CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
NameEven INGEBRETTSEN 
, GGG Uncle
, GGG UncleBirth Date29 Aug 1847 [69]
Birth PlaceRingsaker, Hedmark, Norway
Bapt Date26 Sep 1847 [69] Age: <1
Bapt PlaceRingsaker, Hedmark, Norway
Emig PlaceRingsaker, Hedmark, Norway
Immi DateJul 1858 [566]
Immi PlaceDetroit, Michigan
MemoAssumes he entered the U.S. at the same time as his sister Oline.
Death Date30 Nov 1889 [2879] Age: 42
Death PlaceMinneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota, United States
Burial Date3 Dec 1889 [2075]
Burial PlaceMinneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota, United States
MemoLakewood Cemetery: section 10, lot 66, grave 3. verified in person
OccupationCollege Professor [1617]
OccupationPresident of the University of South Dakota, 1887-1889 [1617]
EducationBeloit College (1866-1869) [1617]
EducationUniversity of Chicago, A.B. 1873, D.B. 1877. [1617], [2082, p.258]
EducationStudied Theology in Halle & Gottingen, Germany [1617]
EducationUnion Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL [1617]
Alias/AKAEdward OLSON, Ph. D.
FatherIngebrett OLSEN STIGEN (1808-1885)
MotherKari SIMENSDATTER (1804-<1881)
Misc. Notes
Never married.
Edward was a witness at the marriage of his brother, Seaver. [5075]
"Edward Olson, Ph. D., the third president of the university, was a
Baptist. He was elected in June, 1887, and served until his untimely death, by
accident, in Minneapolis, November 3, 1889. His profound scholarship and great
administrative ability placed him in the highest rank among the leading
educators of the northwest. The official report of the board of regents makes
this declaration concerning him: "Edward Olson was remarkable in personality
and scholarship. He was a natural leader and a born teacher. His character was
Christian, inspiring and uplifting. His work for the university will be lasting
in its results. The progress made in the brief period of its administration is,
in many respects without parallel in educational annals." " [368]
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Edward (Even) Olson, the youngest member of the family from Stigen, stayed on the family farm in Wisconsin until he turned eighteen, while attending school in West Salem. He didn’t have much ambition at that point but soon things were about to change. First, he converted to the Baptist church, and soon after so did his brother Seaver and both parents. Seaver, already making a career in the mercantile trade, decided that Edward should have the educational opportunities that he had missed, and suggested to Edward to pursue a career in the ministry, with Seaver funding his education. Thus it was that Edward enrolled at Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin, where he studied for three years. In 1869 he transferred to the University of Chicago and graduated in 1873. From there he travelled to Europe and took courses of study in Germany and France, and during these three years he became fluent in German and French and developed a desire to teach. Back in the U.S., he attended the Union Theological Seminary in Chicago and though he graduated, he did not seek ordination. He began his teaching career at the University of Chicago where he held the chair of modern language. He developed an interest in the Greek language and literature and eventually the University assigned him to the Greek chair. Unfortunately, the University of Chicago went bankrupt and Edward and the rest of the faculty were forced to resign (obviously that institution has since recovered). He began reviewing offers from other educational institutions. Yale had a position for him; Bucknell University invited him to their Greek chair, and the University of Dakota at Vermillion wanted him as their president. The latter was his choice, and reportedly a choice he made without hesitation immediately upon receiving the invitation. He knew that was his calling. He was officially elected president of the university in 1887. It was only that year that the Dakota Territory was divided into North and South, and not until 1889 that South Dakota became a state. Edward’s achievements as President were key to the early success of this young school. In 1889 he took the Thanksgiving holiday to travel to Minneapolis to conduct business and visit his brother Seaver. On 30-NOV-1889 he was visiting the editor of the Minneapolis Tribune, when fire broke out. They found it impossible to exit by the stairs so they went for the fire escape. Part way down, Edward lost his grip and fell to his death. One eyewitness concluded that he may have been struck by another falling body. It was a great loss to the university, and he is remembered there to this day in the form of “Olson Hall” men’s dormitory which was dedicated in his name, 22-NOV-1969.
Edward was a witness at the marriage of his brother, Seaver. [5075]
"Edward Olson, Ph. D., the third president of the university, was a
Baptist. He was elected in June, 1887, and served until his untimely death, by
accident, in Minneapolis, November 3, 1889. His profound scholarship and great
administrative ability placed him in the highest rank among the leading
educators of the northwest. The official report of the board of regents makes
this declaration concerning him: "Edward Olson was remarkable in personality
and scholarship. He was a natural leader and a born teacher. His character was
Christian, inspiring and uplifting. His work for the university will be lasting
in its results. The progress made in the brief period of its administration is,
in many respects without parallel in educational annals." " [368]
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Edward (Even) Olson, the youngest member of the family from Stigen, stayed on the family farm in Wisconsin until he turned eighteen, while attending school in West Salem. He didn’t have much ambition at that point but soon things were about to change. First, he converted to the Baptist church, and soon after so did his brother Seaver and both parents. Seaver, already making a career in the mercantile trade, decided that Edward should have the educational opportunities that he had missed, and suggested to Edward to pursue a career in the ministry, with Seaver funding his education. Thus it was that Edward enrolled at Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin, where he studied for three years. In 1869 he transferred to the University of Chicago and graduated in 1873. From there he travelled to Europe and took courses of study in Germany and France, and during these three years he became fluent in German and French and developed a desire to teach. Back in the U.S., he attended the Union Theological Seminary in Chicago and though he graduated, he did not seek ordination. He began his teaching career at the University of Chicago where he held the chair of modern language. He developed an interest in the Greek language and literature and eventually the University assigned him to the Greek chair. Unfortunately, the University of Chicago went bankrupt and Edward and the rest of the faculty were forced to resign (obviously that institution has since recovered). He began reviewing offers from other educational institutions. Yale had a position for him; Bucknell University invited him to their Greek chair, and the University of Dakota at Vermillion wanted him as their president. The latter was his choice, and reportedly a choice he made without hesitation immediately upon receiving the invitation. He knew that was his calling. He was officially elected president of the university in 1887. It was only that year that the Dakota Territory was divided into North and South, and not until 1889 that South Dakota became a state. Edward’s achievements as President were key to the early success of this young school. In 1889 he took the Thanksgiving holiday to travel to Minneapolis to conduct business and visit his brother Seaver. On 30-NOV-1889 he was visiting the editor of the Minneapolis Tribune, when fire broke out. They found it impossible to exit by the stairs so they went for the fire escape. Part way down, Edward lost his grip and fell to his death. One eyewitness concluded that he may have been struck by another falling body. It was a great loss to the university, and he is remembered there to this day in the form of “Olson Hall” men’s dormitory which was dedicated in his name, 22-NOV-1969.