Olaf J. Sime

SIME, LINSET, SIMONSON, HARTLIEB, HAUGE, JOHNSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 2/6/2010 at 08:42:11

OLAF J. SIME

Winnebago county numbers Olaf J. Sime among her native sons. He now lives on section 10, Logan township, but was born in Norway township on the 25th of August, 1883, at the family home of his parents, John and Anna Dorothea (Linset) Sime, who were natives of Illinois and of Norway respectively. The latter had come to Iowa with relatives who lived in Worth county and there she formed the acquaintance of John Sime, who sought her hand in marriage. His youth had been spent in Illinois, where his parents were farming people, remaining residents of that state until they were called to their final rest. After attaining his majority John Sime came to Iowa, settling in Worth county, but immediately after his marriage he removed to Norway township, Winnebago county, and purchased eighty acres on section 36 and forty acres on section 25, thus becoming the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of good land which responded readily to the care and labor which he bestowed upon it. He there carried on farming until his death, which occurred in 1894. Later his widow removed to Scarville, where she passed away in 1903, and was laid to rest in the Lime Creek cemetery. In their family were seven children: Anna, now the wife of Andrew Sime, of Eden township; Eachel, who became the wife of Jacob Simonson, of Waterloo, Iowa, and has passed away; Lettie, the wife of John Hartlieb, of Waterloo; Alfred, who is living near De Grey, Hughes county, South Dakota; O. J.; and two who died in infancy.

Olaf J. Sime pursued his education in the pioneer schools of Winnebago county, which he attended until he reached the age of fifteen years. When seventeen years of age he took over the operation of the home farm, on which he continued until he attained his majority. The farm was then sold and he purchased the southwest quarter of section 10, Logan township. This he cleared and drained, thus rendering it arable and productive. He has since carried on the work of further improvement and still occupies the place, which is today one of the excellent farms of the township, the fields having been brought to a high state of cultivation, while good buildings have been erected and all the equipment and accessories of the model farm have been added.

On March 9, 1904, Mr. Sime was united in marriage to Miss Andrina Hauge, a daughter of Nels and Mary Hauge, who lived just across the line in Worth county. The father has now passed away and the mother has since become the wife of Tom Johnson, a resident of Eden township, Winnebago county. Mr. and Mrs. Sime have five children who are yet living, Norma, Alma, Milton, Olive and Sylvan, and they also lost one, who died in infancy.

Mr. Sime and his family hold membership in the United Lutheran church and in his political views he is a republican. He is now serving as township trustee and has been president of the school board. He is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of his community and he stands for advancement in farm work and in every line. He started out empty handed. He has worked persistently and earnestly and each forward step which he has made in his business career has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. Today he is the owner of a fine farm which is the fitting reward of his earnest and persistent labor.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 187-188.