Olson, Abram

Abram Olson was born in Daleslan, Sweden, in April 1863, where he grew up on his father farm and worked as a master carpenter and lake sailor. In 1885, he immigrated to the United States and settled in South Dakota, where he worked at Elk Point before moving to St. Paul to construct power elevators. He later homesteaded 160 acres near Bismarck, South Dakota, which he improved and managed until selling the property in 1912 to relocate to Fresno, California.

Upon arriving in Fresno, Abram engaged in contracting and building before purchasing twenty acres on Ventura Avenue east of Fresno in 1913. He improved the ranch with buildings and planted successful vineyards of Thompson seedless and emperor grapes under the Fancher Creek ditch. Married in South Dakota to Nellie Johnson, with whom he had six children, he later moved his family to Roeding Villa Colonies to focus on viticulture as an active member of the California Associated Raisin Company.