History of Gustaf E Olson by daughter Geneva

History of the Life of Gustaf "E" Olson

Compiled and written by Geneva Olson Wallgren,

daughter of Gustaf "E" Olson, from memory and with the help of

brothers, sisters, and family records

            Lars Erick and Anna Peterson Olson, who resided in Vingaker, Sweden, were proud to announce the birth of a son of January 12, 1878.  This history is written about that son, who was my father, and who has been such an influence in all of our lives.

            At the time of his birth, his parents were members of the Lutheran Church, so according to custom, he was sprinkled by a Priest when he was eight days old and given the name Gustaf "E".  The message of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was brought to this family by the missionaries in 1879, and grandfather was baptized on December 28, 1879, by H. K. Nordberg.  Grandmother was baptized on April 27, 1881.

            After their conversion to the Church, it was the desire of this Olson family to come to America and live in Zion, but it took some time for them to sell their possessions and get money to make the trip.  On April 1, 1884, they boarded a train at Vingaker for Copenhagen, Denmark.  There were sex children with them:  brothers Peter and Charley, and sisters Anna, Esther, and Huldah.  Lehi, the oldest brother, immigrated to America in 1882.  The group sailed from Copenhagen on the steamer "Milo" on April 1, 1884, to cross the North Sea to Hull, England.  From there they journeyed on to Liverpool where they joined the Scandinavians, British saints, and eleven returning missionaries.  They sailed from Liverpool on the ship "Nevada" on April 9, 1884, and arrived in New York City on April 19, 1884.  On April 21st, Monday morning, they left by train westward for Utah, arriving in Ogden on April 27th.  They were met the next day by brother, Lehi, and Uncle Erick E. Olson.

            The family spent about two weeks in Logan, then moved to Smithfield, where they lived until fall, at which time they moved to Mink Creek, Idaho.  They lived in a chicken coop with a dirt floor until they got a log house built on the former Wallgren ranch.  From here they moved to Station Creek, where Grandfather had homesteaded land.

            School days were few for Dad, but he attended some at Mink Creek.  One day he was racing on horseback with his father and he feel and suffered a broken arm.  As the doctors were few and far between at this time, he received first aid treatment from a midwife, and it wasn't until quite some time later they found a doctor in Preston who set his arm properly.

            As he grew into manhood, he was a handsome man with beautiful natural wavy hair, who always took much pride in his appearance.  Of course, the girls were anxious to accept dates with him.  He had pictures taken with first one girl, then another.  He was certainly photogenic because every picture that was taken  of him throughout his life was so natural of him.

            At that time there was no fancy cars to use while courting the girls, and fellows were fortunate indeed if they had a team and buggy.  Of course, many good times were enjoyed on horseback.  Dad often told his family he was so bashful that he rode his horse backwards and also walked backwards when calling for his girlfriend so the parents would think he was leaving.  He had a very dear pal, August Bergquist.  Many times, these two would ride their ponies up Mink Creek to see the girls, leaving the cows to be milked by someone else.

            When he was seventeen years old, he went into the threshing business in Mink Creek and in Gentile Valley, driving first the horse power engine and later the steam engine over the steep hills.  He worked at threshing every fall for many years.

            On December 20, 1899, he married Marie Elizabeth Peterson, the lady of his choice, in the Logan Temple.  It is interesting to note that Mother's family came to America in the same company as did Dad's.  They were both six years old when they left Sweden.  She was a very humble, devoted wife and mother to their family of eleven children.  She always milked the cows while her husband was away threshing.  She would put the youngest in a box and tie up the children who were just old enough to run around so that she could keep track of them.  They made their home in Station Creek where all of their children were born, except the oldest one, Elaine, who was born at the home of Grandfather Peterson.

            It was in 1904 that he purchased the ranch from his father, who moved to Logan.  The same house and barn are still standing on the original sight in Station Creek and is owned by a son, Delmer.  Of course, both have been repaired and the house modernized.

            In the summer of 1905, Dad contracted measles and pneumonia and for weeks was close to death.  It was due to the faithful nursing of his good wife and brother-in-law, Avol Peterson, that he was restored to health.  He was seriously ill another time with the flue and pneumonia in 1919.  The doctor and the bishop had given him up and were expecting death to come at any time, but his wife said he would not die and she never wavered, such faith she had.

            He was a successful farmer.  With the help of his wife and girls, the four Elaine, Hilva, Geneva, and Selma, being the oldest, would shock grain, tromp hay, herd cows, and milk them.  Dad would always find other chores to do to get out of milking, such as feeding the horses.  I see him yet, walking through his huge potato patch hunting red roots for the pigs.  He was an expert at raising potatoes.  He usually turned the separator and always the children were on hand to feed the calves.

            I remember one summer the crops were extra good, the grain very heavy, and hard for the binder to cut.  We girls really worked, mowing and shocking the big bundles.  When we became tired he would pep us up by saying, "Hurry, this is what will buy the new Buick."  He bought the car, his first and one of the first cars in Mink Creek, in Logan in 1915.  He had the best Buick in the country, also one Studebaker, two Grahams, and the last and best, a Ford.

            Dad was a very good driver, but when the storms hit Station Creek, before the roads were graded and graveled, they became very slick.  One Sunday, coming home from Church, he didn't make one grade and the car ended up in Station Creek and he and the children walked home.  He often told about taking the trip to Fontenell, Wyoming, with part of the family and Aunt Selma along -- how they crossed gullies on planks and the canyon roads were like cow trails.  Still, they had a good time.

            Dad had many talents.  He was a carpenter, with his first contracting job, a pig pen for Peter and Sofia Erickson.  Also, a large chicken coop for his daughter and son-in-law, Bill Wallgren.  He also was a hayrack builder for his own farm and also his neighbors.

            In 1909, he received a call to fill a mission in Sweden.  This took a lot of faith and courage from him and his dear wife, he leaving five small children and another on the way.  He left for Sweden on November 8, 1909 and landed in Geteburg on December 5, 1909.  Money was scarce both in the mission field and at home.  He tells in his diary of selling his old clothes (which included ragged trousers and holey shoes) for $18.  With this money he was able to have a tailor make him a new pair of pants like his old ones, which he sorely needed.  Ruby was born January 8, 1910.  She was past two years old before her father saw her.  He returned home on March 24, 1912.  It was his responsibility to accompany a corpse of a missionary from Wyoming who had died in Sweden, home.

            Dad was baptized on April 1, 1886.  He was ordained an Elder by James M. Keller on December 17, 1899; ordained a High Priest by Heber J. Grant.  He was appointed Counselor to Bishop L. E. Erikson after the death of Carl E. Wallgren in 1912, while he was still in Sweden on his mission.

            He was chairman of the Building Committee when the Glencoe Church House was erected, which was completed in 1916.  He was made Genealogical Chairman on January 13, 1918.  With the help of his wife and committee, many cottage meetings were held and many families started on family record books.  Under his direction and by his efforts genealogy was gathered and a fine history of our parents and ancestors were gathered from Sweden.  He was appointed Sunday School Superintendent on April 20, 1912, also President of the Mutual and again Assistant in the Sunday School on July 14, 1929.  He was an active member of the Old Folks Committee up until the time of his death, being Chairman part of that time.

            Dad was a talented speaker.  He could really give a sermon with his wonderful memory of dates and happenings.  He traveled with the High Council and filled other speaking assignments.  He had been in seven nations and about seventeen of the forty-eight states.

            He served the public in many offices other than the Church.  He was a school board trustee for many years.  He held several county positions, among them being a member of the Corn Hog Program Committee.  He was Judge of Election in the Mink Creek Precinct for many years.  Of course, he represented the Republican Party.  He really did a good job and was honest and conscientious.  H would always be there an hour before time to have everything in readiness.  He was very proud of his citizenship.  I remember so often him telling of his returning from Sweden and when he caught sight of land and saw the Statue of Liberty, it was the biggest thrill of his life.

            There were three deaths in his immediate family.  His first son, Rulon, was born November 5, 1906, and lived just two hours.  Then in the year 1928, his wife was operated for the removal of a stomach tumor.  After being ill so long, the operation was too severe for her frail body and she passed away on January 28, 1928.  His first thoughts were for his children at home, especially the youngest, Stanley, who was just a small boy -- nine years of age.  With the help of his daughters Hilva, Ruby, and Venice, and sons LeGrand, Delmer, Merlin, and Stanley, the home was held together.  After the children were married, he made his home with Delmer and his good wife Velda, for more than twelve years.

            On October 1, 1943, word was received of the missing of his youngest son, Stanley, who was a pilot in a bomber over Austria.  For two years, we all worried and wondered if he was alive or dead.  Then the co-pilot was contacted by Stanley's wife, Peggy.  He told her the story of the battle which took Stanley's life.  Although the crew all bailed out and were saved, he went down with the plane.  His son, Terry, is now fifteen years of age and lives with his mother and step-father in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

            Dad had very good health up until the last.  Of course, he was lonely after the death of his companion.  He passed away on January 21, 1953, of pneumonia, and was buried January 24, 1953 in the River Heights Cemetery.

            There were some things Dad liked very much, such as:  his big gray team, Cleve and Sailor; each and every car he owned, especially his last white Ford; nice clothes; good shoes; quiltings and parties with his family and friends; strawberries, pineapple and cottage cheese; his wife's lemon pie; Anna Hurst's blueberry pie; Agnes Jepsen's pineapple pie; buns and "scorpas" and "tore", especially with his daughters and sisters; fried eggs and white bread that Velda always cooked for him.  He loved to travel and visit his family.  Many good trips have Bill (Wallgren) and I had with him to different parts of Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, and Arizona.  The last few years of his life, Bill did the driving and Dad sat in the back seat and watched the sights and the speedometer and always enjoyed a sandwich while riding.  He loved Hawaiian and violin music; good stores of history and humor.  His sense of humor made many friend for him.  He was a very good dancer.

            No one could cure and smoke hams like he did with his special maple wood and his smoke houses.  He enjoyed hunting deer with his big 45.90, also picking choke-cherries with his friends.

            His living progenitors number 62 at the present, with nine living children, thirty-five grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren.