OLSON, Matt

OLSON, ERUSTON, ELY, BRAGER, HANSON, SIMONSON, OSMUNDSON, HALVERSON, NELSON

Posted By: Jennifer Gunderson (email)
Date: 3/14/2021 at 20:41:56

Matt Olson, of the firm of Olson, Eruston Company, Clear Lake, Iowa, is one of the representative business men of this city. He came here in 1894 from Hancock county, Iowa, and engaged in the general merchandise business under the name of M. Olson & Company, which he continued until shortly previous to the organization of the present firm, in March, 1903, to succeed Ely & Eruston, which had been in business about two years. The Olson, Eruston Company carries a stock of dry goods, groceries, furnishing goods, etc., valued at from $20,000 to $25,000, and employs seven clerks. This is the largest establishment of its kind in Clear Lake.

Mr. Olson was born at Ellington, Iowa, August 6. 1875, son of Martin and Julia (Brager) Olson, early residents of Hancock county, they having settled there in 1870. Martin Olson was a farmer throughout his life. He died in 1901, his wife in 1900, each at about the age of sixty-seven years. Of their children, now grown and scattered, we record that Mrs. Olaf T. Hanson is a resident of Clear Lake, Iowa; Mrs. S. Simonson lives in Ventura, Iowa ; Mrs. J. 0. Osmundson, in Thompson, Iowa ; Mrs. A. W. Halverson, in Jasper, Minnesota ; 0. M. Olson, who is operating the home farm in Hancock county, and E. M. Olson also a Hancock county farmer. Matt Olson was reared on his father's farm, receiving a good common-school education and, as outlined above, has been engaged in merchandising since he reached manhood.

In 1890 Mr. Olson married Miss Helen Nelson, a native of Cerro Gordo county, and they have one son. Maxwell, attending school in Clear Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Olson are members of the United Lutheran church, and politically he is a Republican.

Source: WHEELER, J. H. History of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Vol. II. Lewis Publ. Co. Chicago. 1910. Transcribed by Jennifer Gunderson (Mar 2021).