WI BIO - Dane Co - OLESON, John
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, p 584

John OLESON, deceased, was born near Bergen [Hordaland flyke], Norway, 09 
February 1822. He was reared to farm life, and received only limited 
advantages for an education. In 1849 he came by sail vessel to America, 
spending ten weeks on the ocean, and after landing in New York found himself 
in debt about $42. He immediately began work on a farm, but unfortunately 
was soon taken sick with ague, from which he did not fully recover for more 
than a year. After his recovery Mr. OLESON worked in a lumber yard in 
Chicago [Cook County, IL] seven years, and at the end of that time, by 
economy and hard work, succeeded in saving $1,600. With that money he came 
to Wisconsin and bought the land his family still owns. He moved into the 
small log house on the place, and thus commenced his pioneer life in 
Wisconsin. He afterward put the farm under a fine state of cultivation, 
erected good houses and barns, etc., but the old log house still stands on 
the place. Mr. [John] OLESON departed this life on 29 November 1890, and was 
buried in Columbia Township, Dane County [Clark County].

He [John OLESON] was united in marriage with Emily EARSKEN, a native of 
Norway, but who came to this country with her parents at the age of fourteen 
years. Mr. and Mrs. EARSKEN both died in America, the former at the age of 
eighty-six years, and the latter at eighty-five years. John and Emily 
(EARSKEN) OLESON had ten children: (1) Annie, deceased at the age of five 
years; (2) Christina, now Mrs. Munse WEED, of Dane County [WI]; (3) Andrew, 
at home; (4) Annie Maria, now Mrs. HORTLEBURG; (5) Joseph, (6) Aluta M., 
(7) Sena, (8) Johanna, at home; (9) Martin, deceased; and (10) Martin 
[the second of that name], at home. Mrs. OLESON has continued to manage the 
farm since her husband's death. Religiously, she is a member of the Lutheran 
Church.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly