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Below is a family biography included in the book,  Biographical Souvenir of the Counties of Buffalo, Kearney, Phelps, Harlan and Franklin, Nebraska published in 1890 by F. A. Battey & Company.  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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LARS OSCAR OLSON is a native of Gothenborg, Sweden, and was born August 16, 1841. He was reared in his native place and in his earlier days was apprenticed to the carpenters trade, which he mastered and followed for some time. After reaching maturity he was engaged a few years as a sailor on the North sea, the vessel he was on plying between England, Sweden, Belgium and France. Coming to America, he made a short stop at Hinsdale, Mass. From Hinsdale he went to Chicago, where he found his first employment in an implement factory. For twenty years he made Chicago his headquarters, living there a large part of the time, his main occupation being bridge-building and mill-wrighting, the former of which he followed nine years and was employed in building, among others, the principal bridges on the Union Pacific railroad, between Omaha and Ogden, Utah, in the years 1867-8-9. He also worked in Dunlap’s National and Indiana elevators a large part of the time while in Chicago. He has worked in sixteen states in the Union, being as far east as Massachusetts, west as Utah, north as North Dakota and south as Florida.

In 1880 he bought a quarter section of land where the town of Holdrege now stands for $640. Six years afterward he sold forty acres of it for $3,200 and within a year afterwards he sold eighty acres more for $8,800. He then moved to Phelps county, purchasing a half section in Laird township for $4,400, and still another quarter for $2,500, and built on the former place a house and barn that cost $7,500, and has since resided there and is now largely engaged in farming and stock-raising.

He married, May 25, 1872, the lady whom he selected for a companion being Miss Albertina C. Magnusson, also of Gothenborg, Sweden. Six children have been born to this union, namely — Axel B., born March 27, 1873; Annie C., born December 13,1874; Oscar, born September 15, 1876; Oscar Alfred, born August 1, 1881; Clara M., born January 31, 1888, and Hedwig, born November 25, 1889. Of these, Oscar died the thirteenth of June, 1881, and Oscar Alfred, May 19, 1884.

Mr. Olson evinces the good sense that characterized him through all his business career by remaining independent in politics and keeping aloof from all political squabbles and connections.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the book, Biographical Souvenir of the Counties of Buffalo, Kearney, Phelps, Harlan and Franklin, Nebraska published in 1890 by F. A. Battey & Company. 

View additional Phelps County, Nebraska family biographies here: Phelps County, Nebraska Biographies

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