A Brief History of Charles E. Olson

A Brief History of Charles E. Olson

(Compiled by his son, Lester, with the help of my brothers, Arnold and Elmer,
 my sister, Gladys Dahlquist, Aunt Esther Westerburg, Aunt Selma Berquist, 
and Iona Olson, and presented at the Olson Family Reunion held at Bear Lake,
 Utah, Friday, June 24, 1949.)  Also Aunt Hulda Peterson, and A. G. Lundstrum.)

As my father kept no written record of his early life, most of this history
 is written from the memory of stories he told us at various times.  Dates 
were hard to establish, so few are given.  If there are errors, they areof 
our memories, and not of his telling.

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	Charles E. Olson was born in Vingaker, Sweden  June 25, 1870.  He was 
the third child of Lars E. and  Anna Persson Olson.  He immigrated to America 
with his paents in 1884.

	Charles was, in the true sense, self educated.  Being rather frail as 
a small boy, he did not start to school at the usual age as it was necessary 
to skate long distances to school in Sweden.  As a result, he had only three 
years of schooling in that country.  Upon arriving in America, he soon felt 
the necessity of earning his own living and thus relieve part of the family 
burden.  He recieved little, if any, schooling in this country.  He was not 
content, however, to remain illiterate, so he soon wnet to work teaching himself 
to read and write English, and to continue his work in Arithmatic.  The first 
book he read was "Uncle Tom's Cabin".  He did not care much for Fiction, so all 

of his reading from that date forward consisted of newspapers, news magazines, 
and the Bible which was a cherished gift from his parents.  That Bible was given 
in 1938 by our mother to Stanly Olson who was later killed in WWII.  Charles 
educated himself so well that upon his death, his business was found to be in 
first class shape.

	Charles loved his parents deeply -- especially his mother.  After leaving 
home, he went to work hearding sheep near Grace, Alexander, and later near Bear 
Lake.  While hearding sheep, he met A. G. Lundstrum who later became Mayor of Logan. 
 Charles and Mr. Lundstrum were life long friends.  Charles would ride bareback 
most of Saturday night across the mountains so he could spend Sunday "with Ma", 
and ride back again over the mountains Sunday night in order to be at work Monday
 morning.  Later he went to work for the Rail Road.  I have been unable to check 
on dates, but I believe that the Oregon Short Line was being built at that time.  
It was this job that eventually brought Charles to Wyoming and the town of Opal 
where he met Charles F. Roberson.

	Mr. Roberson owned a ranch in Opal, and Charles soon went to work for him.  
This was his first experience as a Cowboy and a Ranch Hand.

	It was also in Opal that Charles met Bridget Gorman who, at that time, was 
cooking at the Roberson Ranch.  Miss Gorman was born January 28, 1870 in Osceola, 
Ontario Canada which is near Ottawa.  She came to Opal, Wyoming about 1892 to keep 
house for her brother, Patrick Gorman, who owned a ranch near there.  It was after 
the marriage of her brother that she went to work for Mr. Roberson.  Charles and 
Bridget fell in love and were married May 2, 1898 at the South Side Catholic Church 
in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

	After their marriage, Charles and Bridge t moved to Station Creek, Idaho 
where they bought a farm near Charles' parents.  Although Bridget was of a different 
Nationality and Religion, she adapted herself well to her new surroundings and soon 
loved and was loved by her new relatives.  She often remarked that they filled the 
gap she felt for her own parents so far away in Canada.  She became known as Bea 
and later as Aunt Bea.

	However, Charles and Bea did not live long in Idaho.  The squirrels were 
bad that year and the call of Wyoming was in Charles' blood.  After the harvest was 
in, Charles returned to Opal, Wyoming and fed cattle for Mr. Roberson. Bea remained 
in Idaho that winter where she gave birth to their first son, Arnold, February 26, 
1899.  In the mean time, Charles had leased the Fontenelle Ranch from Mr. Roberson, 
and when spring came, he returned to Idaho long enough o sell his farm to ALfred 
Westerberg, take his wife and child and thei few belongings back to Wyoming.  His 
farm is now operated by Russel Westerburg.

	Three more children were born while they lived at Fontenelle: Anna Gladys, 
June 10, 1901: Lewis Elmer, September 25, 1904; and Lester Gorman, April 8, 1909.

	Charles' love for his parents did not die with his marriage.  Not long after 
moving to Fontenelle, he had his father, Lars, spend a summer with them.  He planned 
to have his Mother visit at a later date, but Aunt Anna's illness and later Aunt 
Selma's prevented her from making this visit.  This, however, did not prevent Charles
 and his family from visiting his parents as often as possible.  At firstit was by 
train which was a ling hard trip with small children involving two train changes 
either way they went.  They could go by McCamon, Idaho, Cach Junction, and then to 
Logan, or by Green River, Wyoming, Ogden, and to Logan.  In 1912 Charles bought his 
first cat -- a Model T Ford.

	By 1914 Charles felt he had learned to drive well enough to venture forth 
to Logan to attend the first Olson Family Reunion which was held Saturday, June 27, 
1914 at Uncle Lee's home in River Heights.  To the modern driver, this does not seem 
like much of a trip, but in 1914 it was a major achievement.  One had to carry ones 
own gas and oil, and to be sure and have plenty of tire patches.  If one traveled 50
 miles without a blowout, it was entered in the Record Book.  To topthings off, a 
cloudburst hit in the Bear Lake area, washing out what roads there were.  After 
fighting mud all the way from Sage to the top of the Divide above Bear Lake, the 
old Ford stoped, and crank as we would, it would not start.  A newly married couple 
from Sage came along in a buggy.  They tried to help, but when Lizzy refused to start, 
they left us with a Quilt and instructions to leave it at the Hotel in Lake Town.  
The nest morning, Lizzy started with the first flip of the crank.  When we stated down
 the mountain, we thanked God that she had refused to run the night before.  The road
 was completely washed out.  We had to move boulders in places to get by, and Mother, 
Arnold, and Gladys had to ride the upper running board most of the way into Lake Town 
to keep the old Ford on its wheels.
	
	After a time we arrived in Logan and enjoyed a much needed rest at Grandmother's,
 and a pleasant Reunion.  At last came the day when we must start for home.  Knowing it
 would be impossible to return the way we came, we started north by way of Grace, 
Alexander, Soda Springs, etc.  It was on this trip that Charles pointed out the places 
he had worked as a boy and a young man and told us of his long rides over the mountains
 "to see Ma".  The ice was now broken.  The Model T took us yearly to Logan until 1917
 when Charles bought a new car -- a 7 passenger Chandler.  The trips continued yearly 
until the death of Lars and Anna.  Anna died April 22, 1922.

	Charles was a good neighbor.  He was always ready to give a helping hand to a 
neighbor in distress -- to the underprivileged whom no one else would help -- or a 
young person desirous of an education.  He loaned many dollars which he knew would 
never be paid back rather than hurt someone's pride.

	Charles' family was growing up.  His daughter, Gladys, was the first to 
marry.  He aided his son-in-law, Ernest L. Dahlquist, get started in the garage 
business in Fort Bridger, Wyoming.  As his boys left school, he considered them 
a part of his business, considering their ideas as valuable as hs own.  They 
seemed inclined to follow in his footsteps in the Ranching business, so in 1918, 
Charles bought the George Ross Ranch 15 miles east of Big Piney, Wyoming.  This 
ranch is now owned and operated by his son, Arnold.  In 1932, son Elmer was married, 
so Charles bought another ranch adjoining the home ranch on the New Fork River.  
In 1937, Charles and Bea were planning to retire, but before doing so they planned 
to provide a ranch for their third son, Lester. Charles was dealing for a ranch 
across the New Fork from Elmer's a the time of his death, October 22, 1937.  His 
heirs, however, completed the deal.

	Charles was a shrewd business man.  He never made a decision in haste, but 
when he did make on, it was usually right.  An example of this was during the hard 
winter of 1920 - 21.  Many ranchers were shipping their stock to New Mexico, Texas,
 etc., but Charles shipped as close as possible and bought all the local hay, straw,
 etc. that he could.  He came through the winter without loss, while those who 
shipped south, lost heavily due to climatic changes and disease.

	Charles was much interested in the welfare of the community in which he 
lived.  He served several years on the school board while living in Fontenelle. 
 He was also Fontenelle Postmaster for 14 years.  He was very active in the 
organization of Sublette County, and was one of the first elected County 
Commissioners in 1924.  (The first Comissioners were appointed by the 
Commissioners of Lincoln and Fremont Counties from which Sublete was formed.) 
 He was elected by the largest majority of votes cast in that election.

	Churches of any denomination were few and far between in Wyoming in the 
1800's and early 1900's.  For this reason, there is little of a Religious theme 
in this narrative of the life of my father, Charles E. Olson.  However, I feel 
it only fair to him to give a brief history of his spiritual life.  (The following
 information was taken from the "History of Erick Lehi Olson given by his daughter,
 Ella O. Davis at the Olson Family Reunion held Sunday, June 1, 1947".)  "Lars and
 Anna and their family were members of the Luthern Church until Charles was 
about 11 years old.  At that time, he and his brothers and sisters were baptized
 into the Morman Church by his father, Lars E. Olson". who had joined a short 
time before.  This was rather confusing to Charles.  Why was the religion of
 his boyhood suddenly wrong and this new religion right?  They both worshipped 
the same God ye differently.  Upon coming to America, he went out into the 
world to earn a living at the tender age of 15 or 16.  The men with whom he
 worked were of many different religions -- some with none at all.  Can you
 blame him for being confused?  Charles read his Bible in an attempt to find
 the answer.  At last he arrived at this conclusion:  "All Churches led to 
the same Heaven though by different roads."  Though in erroe, he had not lost
 Faith.  Then he met and married Bridget.  She was a staunch Catholic.  She 
was a good woman -- jus like Mother.  Why not let her raise my children in her
 church?  (Thank God he did.)  Charles continued to read his Bible and went 
occasionally to Church with his family.  They prayed for him, but did nothing 
to force him to join their Church.  That decision must be made of his own free
 will.  Often when Bea was teaching their children, and they would ask a question,
 Charles would get his Bilbe and them the story from it.  Years went by and Charles,
 Bea, and their son Lester were visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs, John Newman 
in Ault, Colorado.  On Sunday, September 19, 1937  they went with their host and 
hostess to their Church -- a Luthern Church -- the Church that Charles had known 
as a boy.  Chales was very attentive, following every movement.  He was at home 
at last.  I sincerely believe he made his peace with his God that day.  Little 
did any of us hink, that happy day in Ault, that less than 5 weeks from hat day, 
Charles would be facing the Judgement Seat of his God.  The horse he was riding 
fell with him breaking his neck October 22, 1937.  May God have mercy on his soul.

	It is a matter of record that Charles' funeral was the largest attended 
single funeral ever held in Big Piney.  The one time there ws a larger crowd was
 when three young men, just back from World War II, were killed in a car accident 
near Daniel, Wyoming.  Their funerals were held jointly in Big Piney.  Charles 
was laid at rest in Saint Patrick's Cemetery, Kemmerrer, Wyoming, October 25, 1937.

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Thus ends the story of my father, Charles E. Olson, the son of Lars E. and Anna 
Olson.  Those two great pioneers made possible this reunion here today, so for 
their family, Lars' and Anna's, I offer the following prayer:

	"We consecrate to Thee, O Jesus of Love, the trials, the joys, and all 
the happiness of our family life.  We beseech Thee to pour out Thy blessings 
upon all its members, absent and present, living and dead.  And when one after 
the other we have fallen asleep in Thy Blessed Busom, O Jesus, may all of us, 
in Paradise, find again our family in Thy Sacred Heart.
	"May the Divine Assistance remain always with us, and may yhe Souls of
 the Faithful Departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace.  AMEN."