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Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 158 - 159 |
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JOHN OLSEN
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To the subject of this review is accorded the distinction of being the pioneer boot and shoe merchant of Cadillac, consequently he is one of the city's oldest as well as one of its representative business men. As the name indicates, Mr. Olsen is of Scandinavian birth, being a native of Norway, where he was born on the 2d day of December, 1849, having first seen the light of day in the town of Sabo. Until twelve years old he lived on a farm near his native place and at intervals during that time attended the schools of his neighborhood, receiving an elementary training, which was afterwards supplemented by additional study, principally under his own direction. At the age of sixteen he left home and went to, the city of Birgen, where he learned shoemaking, spending six and a half years at that place, during which period he not only became a very efficient workman, but earned considerable money at his trade. Following the example of many of his countrymen, Mr. Olsen, in 1871, came to the United States, locating in Chicago, where he followed his chosen calling until October, 1874, meanwhile experiencing all the horrors of the terrible conflagration which laid the greater part of that city in ashes. In the latter month and year he was sent to Cadillac by his employer, O. F. Bloss, to take charge of a stock of boots and shoes, in connection with which he also worked at his trade, the business being the first of the kind brought to the town. Mr. Olsen conducted the business for Mr. Bloss until 1879, in the spring of which year he resigned his charge for the purpose of embarking in mercantile pursuits upon his own account, selecting the line of trade with which he was most familiar, boots and shoes. His previous wide acquaintance and honorable dealing gave him considerable prestige and it was not long until he forged to, the front as the leading shoe merchant in the place, a reputation he still sustains. For almost thirty years he has been identified with the commercial interests of Cadillac, during which time he has not only built up a large and financially successful business of his own and acquired a comfortable competence, but he has also contributed greatly to the material advancement of the city, taking an active interest in its general growth and development and using his influence to advertise its advantages to the world. On August 1, 1879, Mr. Olsen was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Symmson, a native of Sweden, the union being blessed with eight children, whose names are as follows: Fred, who died March 15, 1903, Arthur, John F., Ada E., Anna, Mabel, Helen, and Marion, who died May 16, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Olsen are influential members of the Swedish Mission church of Cadillac, both active in the good works of the congregation and untiring in their efforts to spread the truths of the gospel among the people with whom they mingle. While retaining a warm feeling for his native land and manifesting a lively interest in its public affairs, Mr. Olsen is nevertheless an enthusiastic American, with a love for his adopted country and an admiration for its institutions outweighing nearly every other consideration. Here the greater and more important part of his life work has been accomplished and what success he has achieved has been wrought out under the fostering conditions such as no other country in the world affords. In the spring of 1887 Mr. Olsen revisited his native land and spent about three months amid the scenes of his childhood and youth, renewing old acquaintances and noting with not a little pathos the numerous changes that had taken place since he left the dear old home, so many years before. On the whole, his stay was pleasant and when he returned it was with more satisfaction than ever that he contemplated the new home and the many advantages it possesses over the older and more, romantic scenes of a home which hereafter will exist only as a pleasing memory. As a citizen Mr. Olsen discharges every duty incumbent upon him with an eye to the good of the community and the state, standing for a strict enforcement of the laws and lending his influence and support to every laudable measure whereby the body politic may be benefited. Since coming to Cadillac, his life and the city's growth have been pretty much one and the same thing, for he has appreciated the needs of the community and with lavish hand has supplied the same as far as the limits of his ability would permit. Every worthy project for the material, social or moral well-being of his fellow men has received his sanction and, if necessary, his financial support and all his relations with the world have been characterized by a sense of honor bespeaking the upright man and true lover of his kind. Mr. Olsen's life has been largely confined to business and from the beginning of his career as an independent factor to the present time he has made the most of his opportunities, his success not being due to fortunate combination of circumstances, but to, his well-directed efforts and earnest enterprise. As stated in a preceding paragraph, he has not circumscribed his progressive spirit within selfish and narrow bounds, but on the contrary has ever stood ready to lend his influence and tangible aid in furthering such interests as make for the benefit of the city and its people, being broad minded and public spirited, in brief, a man whose value to the community is not to be lightly estimated. |