Olson Family Farm - Monroe County Sesquicentennial Farm

The Olson Family Farm was recognized as a Century Farm in 1985 after 110 years of continuous family ownership. 

Ole Herdal Olson (born October 1807) and Dorthea Jensdatter Stennan Riise (born October 1809) were united in marriage in May 1838 in Tolga, Hedemark, Norway.  To this union there were six children: Ole Iver born in 1838; Marit born in 1841; Carrie born in 1843; Johanne born in 1846; Anna born in 1849; and Jens born on October 26, 1853.  They emigrated from Norway to America and were among the early settlers in the Township of Leon.  Ole and Dorthea purchased the present farm in 1875 from John Cannon.  Mr. Cannon was a lumberman from the state of New York that came to Wisconsin around 1842 and settled on about 600 acres in the Township of Leon in what is now known as Cannon Valley.  

Halver and Rebecca Bergerson came to America with their six children including daughter Caroline Bergerson Brangrud who was born in Holand, Norway on born December 7, 1860.  They came to America in 1872 when she was 11 ½ years old.  Halver was a successful farmer and stock raiser, keeping his farm well stocked with a good grade of horses, cattle and hogs.  He was a man of noble Christian character, and he and his wife were honored members of the Lutheran church and had great influence in the community.    

Jens Olson and Caroline Bergerson were united in marriage in the Township of Leon on March 12, 1878.  Jens assumed the role as main farmer of the small dairy operation after the passing of his father Ole in April 1879.  Jens was successful in his operations as a farmer, and his farm was highly improved by cultivation and buildings, and the modern residence erected in 1904, with the commodious outbuildings, make theirs one of the up-to-date country homes of the valley.  He was kind-hearted and generous and a devoted member of the Lutheran church, having the confidence and esteem of all who knew him.  To the marriage of Jens and Caroline there were twelve children: Johanna born 1878 (never married); Dora born 1880 (married Hans Hoitomt); Oscar born 1882 (never married); Harold born 1884 (never married); Ida born 1887 (married Joseph Anderson); Augusta born 1889 (married Angus Morrison); Nora born 1892 (married Earl Anderson); Olga born 1894 (married Irving Thomesen); Josef born 1896 (married Elizabeth Betty); Leonard born 1898 (married Selma Kolbo); and the twins William (married Sarah Kolbo) and Walter (married Alice Erickson) born 1902.  

Jens passed away in May 1904, leaving Caroline to farm over 250 acres of land and maintain the dairy herd.  Her children Johanna, Oscar and Harold lived close by and assisted with raising their brothers and sisters as well as the farming chores.  Caroline very ably brought up her family, continuing in the teaching of the Lutheran Church. The youngest son, Walter, married Alice (Breitenfield-Erickson) on October 24, 1932, in Galena, Illinois. To this union there were three children: Jane born April 1933 (married Lavern Chapiewsky); James A. born August 1934 (married Joan Melloh) and Joyce born April 1937 (married Forrest Johnson). Caroline passed away on July 14, 1934, and the farm was left in the hands of her six sons. Johanna, Oscar, and Harold lived on a 100-acre parcel and farmed another 100-acre parcel. Walter and Alice were able to purchase the remaining 154 acres from his brothers on April 21, 1947.  Walter passed away July 29, 1968, seventeen years to the day after his twin brother William passed away (in 1951).  

James A. married Joan Melloh on October 10, 1964. To this union there were two children: James J. born in September 1966 (married Julie Benedict), and Lori A., born in July 1971 (married Marcus Volden).  Alice sold the farm of 154 acres to James and Joan on May 15, 1978, and she moved to Sparta.  James A. changed the farm operation from dairy to beef cows and honorably served in the Army National Guard, Army reserves, and on active duty.  On December 7, 1998, James A. passed half the farm to his son James J.  Both children honorably served in the military; James J. enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1984 and retired as a Major in 2007, and Lori enlisted in the Army in 1989 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2025.  

James J. then married Julie Benedict on October 27, 2001, and to this marriage there were two children: Caroline (named after her Great-Grandmother), born in April 200,3 and James-Dean (named after both of his Grandfathers), born in February 2006.  On July 24, 2006, James A. passed his half of the farm to James-Dean.  He worked as a mechanic for the Monroe County Highway Department and farmed the family farm.  Even though he had Allis-Chalmers tractors, he enjoyed doing his farm work with his Percheron horses.  He was a fixture at many local parades, fairs, and