Surname: Olson

Biography of Soren Mortensen

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History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

Soren Mortensen, born April 21, 1846, in Denmark, became one of the wealthiest farmers in Yankton County, South Dakota. After emigrating to the United States in 1869, he worked on a farm in Long Island for seven and a half years before moving to South Dakota in 1876. Mortensen initially focused on wheat farming but shifted to livestock after several crop failures. He built a successful operation handling cattle and Chester White hogs, amassing 1,500 acres of farmland. Mortensen married Meatha Amelia Larson in 1874, with whom he had nine children. After her death in 1896, he married Nora Grant in 1900. A dedicated Republican and respected community member, Mortensen’s achievements reflect his perseverance and effective management.

Biography of Peter Oscar Olson

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History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

Peter Oscar Olson, born February 1, 1874, on his family’s homestead in Yankton County, South Dakota, is a dedicated farmer. His father, Christian Olson, emigrated from Norway in 1866, settling in Yankton County the following year. Peter was educated locally and at Yankton College. He worked alongside his father and brothers, expanding their farm by 640 acres despite various hardships. A staunch Republican and Lutheran, Peter married Bergine Marie Olson on October 24, 1901. They have a daughter, Laura Caroline, born August 6, 1902. Peter values hard work, timely effort, and eschews vices for success in agriculture.

Biography of Ole H. Smith

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History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

Ole H. Smith, born on May 11, 1846, near Christiania, Norway, moved to America in 1869. Initially settling in Rushford, Minnesota, he later moved to Dell Rapids, South Dakota, in 1876, where he became a pioneer merchant and eventually president of the Granite City Bank. Smith also excelled in the livestock industry, raising Hereford cattle and Poland-China hogs on a 900-acre farm. A staunch Republican, he served as mayor of Dell Rapids from 1896 to 1898. Smith was married three times, first to Albertha Olson, then to her sister Jacobina Olson, and finally to Anna Strom, with whom he had a child, Bergliot M.

Biography of Hans C. Olson

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History of South Dakota vol 1 title page

Hans C. Olson, a farmer in Yankton County, South Dakota, has played a significant role in the region’s growth and development. Born in Norway in 1854, he immigrated to the United States as a teenager with his parents. Settling in South Dakota, Hans worked diligently on the family farm and eventually became a successful farmer himself, owning 320 acres of land, primarily dedicated to raising Hereford cattle. He was actively involved in his community, serving as a deputy assessor and advocating for education. With a strong sense of integrity and deep religious faith, Hans earned the respect of all who knew him.

History of Miller Township

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History of Marshall County Dakota title page

Miller township is centrally located and the surface slightly undulating, with the exception of the quite prominent elevation upon which Britton is located. This low range of hills commences in the southwest corner of the township and gradually rises higher, and extends across the northwestern part of Pleasant Valley township into White township, where it … Read more