Gustaf Wilhelm Olson | |
|---|---|
 Photo taken by his son Goodwin Wendell Olson c. 1940 | |
| Born | 7 April 1876 |
| Died | 19 December 1955 (aged 79) Stockholm, Sweden |
| Nationality | Swedish |
Gustaf Wilhelm Olson (7 April 1876 - 19 December 1955) was a Swedish American businessman, politician, hospital administrator and consul for Sweden in America.
Olson was born 7 April 1876 to Sven and Sissa (Trulsdotter) Olson in the Härlunda Parish, Kronoberg County, Småland, Sweden. [1] In 1888, at age 12, he travelled to the United States with his father and brother where they settled in Vasa, Minnesota for a year and a half before moving to Minneapolis in the fall of 1889. [1] On 18 June 1898, at age 22, Olson was naturalized as a US citizen. [2]
In the fall of 1894, in partnership with Albert Sjostrand, under the firm name of Olson & Sjostrand, Olson started a job printing office. In 1898 he bought out his partner's interest and continued the business alone. In 1899 Olson unfortunately had a severe illness, during which the business ran down to such an extent that he had to sell out the stock. [1]
Olson then entered the employ of Hahn & Harmon, printers, and remained as foreman of their jobbing office from 1899 until 1902, when he accepted a position as advertising manager with the Minnesota Stats Tidning, in St. Paul. but at the end of a year was offered a better position with Hahn & Harmon, with whom he was again associated, this time remaining from February, 1903, until January, 1904. Olson then started a business of his own as head of the firm of G. W. Olson & Company, and five months later, on May 1, 1904, his company became consolidated with the firm of Hahn & Harmon, and was incorporated under the name of "Hahn & Harmon Company," of which Mr. Olson was a member of the directorate and vice-president. [1]
In 1897 he was commissioned as correspondent for a leading printing trades journal at the Industrial Exposition at Stockholm. [1]
In 1908 Olson was a candidate for the Republican nomination for alderman in Minneapolis from the Seventh ward, and at the primaries received a handsome majority of the votes cast, but was defeated at the polls by the small majority of fifteen votes. [1]
On 29 August 1955, Gustaf was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class from Japan for his work during World War II in protecting Japanese interests in Hawaii. [4] [5]
Gustaf married Tillie Olson in 1899 [1] and together had 4 children. He became a widower after Tillie died 18 September 1931. [6]
Gustaf was later remarried to Anice Hummel on 6 December 1941 in Honolulu, HI, the evening before the attack on Pearl Harbor. [7]
Gustaf and his wife left Honolulu, HI on 4 September 1955 to visit Sweden with the intention of staying for a year before returning back to Hawaii. Shortly after arriving to Sweden, Gustaf experienced health complications and died on 19 December 1955. [8]
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