VENERABLE HUSUM MAN DIES AT 99
William Olson, at 99 years of age possibly Klickitat county's oldest
resident, died Saturday at Skyline Hospital, following a brief illness. Mr.
Olson was well-known throughout the county in several categories. He was a
charter member of Columbia Grange at Lyle, one of its organizers and one of
the hall's builders, and it was he who donated land on which it stands. He
was a past master of Columbia and a past state lecturer.
He was a school teacher much of his life and among his former pupils
are middle-aged folks at Trout Lake, Husum, Mt. Brook and Appleton.
As a 4-H club leader for over 20 years, Mr. Olson made many more young
friends and influenced many who became his neighbors. He was well known as a
gardener.
Born September 15, 1864 in Nebraska, Mr. Olson spent his early years
there, and came west with his father and step-mother in the early 70's. The
family settled at Lyle and his youthful days were spent there.
Survivors include his wife, whom he married in 1903, and five children:
Elwin, White Salmon; Luther, Husum; Carl, Wapato; Alfred, Portland; and
Clara Daugherty, Osborn, Idaho. A married daughter, Velma Hardman, preceded
him in death.
Services were held Tuesday at the Gardner Funeral Home in White Salmon.
Interment was in the Balch cemetery at Lyle. The Rev. Homer Coulson, with
Grange assistance. Pallbearers, fellow Grangers, were L.D. Ewing, Harold
Sorensen, Lawrence Tidyman, Elmer Beeks, Marshall Hamm and Maurice Balsiger.
The Mt. Adams Sun, Bingen, WA., January 2, 1964, page 1
Includes portrait
LIFE BEGAN IN COVERED WAGON AND ENDED JUST SHORT OF A CENTURY
Funeral services for William Olson, 99, Husum, were held at 2:30
p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 at Gardners Chapel, White Salmon. The Rev. Homer
Coulson officiated. Burial was in Balch Cemetery near Lyle where Columbia
Grange assisted.
Bearers were L.D. Ewing, Lawrence Tidyman, Harold
Sorensen, Elmer Beeks, Maurice Balsiger and Marshall Hamm.
Mr. Olson was born on Sept. 15, 1864 in a covered wagon
train near Marysville, Nebraska. His mother, Kaisa Milsdotter and father
Hans Olson, were bound for the Pacific Northwest but their westward was
interrupted by William's birth.
The journey was not resumed until William had finished his first year
of school. In the mean time, his mother died and was buried in Kansas.
Hans remarried. He and his second wife arrived in Seattle with their
children in 1871. Later they homesteaded on what is now known as the Daffron
place at Lyle.
After helping build the railroad for three years, Bill attended the
Wasco Independent Academy in The Dalles for four years.
Mr. Olson was a pioneer teacher at Appleton, Trout Lake, Mt. Brook &
Husum. In 1961 he recalled teaching at Trout Lake in 1896. The term was
short, three months in the summer. His wages were $25 a month.
GRANGER
Mr. Olson was a charter member of Columbia Grange, Lyle, which he
helped organize in 1889. He gave past of his land to build the Grange hall,
donated lumber for its construction and helped build it.
He was Master of Columbia Grange in 1891 and State Lecturer in 1887, 98
and 99. On
Feb. 11, 1903 he was married to Miss Ella (Elena) Huff of Underwood.
She and five children survive: Elwin of White Salmon, Luther of Husum, Carl
of Wapato, Mrs. H.E. Daugherty (Clara) of Osborn, Idaho and Alfred (Hugh A.
Gale) of Portland. A daughter Velma, Mrs. Everett Hardman, died in 1943.
Mr. Olson was a 4-H leader for over 20 years. He was an expert gardner
and took particular pride in his skill in growing roses. The seeds that he
planted in young minds will bear harvest for many years to come.
newspaper unknown
COLUMBIA GRANGE DRAPES CHARTER FOR BILL OLSON
by Kathleen Williams
Lyle (Special) Columbia Grange No. 87 held their first 1964 business
meeting Saturday, Jan 18. The charter was draped in honor on William Olson
of Husum, 99, who died on Dec. 28.
Mr. Olson was a charter member of Columbia Grange which was organized
in 1889 and served as State Lecturer from 1897-1889.
He was the oldest surviving member of the Washington State Grange in
terms of attendance at state sessions. He had attended every session for 50
years until 1962 when failing health caused his absence.
newspaper unknown
with portrait
The oldest surviving member of the Washington State Grange -- in
terms of attendance at state sessions -- is dead.
William Olson of Husum, 99-year-old patriarch of the
Grange, passed away Dec. 28. He was a charter member of the Columbia Grange,
organized in 1889.
Mr. Olson was the third past State lecturer to died within a 2-month
period of 1963. He was State Lecturer from 1897 to 1899 and the fourth
elected to that office in the state.
Leroy L. Todd, State Lecturer from 1919 to 1921, died Oct. 28. Knute
Hill, State Lecturer from 1921 to 1923 and from 1931 to 1933, died the first
week in December.
WILLIAM OLSON, a familiar figure at state sessions of recent
years, attended his last session at Bellingham in 1962. He sent a note of
regret to the 1963 session at Port Angeles saying it was the first one he
had missed in 50 years. He attended his first state session at La Camas,
Clark County, in 1890 and for many years was the only surviving member who
had attended that session.
Mr. Olson was born Sept. 15, 1864 of Swedish immigrant parents in a
wagon train near Marysville, Neb., on the way to the Pacific Northwest. They
spent a few years in Nebraska and came on to Seattle in 1871. He parents
later moved to Lyle and homesteaded close to the present site of the
Columbia Grange.
WILLIAM OLSON attended the Wasco Independent Academy at The
Dalles, Ore., and taught for many years in the rural schools. He helped to
organize the Columbia Grange, gave some of his land for the hall and donated
lumber to build it. He was Master in 1891. He met Elena Huff of Underwood
and they were married Feb. 11. 1903. Five children were born to them.
Mr. Olson was a 4-H Club leader for over 20 years. He was also noted
for growing beautiful roses.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Gardner Funeral Home, White
Salmon.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer