Charles (C. J.) Olson crossed the ocean from Norway to this country with his parents, one brother and two sisters. The family settled in Balaton, Minnesota, where they had a claim farm.
C. J. went to school until the fifth grade. Since the times were hard and the family did not have much money, he quit school to help his family by working.
He met Mitilda Hansen and they were united in marriage. The couple had seven children, six boys and one girl. Three of the sons have passed away; Melford of Denver, Colorado, Clarence of Valley City, and Chester of Oregon. The others are: Arthur of Valley City; George of Portland, Oregon; Carl of Sturgis, South Dakota, and Helen of Porterville, California. They farmed in Minnesota for about fifteen years.
C. J. and his brother Olaf were the first ones to have a threshing rig. The job of separator-man was C. J.'s. He cut the bundle by hand and fed a half bundle at a time to the separator which was powered by three teams on a winch with a tumble rod to the separator. Later, he got a steam engine to give the power but it was still pulled by horses.
In 1903, C. J. took a trip to Montana and Canada. At last he came to Valley City where he bought 320 acres from Mayor Black that Spring.
He was active in county affairs. C. J. was elected treasurer of the school board and was on the township board. He was a great speaker and enjoyed debating. In 1914, he ran for the North Dakota State Senate. He held this post for ten years, serving in Bismarck.
C. J. retired in 1930 and moved into Valley City where he lived for four years. He then moved to California, and later to South Dakota. He passed away September 12, 1949. His wife was born in Minnesota in 1868, and passed away in 1932.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 183