John Olson Backpacking

John was the 6^th of 12 children born to John Hendrick and Martine Elisabeth Olson. He was born in Two Harbors, Minnesota on May 5, 1896. I don't know much about his early childhood but I am sure that he had to work hard to help his parents. His brother born a year before him died about a week after his birth.

He lived in a big house that was just across the street from the High School. He went with his parents and siblings to the Norwegian Lutheran Church. That was an important part of the family life.

In 1913-14 and 15 he back packed to Isabella, Minnesota to teach school in a one room schoolhouse in order to be able to go to college. Isabella is in Lake County about 60 miles from Two Harbors. I don't think he backpacked the whole way but probably took a bus to some closer town and then backpacked in.  It is still a very small community* and I have no idea how he got the job or where he lived. It is the highest community in Minnesota being about 2000 ft. in altitude. There are many lakes and woods nearby making it a good hunting and fishing area.

Dad outside the schoolhouse

He was able to go to college at the Minnesota College of Agriculture and stayed at a boarding house on Raymond Avenue just a few blocks from where the Bosses had built their house. Dad played piano. The other men in the boarding house bought music and Dad would play for them.


In 1916 my mother Elna, was the secretary of the Class of 1919 and Dad was president of that class.  I think they got pretty well acquainted.  Dad went into the army September 26, 1917.  He was honorably discharged at the end of the war.  They were married November 18, 1922 in St. Paul, Minnesota.  They went to Waco, Texas where Dad worked with his brother Clarence in the lumber business.


*This town is still in existence and you can find out about it on Google.