Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 4 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 20

Ole Andrew Olson, selling papers on the streets of Milwaukee when a lad of nine years and dependent entirely upon his own resources from an early age, is now the secretary of the Milwaukee Paper Box Company and as such is occupying a prominent position in the business circles of the city. He was born at Risor, Norway, September 29, 1877. His father, Sven Olson, also a native of Risor, came to the United States in 1880. He was a ship carpenter and on crossing the Atlantic located at Milwaukee. He had also been a sailor and had toured the world before taking up the trade of ship carpentry. His people had lived in the same town in Norway through many generations and had always been seafaring men or ship workmen and some of the family had made notable success in business. Sven Olson continued his residence in Milwaukee to the time of his death, which occurred in the year 1920. In early manhood he wedded Anne Sorensen, who was born in Risor, Norway, and was also a representative of one of the old families of that town. She was married to Sven Olson in the Land of the Midnight Sun and with her husband she came to Milwaukee, where her death occurred in 1891.

Ole A. Olson was but nine years of age when the family home was established in the new world. At the age of nine years he was brought to Milwaukee and continued his education in the schools of Milwaukee, afterward becoming a student in the South Division high school. Starting out in the business world he worked for three years with the H. Niedecken Company in the paper stockroom and subsequently was employed by the Standard Paper Company as floor and city salesman, continuing with that house for a period of sixteen years. On the 1st of January, 1913, he joined the Milwaukee Paper Box Company as purchasing agent and credit man and in 1916 was elected to the office of secretary, in which capacity he has since served. His business career has been marked by that steady progression which indicates a mastery of every task, faithful performance of every duty and a laudable ambition to obtain promotion.

On the 30th of June, 1906, Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Miss Angela Beyerstedt, the wedding being celebrated in Sheboygan, this state. Mrs. Olson is a daughter of Henry P. Beyerstedt, a merchant of Sheboygan, who was born in Hamburg, Germany, and came to Wisconsin with his family, settling at Sheboygan. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have become parents of two children: Robert and Janet, both students in the Milwaukee schools. Mr. Olson and his family are members of the Lutheran church and fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Wisconsin Lodge, No. 13, A. F. & A. M. He likewise has membership in Prospect Lodge, No. 135, K. P., and in Milwaukee Lodge, No. 46, B. P. O. E. He belongs to the Credit Men's Association, to the Purchasing Agents' Association, of which he is national director and to the Milwaukee Association of Commerce. He follows and enjoys all outdoor sports and is particularly fond of motoring, fishing and swimming. He participated in every drive during the World war and has ever stood for that which is most valuable in citizenship. Moreover, his life indicates what could be accomplished through persistent and earnest efforts and he has justly won the proud American title of a self-made man.