Mathias Olsen (1833) born in Snertingdalen, Biri, Norway, third son of Ole Larsen Toppen Marking and Maren Olsdatter Brustuen, came to Duluth, Minnesota, from Norway in 1867. He and his brother Nils and P. O. King came to Barnes County in 1877. The next year they sent for their families. Mathias was the head carpenter and they found plenty of work and built many of the first stores, houses and the building known as the "academy of music," the downstairs now occupied by Sherman Clothiers and Frostad Plumbing; upstairs were two apartments and a large hall where road shows and musicals were held. Mathias Olsen, the owner, was very particular about the kind of shows given in his hall. His first wife Sophia, died leaving one daughter, Marie Olsen, who married Henry Wold; they had three children - Hilda, Axel and Inga. Inga married A. P. Paulson. The second wife Elsie Bokjar, a cousin of his first wife, came from Norway to Duluth. She came to keep house for Mathias and agreed to marry him if he would help organize a Methodist Church. Meetings were held in the homes and in the Academy of Music hall. In 1893 the Norwegian Danish Methodist Church was organized and a church was built on a lot given by Mr. Olsen on the corner of 2nd Ave., and 3rd St. S.E.; the church now is the Free Methodist Church.
The three daughters of Mathias and Elsie Bokjar were: Maren Olsen married Thomas Wold, a brother of Henry Wold. Their children: Ida Wold, Martin Wold killed in W.W.I, Anna, Mrs. Milton Stemhagen and Hilda, Mrs. George Burchill.
Gerda Olsen - Mrs. Silas Nelson.
Lilly Olsen -died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Olsen raised their granddaughter, Inga Wold Paulson, who lost her parents when very young.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 181