Carl Olson

Carl Olson (1862-1921) was born in Ronney, Sweden, and came to Dakota Territory in 1880 when he was eighteen years old. Other members of his family came later, Fabian, Clarence, Martin, Mathilda and Adolf, who was lost south of Sanborn, North Dakota, in one of the terrible blizzards of the 1896-1897 winter. Carl Olson married Sophia Larson Hokanson. Sophia Larson (1856-1953) was born at Oslo, Norway, and came with her parents, brothers and sisters to Duluth, Minnesota, in 1872. Her brother Henry came to Duluth in 1864 where he worked until he had money to send to his father for transportation in 1868. The father, Nels Larson and Henry worked together to earn enough to bring the mother and seven children to Duluth in 1872. They lived in Duluth for six years then came to Marsh Township, Barnes County, to a homestead eight miles south of Valley City in 1878. The father Nels Larson died in 1884, then the mother Nikoline and children moved into Valley City to a house where the Rudolf Hotel now stands. Sophia Larson had married Charlie Hokanson (1840-1887) at Duluth, Minnesota and had come to Dakota Territory at the same time her family came. The Hokansons farmed in Hobart Township. Their children were Charles; Ida -Mrs. Hall; Albert and Henry. After Mr. Hokanson's death Sophia Larson Hokanson married Carl Olson and they continued to live on the Hobart Township farm until 1916 when they sold the farm and moved to Valley City. Their children were: Jennie -Mrs. Kyle; Clara -Mrs. Jacob Chulse; Hilma - Mrs. Gust Lybeck and Harry Olson of Minneapolis. Hilma and Harry are twins. Two sons - William and Walter are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gust Lybeck had two sons - Robert and wife live in Anaheim, California and Gordon and family live in Placentia California. The Carl Olson family were members of the Nebo Lutheran Church.

The eight children of Nels and Nikoline Larson who came to (Worthington) Valley City in 1878 were:

  1. Henry;

  2. Oscar;

  3. Louis;

  4. Carl;

  5. Sophia (Hokanson) Olson;

  6. Carrie (Smith), mother of Florence and Frances Farnum;

  7. Tilly Olson and

  8. Mary (Mrs. A. M. Carlson) mother of Fred, Robert, Ben, Arthur, Willard and Clarence.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 182