Slooper
Son
James Webster Olson
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. WHO WAS JAMES OLSON? He was the 3rd surviving son of prominent early Norwegian immigrant Ole Olsen Hetletveit. Ole came to the U.S. on the famous sloop Restauration in 1825; he was a “Slooper.” Ole had 3 sons who served with the 36th Illinois Volunteers during the Civil War. The eldest son distinguished himself as the commander of this military unit but was killed in battle. The second son was also killed in battle. |
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. IN CALIFORNIA? Sgt. James "Web" Olson, the youngest, survived the war and was discharged 22 Sep. 1864. . With marriage, children and a series of moves, J. W. Olson would be found living in the northern California town of Santa Rosa. There he would die and be buried. So, how did the son of a Slooper and the brother of one of the most famous Norwegian-Americans to serve in the Civil War, end up in an unmarked grave? Read more...>>HERE. |
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MEMORIAL DEDICATION |
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CLICK
BELOW FOR
MORE INFORMATION ________________
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The ceremony honoring James Webster Olson* was held at the Santa
Rosa Odd Fellows Cemetery on Sat., 20 May 2006 at 2:30
PM.
A historical event involving relatives of this family, interested individuals,
as well as the local American Legion Rifle Team took part. An official Civil War monument (headstone; see
above photo) had been obtained from the Veterans Administration and placed on
James' grave. To complete a tangible memorial for the
Olson family, I hope that funds can be raised to purchase a monument for
James' wife and two daughters who remain
in unmarked graves next to James. Please contact me if you are interested in
more information. Phil Rhodes, _____________________________________________________ |
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* NOW, AGAIN, WHO WAS JAMES WEBSTER OLSON? He was the youngest son of prominent early Norwegian immigrant Ole Olsen Hetletveit (1797-1854). Ole came to the U.S. on the famous sloop Restauration in 1825; those aboard were called “Sloopers.” Ole had 4 surviving children, the eldest a daughter Bertha Ann, and 3 sons. All 3 sons served with the 36th Illinois Volunteers of Union Army during the Civil War. The eldest son, Porter C. Olson, distinguished himself as the commander of this military unit but was killed in battle. The second son, Soren L. Olson, was the lieutenant in command of Company F, 36th Ill. Regiment, and was killed during the Battle of Stone River, Tennessee. Sergeant James Webster Olson, the youngest, survived the war and was discharged 22 Sep. 1864. In 1868 James W. Olson married Susan B. Whitney and had a family of 5 children. After a series of moves, the family eventually settled in Santa Rosa, California, where James Webster Olson died at the age of 73 on 13 Nov. 1912. (Click links on left for more background & family information.) |
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©2006