John K. Oleson Biography - Livingston County Illinois Genealogy & History

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John K. Oleson
Biography
Livingston County, Illinois

[The Biographical Record of Livingston and Woodford Counties, Illinois (Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1900) - Submitted by Amy Robbins-Tjaden]

John K. Oleson, who resides on section 8, Pontiac township, is one of the successful farmers of Livingston county. He is a native of Norway and was born June 20, 1831, just sixty-nine years from the day the notes for this sketch were taken. He grew to manhood on a farm in his native country and until about thirteen years old attended the parochial schools. He then had to begin making his own living and engaged in farm labor.
The life of a poor man in Norway is not one for envy, and the opportunity for advancement is not such as is afforded in the United States. Realizing this fact, Mr Oleson determined to emigrate to this country, and accordingly, in 1858, he took passage in a sailing vessel, cross the Atlantic, and landed in Quebec. From that city he came west to Chicago, and from there to La Salle county, Illinois, where he commenced work on a farm by the month, and continued to be thus employed for several years, saving as much of his wages as possible.
While yet living in La Salle county, Mr Oleson was united in marriage with Miss Elsie Olson, by which union two children were born. Ole R., the eldest is now married and has one son. He is engaged in farming in Livingston county. Emma is the wife of Old Knudson and they have four sons.
In 1870 Mr Oleson came to Livingston county and purchased a farm of eighty acres and also rented a place on which was an old log house. The place had formerly been worked, but when he obtained possession it had mostly grown up to grass and weeds and only about fifteen acres was fenced. Life in Livingston county was commenced under very discouraging circumstances, but he had grit and determination, and the unsightly weeds soon disappeared and the land was placed under cultivation. A small house was first erected, which in due time, gave place to a larger and better one, and the area of the farm was increased until the farm now comprises two hundred and twenty acres, all of which is under cultivation and the land tilled and well drained throughout.
Politically Mr Oleson is a Republican, with which party he has been identified since coming to this country. On his arrival the slavery question was being agitated and the country was almost in the midst of of the throes of a revolution. Lincoln and Douglas were holding their great debate, and the young Norwegian naturally took his place on the side of those who were fighting for freedom. His first presidential vote was cast in 1864 for Abraham Lincoln, while his last was cast for William McKinley. He was reared in the Lutheran faith and is yet a member of that church. His wife is also a member of the same church.
Mr Oleson was a poor man when he came to the United States, and for several years he had a hard struggle to obtain a foothold, but he persevered, with the result that he now has one of the best improved farms in Pontiac township, within three miles of the county seat, and he can calmly look the future in the face, knowing that he has sufficient to carry him through old age in comfort, if not in luxury. His forty-two years in this country have served to broaden his views and to make him progressive and thoroughly American in all things. All who know him have for him the utmost respect.

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