JOHN M. OLSON
John M. Olson, 76, is dead. The pioneer farmer, merchant, postmaster and builder came to the end of the long trail at 9:30 o'clock Wednesday morning, February 5,1936. Death came peacefully and without pain after an invalidism extending over the past five years.
Mr. Olson was born in Ekre, Drammen, Norway on March 2, 1859, son of Mads and Anna Olson. He came to this country with his parents in 1866, at the age of 7. The family came to St. Paul, but as there was no railroad west of that city, they drove by ox team through the big woods 80 miles west and homesteaded near the present town of Grove City, MN.
In 1881, he married Mary Kulseth, a sister of Severt Kulseth, and the following year they came to LaMoure County and took a homestead claim on the northwest quarter of section 14, Prairie Township.
In 1886 he entered the general merchandizing business at Griswold and at the end of the first year found that he had made a profit of $60. In 1887 he was appointed postmaster of Griswold and served in that capacity until January, 1898. In 1891 his wife died and two years later he was married to Miss Oline Olson. They had four children all of whom died in infancy.
Mr. Olson continued in business at Griswold until he moved his business establishment to the new town of Litchville in the spring of 1901 before the rails were laid. He has been a resident ever since. At one time he was the biggest businessman in town. He was president of Olsons & Company ("the Store That Made Litchville Famous"), a $40,000 corporation engaged in the general merchandizing business; also president of the First State Bank, treasurer of the local telephone company and a director in the Litchville Implement Company and the Farmers Elevator. He served as county commissioner from this Barnes County commissioner's district, and in 1916 was mayor of Litchville.
Mr. Olson was of a positive temperament and had strong convictions on most subjects and was not afraid to express them. He was absolutely fearless in word and deed. His greatest service to this town were his efforts to clean out the tough gang of bootleggers and gamblers who infested Litchville in the early days. He made a name for himself as a foe of liquor. He was deeply religious and helped to build the first church erected in town, the old Skandia Church, and served as a trustee for a long term of years.
Funeral arrangements have not been completed at present writing, but will be held some day next week.
Deceased is survived by his sorrowing widow; an adopted daughter, Mrs. Harold Johnson (Ruth) and three brothers and four sisters: Louis M. Olson of this village; Olof and Edwin, Litchfield, MN; Mrs. Minnie Stenhoff, Minneapolis; Mrs. Gina Dahl, Warroad, MN; Mrs. J.N. Lekvold, Prairie Township and Mrs. Chris Sater, Litchfield, MN. Four children died in infancy.
After life's fitful fever comes peace. His course is run; his battles are over, he has come to the end of the long trail. May his rest be sweet.
Published in The Litchville Bulletin, Litchville, ND, February 1936.
John M. Olson, 76, is dead. The pioneer farmer, merchant, postmaster and builder came to the end of the long trail at 9:30 o'clock Wednesday morning, February 5,1936. Death came peacefully and without pain after an invalidism extending over the past five years.
Mr. Olson was born in Ekre, Drammen, Norway on March 2, 1859, son of Mads and Anna Olson. He came to this country with his parents in 1866, at the age of 7. The family came to St. Paul, but as there was no railroad west of that city, they drove by ox team through the big woods 80 miles west and homesteaded near the present town of Grove City, MN.
In 1881, he married Mary Kulseth, a sister of Severt Kulseth, and the following year they came to LaMoure County and took a homestead claim on the northwest quarter of section 14, Prairie Township.
In 1886 he entered the general merchandizing business at Griswold and at the end of the first year found that he had made a profit of $60. In 1887 he was appointed postmaster of Griswold and served in that capacity until January, 1898. In 1891 his wife died and two years later he was married to Miss Oline Olson. They had four children all of whom died in infancy.
Mr. Olson continued in business at Griswold until he moved his business establishment to the new town of Litchville in the spring of 1901 before the rails were laid. He has been a resident ever since. At one time he was the biggest businessman in town. He was president of Olsons & Company ("the Store That Made Litchville Famous"), a $40,000 corporation engaged in the general merchandizing business; also president of the First State Bank, treasurer of the local telephone company and a director in the Litchville Implement Company and the Farmers Elevator. He served as county commissioner from this Barnes County commissioner's district, and in 1916 was mayor of Litchville.
Mr. Olson was of a positive temperament and had strong convictions on most subjects and was not afraid to express them. He was absolutely fearless in word and deed. His greatest service to this town were his efforts to clean out the tough gang of bootleggers and gamblers who infested Litchville in the early days. He made a name for himself as a foe of liquor. He was deeply religious and helped to build the first church erected in town, the old Skandia Church, and served as a trustee for a long term of years.
Funeral arrangements have not been completed at present writing, but will be held some day next week.
Deceased is survived by his sorrowing widow; an adopted daughter, Mrs. Harold Johnson (Ruth) and three brothers and four sisters: Louis M. Olson of this village; Olof and Edwin, Litchfield, MN; Mrs. Minnie Stenhoff, Minneapolis; Mrs. Gina Dahl, Warroad, MN; Mrs. J.N. Lekvold, Prairie Township and Mrs. Chris Sater, Litchfield, MN. Four children died in infancy.
After life's fitful fever comes peace. His course is run; his battles are over, he has come to the end of the long trail. May his rest be sweet.
Published in The Litchville Bulletin, Litchville, ND, February 1936.
JOHN M. OLSON
John M. Olson, 76, is dead. The pioneer farmer, merchant, postmaster and builder came to the end of the long trail at 9:30 o'clock Wednesday morning, February 5,1936. Death came peacefully and without pain after an invalidism extending over the past five years.
Mr. Olson was born in Ekre, Drammen, Norway on March 2, 1859, son of Mads and Anna Olson. He came to this country with his parents in 1866, at the age of 7. The family came to St. Paul, but as there was no railroad west of that city, they drove by ox team through the big woods 80 miles west and homesteaded near the present town of Grove City, MN.
In 1881, he married Mary Kulseth, a sister of Severt Kulseth, and the following year they came to LaMoure County and took a homestead claim on the northwest quarter of section 14, Prairie Township.
In 1886 he entered the general merchandizing business at Griswold and at the end of the first year found that he had made a profit of $60. In 1887 he was appointed postmaster of Griswold and served in that capacity until January, 1898. In 1891 his wife died and two years later he was married to Miss Oline Olson. They had four children all of whom died in infancy.
Mr. Olson continued in business at Griswold until he moved his business establishment to the new town of Litchville in the spring of 1901 before the rails were laid. He has been a resident ever since. At one time he was the biggest businessman in town. He was president of Olsons & Company ("the Store That Made Litchville Famous"), a $40,000 corporation engaged in the general merchandizing business; also president of the First State Bank, treasurer of the local telephone company and a director in the Litchville Implement Company and the Farmers Elevator. He served as county commissioner from this Barnes County commissioner's district, and in 1916 was mayor of Litchville.
Mr. Olson was of a positive temperament and had strong convictions on most subjects and was not afraid to express them. He was absolutely fearless in word and deed. His greatest service to this town were his efforts to clean out the tough gang of bootleggers and gamblers who infested Litchville in the early days. He made a name for himself as a foe of liquor. He was deeply religious and helped to build the first church erected in town, the old Skandia Church, and served as a trustee for a long term of years.
Funeral arrangements have not been completed at present writing, but will be held some day next week.
Deceased is survived by his sorrowing widow; an adopted daughter, Mrs. Harold Johnson (Ruth) and three brothers and four sisters: Louis M. Olson of this village; Olof and Edwin, Litchfield, MN; Mrs. Minnie Stenhoff, Minneapolis; Mrs. Gina Dahl, Warroad, MN; Mrs. J.N. Lekvold, Prairie Township and Mrs. Chris Sater, Litchfield, MN. Four children died in infancy.
After life's fitful fever comes peace. His course is run; his battles are over, he has come to the end of the long trail. May his rest be sweet.
Published in The Litchville Bulletin, Litchville, ND, February 1936.
John M. Olson, 76, is dead. The pioneer farmer, merchant, postmaster and builder came to the end of the long trail at 9:30 o'clock Wednesday morning, February 5,1936. Death came peacefully and without pain after an invalidism extending over the past five years.
Mr. Olson was born in Ekre, Drammen, Norway on March 2, 1859, son of Mads and Anna Olson. He came to this country with his parents in 1866, at the age of 7. The family came to St. Paul, but as there was no railroad west of that city, they drove by ox team through the big woods 80 miles west and homesteaded near the present town of Grove City, MN.
In 1881, he married Mary Kulseth, a sister of Severt Kulseth, and the following year they came to LaMoure County and took a homestead claim on the northwest quarter of section 14, Prairie Township.
In 1886 he entered the general merchandizing business at Griswold and at the end of the first year found that he had made a profit of $60. In 1887 he was appointed postmaster of Griswold and served in that capacity until January, 1898. In 1891 his wife died and two years later he was married to Miss Oline Olson. They had four children all of whom died in infancy.
Mr. Olson continued in business at Griswold until he moved his business establishment to the new town of Litchville in the spring of 1901 before the rails were laid. He has been a resident ever since. At one time he was the biggest businessman in town. He was president of Olsons & Company ("the Store That Made Litchville Famous"), a $40,000 corporation engaged in the general merchandizing business; also president of the First State Bank, treasurer of the local telephone company and a director in the Litchville Implement Company and the Farmers Elevator. He served as county commissioner from this Barnes County commissioner's district, and in 1916 was mayor of Litchville.
Mr. Olson was of a positive temperament and had strong convictions on most subjects and was not afraid to express them. He was absolutely fearless in word and deed. His greatest service to this town were his efforts to clean out the tough gang of bootleggers and gamblers who infested Litchville in the early days. He made a name for himself as a foe of liquor. He was deeply religious and helped to build the first church erected in town, the old Skandia Church, and served as a trustee for a long term of years.
Funeral arrangements have not been completed at present writing, but will be held some day next week.
Deceased is survived by his sorrowing widow; an adopted daughter, Mrs. Harold Johnson (Ruth) and three brothers and four sisters: Louis M. Olson of this village; Olof and Edwin, Litchfield, MN; Mrs. Minnie Stenhoff, Minneapolis; Mrs. Gina Dahl, Warroad, MN; Mrs. J.N. Lekvold, Prairie Township and Mrs. Chris Sater, Litchfield, MN. Four children died in infancy.
After life's fitful fever comes peace. His course is run; his battles are over, he has come to the end of the long trail. May his rest be sweet.
Published in The Litchville Bulletin, Litchville, ND, February 1936.
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