Alfred Olson
Glen Leslie Church and Cemetery
On November 21, 1914, a meeting was held to
consider building a church at Glen Leslie. A subscription list was drawn
up with cash donations and volunteer labor promised. Alfred
Olson was hired as the carpenter for
$4.00 per day. The 20’ x 30’ log church was built on ten acres allotted
for a church and cemetery on SW 6 72 3 W6. By March 1915, the logs were
hauled and construction began after spring work. Total cost of the
Church was $468.00. The first church service was held on October 30,
1915 and continued until 1964.
|
· Born:
28 Dec 1886, Wåmhus, Kopparberg, Sweden
· Baptized:
30 May 1887
· Marriage:
Inga Mathilda Bredeson on 7 Oct 1916 in Grande Praire, Alberta, Canada
· Died:
28 Apr 1966, QEll Hospital, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada aged 79
· Buried:
Glen Leslie Presbyterian Cemetery, Glen Leslie, Alberta, Canada
| Alfred Olson |
The house where Alfred grew up
In
Wåmhus, Sweden
|
Log house in Bezanson
where Alfred & Inga raised their children |
 |
 |
 |
|
Picture from Carol Sorensen
of
Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
Alfred’s Grand Daughter
|
Picture from Catherine Tillas
of
Leksand, Sweden
Alfred’s Grand Niece
|
Picture from Angie
Waldner
of Bezanson, Alberta, Canada
Alfred's daughter |
Alfred's immigration.
We are still trying to justify
and find solid information about the first part of his trip.
(the following note from
Wikipedia - the links in this section will take you to their information)
Crossing the
Atlantic
The first European emigrants travelled in the holds of sailing cargo
ships. With the advent of the age of steam, an efficient transatlantic
passenger transport mechanism was established at the end of the 1860s.
It was based on huge ocean liners run by international shipping lines,
most prominently
Cunard,
White Star, and
Inman. The speed and capacity of the large steamships meant that
tickets became cheaper. From the Swedish port towns of
Stockholm,
Malmö and
Gothenburg, transport companies operated various routes, some of
them with complex early stages and consequently a long and trying
journey on the road and at sea. Thus North German transport agencies
relied on the regular Stockholm–Lübeck steamship service to bring
Swedish emigrants to Lübeck, and from there on German train services to
take them to
Hamburg
or
Bremen.
There they would board ships to the British ports of
Southampton and
Liverpool and change to one of the great transatlantic liners bound
for
New York. The majority of Swedish emigrants, however, travelled from
Gothenburg to
Hull, UK, on dedicated boats run by the
Wilson Line, then by train across Britain to Liverpool and the big
ships.
|
Alfred left Sweden on the Tasso,
from Gothenberg, Sweden to Grimsby, England
-bw.jpg)
The
passenger list from Alfred's trip on the Tasso 
Took the
train to Liverpool.
Then the RMS Mauretania from
Liverpool to New York, United States of America
The
passenger list from Alfred's trip on the Mauretania
_small1.jpg)
19 November
1910
Our
understanding is that somehow he got to the west coast to work, and met up with
Nels Meyers.
The storey
goes that the 2 young men threw a boot in the air and decided to head in the
direction it pointed on landing.
A lot of Nels and Alfred's descendants are still in the area.
Alfred at different stages and
ages of
life
Noted
events in his life were:
• Home Stead, 11
Mar 1920, Glen Leslie, Alberta, Canada. Application for title approved
NE 33 - 071 - 03 - W6
Applied 1914
• Build Glen Leslie
Church, 1915. In November, 1914, a meeting was held to consider building a
church at Glen Leslie. A subscription list was drawn up with donations of labor
and cash promised. A similar meeting was held in December at Bezanson with
similar commitments called for. The logs were to be cut and hauled out during
the winter. Two 20'x30' log buildings were built the following spring with
volunteer help and one carpenter, Mr. A Olson. Both churches were used as
schools for many years.
• Story: From the book "Smoky
River to Grande Prairie", 1978, ISBN 0-88925-036-7. Page 49-51
ALFRED OLSON FAMILY STORY - by Carol (Waldner) Adams - March, 1977
Born in Wamhus, Sweden, Alfred Olson left his home in 1910 to come to the U.S.A.
While he was working in the Los Angeles area, he met and worked with Nels
Meyers. Unable to make up their mind about which way to go, Alfred decided to
throw his boot in the air and follow the direction the toe pointed. The shoe
landed pointing north east. The two young men arrived in the Bezanson district
via the Grouard Trail in the spring of 1912.
Alfred's carpenter skills were put to use that year building the main part of
his first home, the shell of which is still standing.
As more people came into
the area, Mr. Olson was often a willing volunteer helping his new neighbours to
build their homes. He was also part of the work force who constructed gathering
places, such as the original hall, which burned down in 1949, and the Glen
Leslie Church, which is a standing monument to the fine workmanship of the
community members. In later years, he built the Ben Foster residence in Sexsmith
(1926-27) and helped with the present Bezanson Community Hall, built in 1950.
In the early part of 1916, Alfred attended a dance in Grande Prairie where he
met Miss Inga Bredeson. Inga had come from Minnesota by train to Edson and by
sleigh, over the Edson Trail to Grande Prairie in early 1915. The Bredeson
family were living in Sexsmith.
They were married later in 1916 by Rev. Forbes at his private residence in
Grande Prairie. The young couple set up housekeeping in the log house at
Bezanson. They were to eventually raise 7 children in the 3 room log house -
Edna, Elsie, Violet, Angie, Don, Gordon and Alice.
Tragedy struck the Olson household when Edna, Elsie and their first son, baby
Edwin came down with Whooping cough. The 6 week old baby succumbed to the
dreaded disease and was buried in the Glen Leslie cemetery in June, 1927.
Life on the farm meant much hard work, but the family recalls many good times.
Mr. Olson was a carpenter by trade, but he also trapped and hunted. Alice
recalls having to share the house with skins hanging to dry. Alfred brushed the
land by hand and broke the fertile ground with oxen. Entertainment was not
lavish or extravagant, but nobody minded. Mrs. Olson recalls going to dances
where Mr. Olson played the accordion, and her not missing a dance. 'Everybody
danced with Everybody'. Edna recalls herself and Elsie singing during supper
breaks. There was also much visiting among neighbours.
The Olson house was the scene of many dances and, in fact, 3 of the Olson girls;
Edna, Violet and Angie, held their wedding receptions at home. In the early
days, Inga recalls making frequent trips to the old Bezanson Townsite for
supplies with a single horse buggy. Later, in the 30's they had a team of sorrel
horses, Johnny and Lady, who acquired a reputation for pulling out stuck
vehicles, in particular, the mail truck.
Edna, the oldest of the children, married Carl Flohr and resided in several
Peace country towns in the early part of their marriage. When Carl's work took
him up the Alaska Highway, Edna lived back on the farm with her young family.
The Flohrs raised 5 children; Alvin, Eddie, Larry, Ivan and Marlene. Edna's gift
is cake decorating. Her talent is well known and her wedding cakes have gone as
far as England and Hawaii.
The Flohrs presently live in Grande Prairie.
The second eldest, Elsie worked for the Rays in Beaverlodge. It was here she met
Bob Ray, who enlisted in the Army. They were married in Nanaimo, B.C., where Bob
was stationed. Elsie did her part for the war effort by going to work in an
aeroplane factory as a riveter. Bob and Elsie have 2 sons, Lyle and Barry.
Violet married Bill Griffiths, a mechanic from Grande Prairie. The Olson girls
recall Vi making all their clothes, and Violet is still satisfying customers
with her fine workmanship. Bill's work has taken them to many places in Alberta
and B.C. They now live in Nanaimo, B.C. They have 4 daughters; Gayle, Judy,
Cindy and Bonnie.
Angie married Walter Waldner, a young horseman from Clairmont. They were married
in Grande Prairie and have lived and worked in the area ever since. In 1957 they
purchased the family farm, where they still reside. Walter has always enjoyed
working with horses and now enjoys something he has always wanted to do -own
harness horses. Walter has travelled all over Alberta with his 2 registered
pacers to drive in races. Angie enjoys the horses with her husband and also sews
for her family. They have 2 children - Carol and Darrell.
Don was the last one to marry. He married Maxine McColm, a teacher whom he met
while she was instructing at the Bezanson school. They now reside in Grande
Prairie, where he has followed in his father's footsteps and to become a
successful self-employed carpenter. Many people Don grew up with will remember
him as being an excellent taxidermist. He still has some of his trophies. Don
and Maxine have 3 children; Tammy, Trent and Terrill.
Gordon married Glenda Franks, a young girl from Goodwin. Gordon's brothers and
sisters remember him best having his hand under the hood of the family vehicle.
At the age of 16 he went to SAIT to study for his mechanic certificate. He
received it when he was 19. All his hard work has paid off, as he has a partner
and they have a thriving service station business. He and Glenda have 5 children
- Janice, Karen, Darlene, Brian and Rhonda.
Alice married a local guy, Tyke Ames. Tyke is a welder by trade and is an avid
horseshoe pitcher, a hobby that has given him several trophies. Allie's gaining
an excellent reputation as a seamstress. They have lived in Bezanson all their
lives and have raised 4 daughters - Louise, Beverly, Irene and Colleen.
Christmas, 1952 Inga and Alfred moved to a new 5 bedroom home, just east of the
original building site. In 1957 they moved to Grande Prairie, where Alfred
worked with Don building houses. Alfred also enjoyed river boating with his
sons, making several trips up the Smoky River, during this time in his life.
Inga who had always sewed for her own family, then started sewing for others.
Her work included complete wedding ensembles, square dance outfits and she also
altered clothes for clothing stores. Mr. and Mrs. Olson's natural talent of
making something from nothing has passed on to all their children, who are all
very good with their hands.
In 1962, Alfred again built Inga a home. It was at this modern house in Grande
Prairie where Alfred passed away. He was 79 years of age and is remembered by
family and friends as a very private person, but always a good neighbor. Mrs.
Alfred Olson enjoys a very active and independent life in her home to this day.
Today, one of Inga's most vivid memories of this area opening up, was the
driving of the Golden Spike, bringing the rest of the country to Grande Prairie.
The following and some pictures above are from Catherine
Tillas in Sweden
John Olson - Våmhus (By: Cathrine Tillas)
My great grandfather was John Olson. He left Wåmhus Sweden in
1904. Behind he left his wife dying in TBC and his daughter Anna - my
grandmother (two children had already died). His first letter is dated 17 may
1904 posted in Williams Arizona (camp). There is a pictures of him as a railroad
worker - in Canada or Alaska? He was home once in 1913 and then he promised my
grandmother he was going to send for her so that she could come to Amerika.
Something must have happened because he didn´t keep in touch until 1922 from
Seward Alaska. He lived most of his life in the Mcgrath area in Alaska were he
was mining for gold. It´s seems that he was at one place during the summer and
another during the winter - probably because it was too cold in the winter? He
sent about 50 letter home. He mostly talks about the weather, shooting bears,
fishing, cooking and working. The only relatives he mentions is his brother Manne (Immanuel) that he probably visited and got to send coffee home to my
grandmother during the war. In 1954 he mentions that his other brother Alfred
and his two boys (Gordon and Donald) came up to Anchorage and visited for a
couple of days. He is buried at Anchorage memorial cemetery.
Memorial Cemetery Anchorage Memorial Park (muni.org)
2015 Olson
Reunion Pictures
Inga and Alfred's grave site at Glen Leslie
This is a work in progress, information is being added regularly.
David
Produced by
Sorensen Ventures
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