then he 
has been engaged in cultivating his present farm in section 24, which he 
purchased on leaving the farm in section 2.  This property also he has 
improved considerably, building the residence, a two-story house of 10 
rooms, in 1889.  In 1914 he erected a new barn, 30 by 74 by 14 feet, with 
stone basement and cement floors.  His son Olaus now rents and manages the 
farm, and together they raise graded Shorthorn cattle, having a herd of 40 
head, of which they milk 15.  Mr. Olson served as township treasurer for 14 
years.  He also helped orgainze school district No. 1, Chimney Rock Township, 
of which he was treasurer six years.  His son Olaus has served as school 
clerk three years.  Mr. Olson was married May 17, 1870, to Berget Halvorson, 
who was born in Norway in 1851, and died on the home farm in November, 1904.  
There were seven children born to them:  Olaus, mentioned above, who was 
born Aug. 18, 1873; Annie, who married Halvor Veum, a farmer of Chimney Rock 
Township; Anton, who is farming at Hettinger, N. D.; Henry, a resident of 
Superior, Wis.; Christine, who is keeping house for her father and brother 
Olaus; William, who is operating a farm in this vicinity, and Joachim, who 
is residing at home.  The family are members of the United Norwegian 
Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Olson has been a trustee for four years.  The 
Jorgen Olson farm contains 180 acres and is pleasantly situated, the land 
being fertile and everything about the place being up to date and in good 
condition.

--From the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917" pages 637-638.