Olsonj
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
J. GUS OLSON is one of the younger
men who have won a brilliant success in Lincoln county. He was born
in Sweden, on November 30, 1872, the son of Captain Nils G. and Alma (Bergenhime)
Olson, natives of Sweden. They came to this country in 1886, settling
on a farm and by careful labors and thrift became wealthy. The father
spent his early days at sea and held all the offices from seaman before
the mast to captain of a craft. Our subject received his early education
in the public schools of Sweden, then came to California with his parents
and studied further in the San Francisco schools. He landed here
in 1886 with his parents and later took a course in the Spokane Business
College. He labored with his father on the farm for some years and
in 1896 located his present place about eight miles southwest from Harrington.
Later, he added land by purchase and now has six hundred and forty acres
in this farm, every acre of which is fine wheat land. The place is
well improved with buildings and all the ordinary machinery needed on the
farm and in addition Mr. Olson has one of the latest make of combined harvesters.
He has about forty head of horses and other stock. He also owns a
half interest in four hundred and eighty acres of land near Lamona, the
other half interest being handled by his brother, Alvin E. Olson.
On February 15, 1903, Mr. Olson married Miss
Lydia Marks, a native of Germany, who came to the United States with her
parents when a young girl. Mr. Olson has one brother, Alvin E., a
wealthy farmer in this vicinity, and one sister, Mrs. Elonora Griffiths,
who lives near Mohler, Washington. Our subject and his father were
among the early pioneers in this portion of Lincoln county and had to contend
with much adversity in getting a start. He began life without a dollar
of his own and is now one of the wealthy men of southern Lincoln county,
and while he has been gaining all this property, he has not forgotten to
so conduct himself that he has won the esteem of all who know him.
Mr. Olson is and always has been a Republican.
He is well informed in political matters and takes a keen interest therein.
Fraternally, he is affiliated with the A. F. and A. M., the I. O. O. F.,
and the Encampment.
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