EMIL OLSON

OLSON, ANDERSON, PARSON, HAAVE, BLOOMQUIST, OCKER

Posted By: Tamara (email)
Date: 10/15/2010 at 20:29:51

From the History of Boxholm and Grant Township in Boone County, Iowa, 1986, by David C. Peterson, p. 260:

EMIL OLSON (1876-1947)
Emil Otto Olson was born in Hulterstad, Oland, Sweden on Dec. 18, 1876, one of nine children born to Olaus Anderson (1829-1908) and his wife Helena Marie (Parson) Anderson (1837-1900). (All of the children were named Olson, however.) The parents were married in Sweden about 1857 and immigrated to this country in 1891, coming directly to Grant Township where they spent the rest of their lives. Both are buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery at Boxholm.
At the age of 13 years, Emil Olson came to this country with his brothers "Edd" and Frank A. Olson. He was thus raised partly in Sweden and partly in this country. They came directly to Grant Township in 1890, where other members of their family were already residing.
On Feb. 25, 1903, Mr. Olson was married to Miss Anna Gladys Haave. She was born in Hamilton County, Iowa near Stratford, on Jan. 14, 1875, one of four children born to Hans E. (b-ab. 1832) and Paulina Haave (b-ab. 1846). To Mr. and Mrs. Olson were born four children: Lloyd (1903-1985), Mrs. Arnold (Mabel) Bloomquist (1907-1970), Clifford, and Mrs. Glen (Gladys) Ocker. Mr. and Mrs. Olson were members of the Boxholm Lutheran Church, he being a member of the first confirmation class held there in 1892.
Mr. and Mrs. Olson first lived on a farm southwest of Boxholm, but about 1911 they moved to a farm in Section 15 (N1/2 of NW1/4) immediately north of Boxholm. Mr. Olson had purchased the east 40 of this on Feb. 26, 1908. On Jan. 20, 1914 he bought 80 acres (W1/2 of NE1/4) also in Section 15, and still later bought another 40, then farming 160 acres. On May 29, 1920 Mr. and Mrs. Olson donated to the town of Boxholm 10 acres of land immediately north of the railroad tracks. This was platted into three blocks with individual lots and has since been known as Olson's Addition to Boxholm. It today contains the Coop bulk plant, Jepsen's Store and residence, Neese residence, and the Mobil bulk plant.
Mrs. Olson died on Oct. 27, 1946, aged 71 years. A few months later, Mr. Olson died also, his death occuring on Feb. 12, 1947 at the age of 70 years. Both are buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery east of Boxholm. The old home place still stands, but has been empty and abandoned for many years. The land is currently farmed by a son, Clifford Olson, who lives just across the township line in Webster County. Clifford and his brother, Lloyd, purchased the west 80 from their father on Feb. 28, 1933.