John Christian Olsen
Montpelier Examiner, Friday, 26 May 1916, page 1
GOOD CITIZEN
John C Olson, (sic) died at his home in Ovid shortly after ten pm
on the night of May 10. It was not long after coming to Montpelier that we
became acquainted with Mr. Olson and in the years that have passed that
acquaintance ripened into a warm friendship.
John Olson was born in Farmington, Utah on August 26, 1869. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Olson, who came from Denmark to the Salt Lake Valley in 1862. They resided at Farmington until 1871 when the came to Bear Lake valley and settled in Ovid. Here they reared a large family of children, nine of whom are still living. Mrs. Olson died some 31 years ago and Mr. Olson about 13 years later.
Conditions in John's boyhood days were such that he found it necessary to work hard and practice economy in order to make "both ends meet". By doing so it was not many years he had acquired a sufficient sum to enable him to purchase a few acres of land and build him a little house on the site where the find home now stands in which his death occurred. He was soon able to add a few more acres to his holdings. At the time of his death he owned about 350 acres of good farm and grazing land.
Some years ago Mr. Olson decided that there was more to farming than raising hay and grain and turned his attention to the breeding of Porcheron horses and Hereford cattle, of which he produced some of the best ever raised in this county. In church and school and political affairs Mr. Olson always took an active part. He has held every church office in the ward except that of bishop. He served two mission, the first 18 years ago in the central states and the second in England about eight years ago. He has held the office of trustee of the Ovid school district.
In politics Mr. Olson was a staunch republican and served one term as sheriff, a candidate for the same office in 1910 but was defeated by Joel H Rich. Mr. Olson was united to Miss Martha Jonley, and four children were born to them, two daughters and a son survive him, together with his widow. Other surviving relatives are his three brothers, Chris, James and Orson and six sisters, Mrs. Nola Bunderson of St Charles, Mrs. T C Pearson of Caldwell, Mrs. L E Killian of Blackfoot, Mrs. Fred Thompson of Montpelier, Mrs. Eph Sorenson of Lago and Miss Kate Olson of Boise. All were present at the funeral except Mesdamos Thompson nd Killian, who were detained at home on account of sickness in their families.
His funeral services were held from the Ovid meeting house last Saturday morning and despite the inclement weather the house was packed with friends who gathered from all sections of the county to pay their last respects to one whom they had known and esteemed in life. The services were presided over by Bishop Nelson of the Ovid ward and besides him the speakers were Bishop Lindsay and Nels Johnson. Each one spoke of the deceased and of the good work that he had done in life. Appropriate musical numbers were rendered.