Emil Olson, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Emil Olson
EMIL OLSON. Many attractive farm homes are to be found in that prosperous rural district comprised in Pine township, Porter county, Indiana, but among them all none has a more comfortable and homelike appearance or gives its owner more satisfaction than the well-kept domicile of Mr. Emil Olson, whose two hundred and sixty-one acre farm is situated in section thirty-four. Mr. Olson has made of farming an unusual success and in 1910 built his present fine, modern home and spared no expense to erect it artistically and furnish it comfortably and conveniently.
When a small child Emil Olson was brought by his parents, N. P. and Hannah C. (Nelson) Olson to the United States from Sweden, in which country he was born on September 6, 1859. His parents, both of whom were of Swedish birth, left their native land to become citizens of this country in 1864, and located first at Miller Station in Lake county, Indiana. At a later period they purchased a farm in Westchester township, this county, and that continued to be the family home until the time of the death of the father in 1904. His wife is now living happily with her daughter in her Pine township home. The family of which Emil was a member consisted of the following children: August, of Miller, Lake county, Indiana; Hulda, wife of Charles Lindstrom; Emil; Amanda, widow of Mr. Burgeson; Alfred, a policeman; Conrad, a resident of Minnesota; and Ellen, now the wife of Otto Johnson, of Minnesota.
Emil Olson received but a meager education in the public schools of Porter county, but made good use of the learning he did acquire from his books, and by supplementing it with intelligent reading during his more advanced years has gained a good knowledge of affairs which enables him to conduct his business and social relations in a manner which reflects credit upon himself. At the age of sixteen years he began to earn wages at whatever tasks he could find to do. He began by chopping cord wood and, being strong and a rapid worker, was able to make a tidy sum at that employment. For several years he continued to seek employment in various lines of endeavor, working at different times in the oil fields and coal mines, and on one occasion holding the position of a watchman in the city of Chicago.
His final choice of occupation, however, settled upon that of farming, and the success he has achieved proves the choice to have been a wise one. He is improving his farm by erecting a large barn, fifty by twenty feet, with fourteen-foot posts and a concrete base or foundation. On June 23, 1891, Mr. Olson was united in marriage with Alfreda Youngen, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the union has been blessed in the birth of five children. They are a bright, happy family, and display special aptitude at their books, the two older ones, Martha and Reuben, having finished the common grades at the age of thirteen years. Bertha is now in school, Viola is a child of six years, and the youngest is Dorothy Grace, born July 13, 1912.
Mr. Olson holds membership in the Foresters lodge, and being a prudent man, carries an insurance policy for $1,000. In political matters he is a strong advocate of Republican party principles and he takes an active part in furthering all affairs which have for their object the best interests of the community.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. History of Porter County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal Interests. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. 881 p.
Page(s) in Source: 839-840
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook