Oscar R. Olson

Olson was born on March 24, 1869, in Jordan, Wisconsin. He was the son of Rollin Olson (1832–1898) and Mary (née Peterson) Olson (1837–1913),^[1] both immigrants from Norway in 1848.^[2][3] He was the brother of politician William Olson.^[4]

As a child, Olson attended public schools and worked his parents' farm during summers. He later attended Valparaiso University, afterwards becoming an educator in Dakota.^[4] Beginning in 1908, he engaged in banking,^[3] working for the Union State Bank as a cashier, later serving as vice president, then president.^[2] From 1895 to 1901, he served in the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment of the Wisconsin National Guard, during which he was deployed in the Spanish–American War. By the time of his retirement, he achieved the rank of captain.^[4]

Olson was a Progressive Republican.^[2] He served as register of deeds of Green County, from 1893 to 1899.^[4] He was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the 17th district, from January 6, 1919, to January 1, 1923.^[4] During his tenure, he sponsored a bill to build the Wisconsin General Hospital.^[5]

After serving in office, Olson returned to farming. Religiously, he was a Norwegian-American Lutheran. On January 12, 1897, he married Carrie J. Johnson, a daughter of politician John Johnson.^[6] They had five children together.^[2] He died on November 23, 1945, aged 76, in Monroe, from coronary occlusion.^[4] He was buried in Old York Lutheran Cemetery, in Green County.^[7]