Ole J. Olson Wald

 Our grandfather's grandfather, Ole J. Olson, was born January 8, 1830 and was christened January 23, 1830. Although he has been named Ole Vold and Ole J. Wald in other family histories, most of the original documents name him  Ole Olsen or Ole J. Olson .  Nevertheless, in the church records from the Palestine church of Story county his name is written in the register as "Ole J. Olsen Wold from Årdal".   He was born the oldest son of Ole Iverson Volden, and christened at the Lutheran church in Årdal, Norway, a church which still stands today.  According to the parish record in Norway, Ole emigrated from Årdal on 14 April, 1854.  Once in America, Ole J. settled in the Mission township, Fox River settlement, north central Illinois.  Here he met and married Udbjørg Bertine Andersdatter from the Gaard farm in Talgje, Norway.  A photograph of a marriage certificate from LaSalle county, Illinois has been found with the names "Ole Olson and Betsey Anderson", married Sept. 15, 1855 (see below).  Although our family history always records Ole's wife's name as Bertha Gaard, several other documents list her name as Betsey, including the census records from 1860 and 1870, and the land deed records from Polk county Iowa.  Of these records the census records are the most important because they also list the early children of the family.  These children all correspond to the list of children known through the written family history.  Land deeds show that Ole J. Olsen did in fact own land on the northern border of Polk county Iowa near the Norwegian settlements of Slater and Cambridge.  In fact, the land that Ole J. owned can be easily located because it is now bisected by the I-35 freeway, on the northern most edge of Polk county--precisely 1 mile south of  highway 210 (i.e. NE 1/4 of section 6, Elkhart township).

While living and farming in Polk county, Ole J and family probably did most of their business in the town of Cambridge in Story Co. which was slightly closer and more accessible than Elkhart at the time.  They were active members of the 1st Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Palistine township.  This congregation is still there, west of I-35 on highway 210 (although the original building burned in about1950). The land that Ole J. Olson owned was exactly 1 mile south and 1 mile east of the church.

Ole J. Olson Wald died June 1, 1908 in the town of Thor, Humboldt Co., Iowa.

His death record is listed in the Humboldt county records of 1908 under the name:
Wald, Ole J. O., 
born Jan. 7, 1830, 
divorced, 
farmer; 
Father: Peter Vold, 
Brith place: Norway,
place of burial: Slater, IA, 
cause of death: Apoplexy.

There can be little doubt that this is the actual death record of our great great grandfather, Ole J. Olson, and the date in Cleva Darling's history (1906) is probably incorrect. The informant listed is Ole J.'s son, Severin Wald who was a well known lawyer for many years in Slater. (The birth date given here is also incorrect by one year).
 

        Mr. Wald was a kind and considerate man, giving free
         legal advice to many who were unable to pay. He had
         always taken an interest in the progress of Slater and had
         lived to see many changes in the community. Mrs. Wald
         was a devoted, loving wife and mother. Mr. Wald died in
         1942 and is buried in the Slater Municipal Cemetery beside
         his wife, who died in 1962, and four of their children. At
         the time of his death, he was the dean of the Story County
         Bar Association.

         Among the active members of the Story County Bar,
         none occupies a more honorable place than Severin O. Wald.
         He was known as one of the brightest lawyers in this
         section of the state--an attorney who never acknowledged
         defeat as long as he felt he was in the right and who, in a
         remarkable number of difficult cases, convinced the court or
         jury of the righteousness of his contention.

         Mr. Walds father purchased 160 acres of prairie land in
         Elkhart Township, Polk County, Iowa, from a man for
         whom he was working in Illinois, and in the spring of 1865
         he and his family removed to this place. He built a log
         cabin and later improved his farm with modem structures,
         developing it into one of the valuable properties of the
         township. He also acquired land in Humboldt County,
         Iowa, taking up his residence there about 1890. Mrs. Wald 
         passed away in 1899 and Mr. Wald died in 1907*.  They were
         both faithful members of the Lutheran church and active
         workers in behalf of every cause seeking to advance the
         permanent interests of the community. Mr. Wald possessed
         good business judgment and on account of his acknowledged
         reputation for integrity was a man of large influence
         wherever he was known.

         Severen 0. Wald was reared under favorable circumstances
         for a useful career. He won a land case at Clarion which
         involved $25,000 or more that had been unsuccessfully tried
         by some of the ablest lawyers in this part of the state. His
         clients were among the leading businessmen of the
         community and his opinions upon questions of law
         commanded respect as coming from one who carefully
         considered the subject from all points of view.

         Mr. Wald gave his support to the Republican party and
         was frequently requested to allow his name to be proposed
         for the state legislature, but his extensive and growing
         practice prevented his acceptance of this honor. He served as
         a member of the town council and fraternally was connected
         with Slater Lodge No. 384, I.0.0.F., and the local camp of
         the Modem Woodmen of America. Both as a pleader and
         counselor he attained high standing in his profession and
         was a man of studious habits who thoroughly prepared for
         every case in which he was interested.