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Below is a family biography included in History of Page County, Iowa published by Iowa Historical Company in 1880.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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OLSTON, N. A., architect and builder, P. O. Clarinda; born April 16, 1849, in Wisconsin. When sixteen years of age he went to Darlington, Wisconsin, to learn carpentry. Came to Iowa in 1869, locating at Red Oak, following his trade in that town. In 1872 he went to Chicago for the purpose of studying architecture. While there the great fire occurred, in which he lost everything except the clothing he wore. In the fall of 1873 he returned to Red Oak, busying himself at his trade, and superintending the erection of buildings. It was not until the spring of 1875 that he began to make contracts and build business or other houses. Many of the substantial buildings of that town testify to his skill and taste as an architect. In July, 1876, he built the first bank building in Clarinda. In the following year he moved to Clarinda as his future home. During the same year he built the magnificent public school building at Clarinda, justly the pride of this portion of the state. In the spring of 1878 he began the erection of the residence of N. B. Moore, the finest building in south western Iowa. He is the main architect and builder in this section of the state, and many residences in and about Clarinda, and public buildings in this and other counties, bear evidence of his masterly skill. The opera house of J. D. Hawley, at Clarinda, now nearly completed, is the last of his more extensive operations in this city. Mr. O. was married December 25, 1875, to Miss M. Thompson, a native of the state of Pennsylvania.

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This family biography is one of 558 biographies included in The History of Page County, Iowa published in 1880.  For the complete description, click here: Page County, Iowa History and Genealogy

View additional Page County, Iowa family biographies: Page County, Iowa Biographies

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