Bio: Olson, Harry & Mary

Surnames: OLSON ZAHORKA HANSON

----Source: ABBOTSFORD, WIS. CENTENNIAL BOOK - 1973

Olson, Nels & Anna / Harry & Mary

At the age of 16, Nels Olson, born in Norway, came to America and secured employment on the railroad at Two Reivers, first as section hand, and later as road master.

After he had saved enough money, he sent for his parents, two brothers and one sister, one brother died at sea. Upon their arrival in this country they settled at Winchester.

In 1889 Nels was married to Miss Anna Hanson of Winchester. They had four sons: Harry, Gerhart, Clarence, and Sanford. He then moved his home to Abbotsford, Wis., occupying the D. B. Thompson farm.

Harry left home in 1911 and went to work for the Abbotsford Butter and Cheese Factory, working four days each week in the factory and three days each week on a route gathering cream, by team, covering a distance of twenty-five miles.

It was here that Harry gained much valuable experience, being called upon to do much of the work at the factory. With the experience that he had gained, together with the money he had saved, he started in business for himself.

In 1913, he built a factory two and one-half miles northwest of Milan and a mile south of Jerkwater. He continued in business at this location for five years, making cheese, selling his product to Paul Waech, hauling it to Milan, and loading it on box cars.

After selling the factory in 1918 to Walter Kallien, he moved to Abbotsford and purchased the Abbotsford Creamery on Feb. 2, 1919. He continued the business until 1946, when he disposed of the machinery to the factories nearby, and the building to W.G. Danielson, who opened a dry cleaning establishment. The building is still being used in that capacity by Larry and Donna Dehnel.

On Nov. 26, 1913, Harry was married to Miss Mary Zahorka. They had two children: Harvey, now living in Abbotsford, and Mildred, who married John Hanson.