Source 9: Geog history

Source Record 9

Description:

Source Type} Geog history

Family History} Olson

History of Los Angeles County, John Steven, McGroarty, ed., 3 vols. The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1923. "Olson, Henry J.", Vol. III, pp. 84 - 85.

Henry J. Olson. One of the highly esteemed citizens who has worked his way to a recognized position in manufacturing and business circles of Alhambra is Henry J. Olson, the proprietor of the only planing mill at this point. His career has been one of self-made success, for his present prosperity rests solely on his own industry and good management.
Mr. Olson was born at Spring Valley, a small mining town in Nevada, and is the son of Hans and Mary (Staley) Olson, his father having been a native of Norway. He was two years of age when brought to Southern California by his parents, who made the long trip overland from Oregon by wagon, and his first recollections of Alhambra are those of a small hamlet with unimproved street and no modern conveniences. At the time Garfield Avenue was cut through to the south, Mr. Olson's father planted the ornamental camphor trees on that thoroughfare from the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks to the Ocean to Ocean Highway, and as a lad Henry J. Olson took a prominent part in this labor by carrying water with which to keep these trees alive. He attended the old school at the corner of Chapel and Beacon streets, and later the school at Garfield Avenue and Alhambra Road, with C.E. Jones as teacher, and in his youth was apprenticed to the trade of carpenter, which he mastered. Becoming efficient in his business, he was able to accumulate some means, and these he eventually invested is the building of Alhambra's first planing mill, an industry that was greatly needed at a time when the town was growing in size and importance and when building materials were at a premium. This mill was built in 1905, and was successfully operated by Mr. Olson until 1914, when it was destroyed by fire. This proved a total loss, as Mr. Olson had no insurance, but he did not allow himself to become discouraged. Instead, he immediately began building on a greatly increased scale, and now has a modern plant, fully capable in every department of meeting the city's increasing demands. It is equipped with all machinery necessary for the production of even the most detailed and highly specialized work to be used in structural enterprises, and is accounted one of the city's most progressive industries, as its owner is known as one of Alhambra's most progressive and enterprising citizens.
In 1906, Mr. Olson married at Ontario, California, Miss Amy Noble, who was born at Ontario, Canada, and to this union there have come two children: Donald, who was born at Alhambra, March 29, 1907, a student of the Alhambra High School, who has commenced his business training under the preceptorship of his father; and Agnes, born at Alhambra, October 4, 1912, who is attending the public schools of this city. Mr. Olson has a number of business, civic, and fraternal connections, but has not found time to participate in local public affairs save as a constructive citizen.

Source Cost } $ 0.00
Kind of Evidence} Original

Last Updated
by} Karen Hancock

Date Updated} 25 May 2006
Date Created} 1 Jan 1992

Repository:

Dan and Karen Hancock
1059 Southridge Drive
Auburn, California 95603-5851

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