Clifton in Bosque County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Joseph Olson Family Cabin

A New Life in Texas

Photographed By James Hulse, September 26, 2023

1. Joseph Olson Family Cabin Marker

Inscription.

Joseph Olson Family Cabin. A New Life in Texas. Joseph Olson left Norway with his family-wife Anna Karina, daughter, Anna Marie 8 years, sons Ole Mikkel 6 years, Jacob 4 years, and Torborg 1 year, in May of 1858. They traveled to America, landing first in Quebec, Canada after 7 weeks at sea., Taken from Jacob Olson's Memoirs and Recollections, 1937:, "Marie had gotten Texas fever and eventually my parents were smitten also...It was a difficult trip... [we finally arrived at] Norman Hill, Bosque County in an oxcart packed with 3 families...[we stayed with] bachelor Ole Ween...we got a room under the conditions that mother would cook for him and wash his clothes. We stayed there for 7 years. During that time my father got 160 acres of land, where he built a log house. This house was 14 x 15 feet. The spring of 1867 we moved to our...house. They [Joseph and Anna] stayed there until they died." , Translation by Niels Bentsen, Jacob, second son of Joseph, inherited the farm and the cabin. The farm remained in the possession of family members until it was sold to Ray Byford. Mr. Byford decided he could not preserve the cabin and donated it to Valley Mills Heritage Society. The unrestored cabin remained in Valley Mills until 1982, when Mr. and Mrs. D.R. Orbeck became interested in its history and offered to move it back to Clifton. Bosque Museum accepted the cabin in 1985 and began fundraising efforts to restore it., The cabin was restored using the same materials and methods used by Joseph Olson in 1866. A split juniper roof was constructed to simulate the original roof and wood from local live oak and juniper trees was used to replace the rotted exterior logs. The restored house contains pioneer furnishings donated by local families., Captions , Left: Jacob Olson (1854-1937), founder of the Bosque Museum, lived in this log cabin as a child. , Center: Chair and wood stove as found in a log cabin contemporary to the Olson cabin. , Right: Olson Cabin as it appeared on its original site before being moved.

Joseph Olson left Norway with his family-wife Anna Karina, daughter, Anna Marie 8 years, sons Ole Mikkel 6 years, Jacob 4 years, and Torborg 1 year, in May of 1858. They traveled to America, landing first in Quebec, Canada after 7 weeks at sea.

Taken from Jacob Olson's Memoirs and Recollections, 1937:

"Marie had gotten Texas fever and eventually my parents were smitten also...It was a difficult trip... [we finally arrived at] Norman Hill, Bosque County in an oxcart packed with 3 families...[we stayed with] bachelor Ole Ween...we got a room under the conditions that mother would cook for him and wash his clothes. We stayed there for 7 years. During that time my father got 160 acres of land, where he built a log house. This house was 14 x 15 feet. The spring of 1867 we moved to our...house. They [Joseph and Anna] stayed there until they died."
Translation by Niels Bentsen

Jacob, second son of Joseph, inherited the farm and the cabin. The farm remained in the possession of family members until it was sold to Ray Byford. Mr. Byford decided he could not preserve the cabin and donated it to Valley Mills Heritage Society. The unrestored cabin remained in Valley Mills until 1982, when Mr. and Mrs. D.R. Orbeck became interested in its history and offered to move it back to Clifton.

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Bosque Museum accepted the cabin in 1985 and began fundraising efforts to restore it.

The cabin was restored using the same materials and methods used by Joseph Olson in 1866. A split juniper roof was constructed to simulate the original roof and wood from local live oak and juniper trees was used to replace the rotted exterior logs. The restored house contains pioneer furnishings donated by local families.

Captions
Left: Jacob Olson (1854-1937), founder of the Bosque Museum, lived in this log cabin as a child.
Center: Chair and wood stove as found in a log cabin contemporary to the Olson cabin.
Right: Olson Cabin as it appeared on its original site before being moved.

Erected by Bosque Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1858.

Location. 31° 46.573′ N, 97° 35.127′ W. Marker is in Clifton, Texas, in Bosque County. Marker is at the intersection of South Avenue Q and West 9th Street, on the left when traveling north on South Avenue Q. The marker is located south of the Bosque Museum next to the Olson log cabin. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 South Avenue Q, Clifton TX 76634, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured

The Joseph Olson Family Cabin and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, September 26, 2023

2. The Joseph Olson Family Cabin and Marker

as the crow flies. Joseph Olson Family Log Cabin (a few steps from this marker); Site of Clifton Lutheran College (a few steps from this marker); Clifton College Administration Building (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Clifton Whipple Truss Bridge (approx. 1.4 miles away); Site of Clifton Mill (approx. 1.4 miles away); Election Oak (approx. 4.1 miles away); Gary Cemetery (approx. 4.1 miles away); Lanes Chapel and Cemetery (approx. 7.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clifton.

Also see . . . Joseph Olson Log Cabin. Bosque Museum (Submitted on September 29, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The Joseph Olson Family Cabin image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, September 26, 2023

3. The Joseph Olson Family Cabin

Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 56 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 30, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.