Surnames: Olson, Kluve, Heida, Rilling, Jandrain, Wagner, Kingsland, Bidwell, Delap, Lang, Taylor, Broten, Holman, Janes, Zimmer, Bulson, Nohr, Kane, Haertel, Davidson, Phillips, Graf, McCullan, Garvue, Emerich

----Source: ABBOTSFORD TRIBUNE (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 7 May 1931

Olson, Edward (14 March 1872 - 2 May 1931)

Edward Olson, retired Soo Line engineer and a resident of this community his entire lifetime, was (unreadable) with a heart attack and fell dead on the street in Abbotsford Saturday afternoon about 3 o’clock, while visiting with James Heida, whom he had just met and who had inquired as to Mr. Olson’s health. Mr. Olson assured him he felt better than he had for years, then suddenly crumpled to the sidewalk.

Dr. J. A. Rilling, local dentist, was the first one to reach Mr. Olson, and found that his heart had ceased beating. He was carried to A. J. Meyers store and Dr. R. R. Jandrain local physician, was called and pronounced death due to heart failure. The county coroner was notified but did not consider an inquest necessary.

Edward Olson was born at Wausau, Wis., March 14, 1872 and came to Abbotsford with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Gullick Olson, when but five years of age, they settling in the village where Mr. Olson grew to manhood, getting his education in the local village school.

He began working for the Wisconsin Central railroad in 1889, later becoming an engineer, following the railroad work until 1928, when he was forced to retire on account of poor health.

On November 24, 1897, he was united in marriage to Miss Freda Kluve of Abbotsford, Wisconsin, who survives him together with their two children Eugene in charge of the home farm since 1918, and Miss Margaret Olson of Eau Claire. Two children a son five years of age and a daughter a few months old preceded their father in death.

In 1911 the family moved to Chippewa Falls where they resided until 1919, when they purchased the farm about eight miles north-west of Abbotsford and which is in charge of the son Eugene, and where Mr. Olson industriously spent his time while off duty as engineer.

At times during the past three years Mr. Olson had been very poorly and was compelled to give up any strenuous work on account of heart trouble. This spring, however he seemed to be stronger and felt very much encouraged. The evening before his death a number of neighbors were entertained at the Olson home, and when leaving for Abbotsford Saturday he assured the family that he felt so much better he could safely make the trip alone, so the news of his sudden death was a great shock to the ones at home.

Mr. Olson was a member of the Abbotsford Presbyterian church and held in the highest esteem by everyone who were fortunate enough to have had made his acquaintance, always living beyond reproach. His first thoughts were his duty to his family and was truly a real husband and father. Not only will he be greatly missed in the home but in the entire community.

He was prominent in Masonic circles, and was affiliated with the Abbotsford Blue lodge and the Chippewa Falls commandery, Knights Templars, as well as the Abbotsford Eastern Star chapter and the Brotherhood of Railway Engineers.

Mr. Olson was also prominent in Farmers’ Union activities, and was elected a member of the state board of directors at the meeting held last fall in Menomonie.

The floral offerings were immense, many different designs were sent by the lodges with which Mr. Olson (unreadable) and also many enormous bouquets and sprays from individual friends. Surely an offering to cheer the hearts of the most sad, a silent expression of the deepest sympathy for the sorrowing family.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 1 o’clock at the farm home and at 2 o’clock at the Presbyterian church in Abbotsford, Rev. Wagner pastor of the Athens Presbyterian church officiating at the home and church, while the Abbotsford Masonic Lodge conducted the services at the cemetery at Colby where interment was made.

Many friends from other cities attended the funeral services, among whom were the following: Mr. and Mrs. Kingsland, Mr. and Mrs. C. Bidwell, Mrs. F. Delap, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Lang, Mr. and Mrs. Willis Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Broten, Mrs. Wm. Holman, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Janes, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Zimmer, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Bulson, Mrs. Mary Nohr, Barney Kane and Arthur Haertel of Stevens Point, Mr. and Mrs. James Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. George Phillips and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Graf of Minneapolis, Mr. and Mrs. Duncan McCullan and Ollie Garvue of Marshfield, and Mr. and Mrs. L. Emerich of Chippewa Falls.

CARD OF THANKS

We wish to very kindly thank all the friends and neighbors for the sympathy extended us during our recent bereavement, the loss of our dearly beloved husband and father Edward Olson, especially the neighbors who so kindly assisted us at the home. Also the Rev. Wagner for his comforting words, the Abbotsford Lodge F. & A. M. for their sympathetic services, those sending the beautiful floral offerings, those who furnished cars, and the Masonic male quartette for the beautiful songs.

Mrs. Edward Olson and Family