Surnames: Olson, Williamson, Hurst

----Source: NEILLSVILLE TIMES (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 10/17/1907

Williamson, Josephine (13 MAY 1853 - 12 OCT 1907)

(Rochester, Indiana, Daily Republican)

Josephine Olson, daughter of John and Johanna Olson, was born at Frederikstad, Norway, May 13, 1853, passed into the higher expression of life, from her late home in Rochester, Indiana, Oct. 12, 1907, aged 53 years, 4 months and 29 days.

The deceased spent most of her childhood days at the place of her nativity and in her maidenhood learned to love and was engaged to William Williamson, the bereaved husband whom she regretfully left in sorrow on this sad day. In the year 1871 Mr. Williamson immigrated to America to prepare a home for his prospective bride, and located in Chicago. The following year Miss Olson came to the United States and immediately after her arrival at Chicago, Aug. 26, 1872, was joined in wedlock with him in whose care her heart has been in keeping. The happy couple lived in Chicago until August 1875, when they came to Rochester and have since been recognized among our most esteemed citizens.

This marital union was blessed with the birth of two children, Mr. Levi Williamson, Neillsville (Clark Co.), Wis., and Mrs. Ragnhild Hurst of Indianapolis, who, with their father, are bowed in grief over the temporal separation from a wife and mother whose love was true, devotion loyal and care most tender.

Mrs. Williamson also leaves one brother in America, Carl Kiehl Olson, at Stoughton, Wis., three brothers, Hans, Lorenz and Christian, four sisters, Trena, Martha, Helena and Eleza in Norway.

She was a member of St. Paul’s M. E. Church in this place, but had been baptized in the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Her character was such that the refined element of the populace was pleased to receive her in the social circle, and in every cause advanced for the good of humanity. She was a noble wife, fond mother, valued friend, helpful neighbor, worth citizen, whose presence in the home and among associates will be sorely missing, but the chorus in that spiritual building, that house not made by hands. Has been given a new voice, whose soft cadence is made the sweeter by the rhythm of her loving deeds while yet among us.