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VETERAN MEMBER IOOF1JackrOlsFamiliarFigure On CityStreetsThe familiar sight of 85-year-oldJohn E. (Jack) Olson, 316 S. 6tnSt., heaumg down the street with his cane in his hand becomes even more of a common occurrencemmmthese spring daysOlson is the former Seneca area farmer of Crawford County who has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) for almost 53 years. He has been a resident of La Crosse lor about the past 28 years.The manner in which Olsonuses a cane makes him stand out from the ordinary. The supportingdevice is held well out at a 45-degree angle from his right side, locked in a practically straight arm and curved wrist.This trademark of the downtown has taken on a slightly different tone, however. Previously there was a tap-tap-tap of the cane's tip. Now it’s been purposely silenced for safety. OlsonI said. His mother and father trav* ; eled about 30 miles in a blizzard to have him baptized as an infant.He later became a member of Utica Lutheran Church.Quite often when he speaks. Olson mentions his mother, and he occasionally breaks into tears recalling her.ti ti ☆aI say my mother’s prayer,” he reported, when he -talks to God every night,” He urged that all persons do the same in their—Tribune PhotoJOHN E. OLSONprayers.When he first began farming he worked his wife’s home place of 120 acres. Later an adjacent 160 acres was incorporated into what came to be known as Olson's Sun-using the cane about three yearsagoWherever he goes and to many of the people with whom he talks, Olson speaks about the teachings of the Odd Fellows’ movement—“Golden Degree.” or degree of achievement by La Crosse Lodge44. On hand to witness the ceremony were several old-time friends from Seneca.nyside Stock Farm. It was located one mile south of Seneca and was farmed for 50 years by Olson before he sold it.☆While he farmed, he raided nearly a carload of hogs for market every year, he said. One year he raised a carload of beef. There also were cash crops of com and oats.“Friendship. Love and Truth.” Ht is one of the biggest supporters of the IOOF.He wears a chain of three links, denoting the teachings, etched into the skin on his right forearm. He proudly unbuttoned his shirt sleeve, rolled it up and displayed the emblem which he has worn lor about 30 years.ti ti tiA silver-enameled “jewel” about one and one-quarter inches in diameter was presented to each of0the two men at the event, held atthe Odd Fellow Temple. 121 S. 4th St, Silver, blue and scarlet colors stand out in the jewel with star points of silver completing the scheme.Olson joined Seneca Lodge 324 of the IOOF in October 1904. Thelodge had been formed after the Civil War by Dr. Lot Gay. There were about 60 members in the Sen-eca lodge in the early days but in the last few years membership has slipped to 15-16 members, he reported.Olson “passed through all the chairs’’ in the Seneca lodge, according to a local lodge authority.Two nephews were members of the village lodge in more recent vears, carrying on the tradition. One since has died.It was about a year ago that Olson and A. C. Freiir.ark, another local citizen, were awarded theOlson has held no offices locally although he attends meetings quite regularly. He said he had not planned to attend any of the meetings Wi-Mi-Dak conclave held in La CTosse this past week, When he was active in Odd Fellow activities, Olson attended grand lodge conventions at Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Kenosha and atother cities.He speaks highly of the Odd Fellows home at Green Bay, an institution for Odd Fellows, Rebek-ahs or widows who are in needBut a busy farm life didn’t keep him from community life as well as lodge activity. He was a member of the Dean School board, a rural institution, for nearly all the years he fanned. He lafer served as clerk.The Olsons’ two children attended Dean School.He was treasurer of Seneca HighSchool and when the couple’s twt children were graduated he hac the privilege of signing their diplomas.Olson also was clerk for tinof personal care. The home includes a tract of land for milkcows and poultry.Olson was born on a farm nearSeneca, an area of “many Irishmen and a few Norwegians,” heCOMPANYU CROSS! ROCMISTI*WtSC MINN
Newspaper Details
La Crosse Sunday Tribune
La Crosse, Wisconsin, US
Sun, Apr 07, 1957
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
La C.
WI, USA 03 Oct 2019
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