Our Story begins in Norway where Carl Steen and Maren Marie were born.

This is a photo of the Olsen family in the late 1800's. Ole  is tallest and stands by Chris in the back. Theodore is leaning on his fathers leg, Maren is holding Joseph. Amanda is standing next to her mother. (Amanda was added to this family photo. She was not born when this photo was taken).  This is the only known photo of the Olsen family.

Life in Norway

Carl Steen became a shoemaker and in a short time had a successful business. Weekends were spent fishing and catching crabs. When Carl was 27 he married Maren. They made their home at Bommyr, near Risor, Norway. In 1861 the Olsen's joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Later day Saints. Religious persecution forced the family to leave Norway. On June 2, 1866 Carl, Maren, Ole, Wrol (Chris) and Thor embarked on their journey across the sea. Sadly, 3 year old Thor died and was buried at sea. July 16th the Olsen's arrived in New York and were faced with a being loaded in hot, smelly, fly infested train cattle cars to make the 3 week trip to Nebraska. Picture was taken by Chris when he served a mission to Norway.
Carl Steen's house early 1900's.

Carl Steen's house as it appeared in 1990.

Leaving Norway

The trip from Nebraska to Salt Lake City was very difficult. The family was penniless and had no way to go on. Carl consented to fix shoes at night and heard sick cattle by day. Maren, 9 months pregnant, gave birth in Wyoming. The happiness soon faded when the newborn (Guaro) died a few days later and was buried on the plains. The Olsen's had now lost 2 children on their journey. Picture taken in 1992 of Carl Steen's home in Norway.

Photo taken in 1994 by Marlo Schuldt on the then Reed Olsen farm.

Carl's first home Iona was better than the dugout they had in Utah, however, the little rock home was no comparison to their beloved home in Norway. 

The Olsen's First Real Home

In 1895, the widowed Carl and his boys moved to Iona, Idaho. By this time in Carl's life, his first wife had died from complications of childbirth and his second wife had be struck and killed by lightening. is provided the ground on which Carl built this 12' x 18' stone home. This rock home was a real improvement over the sod home the family lived in at Farmington, Utah. The home had a humble dirt floor that supported a dirt floor an iron bed that stood in one corner, a large flour bin occupied the other corner, and a small window was situated opposite the door.  A coal oil lamp provide light. A clock hung on the wall. A three legged medicine cabinet hung in the northeast corner. A sack of bread crumbs hung on the wall for hard times. Carl kept his shoemakers box under his bed.  Compare the home Carl and family left in Norway with his first home in Idaho.

Carl Steen Last Will and Testament

Carl Steen's will, as simple as it is, tells much about what Carl had come to realize as important in his later year. Written in Norwegian, the will says,  Iona  27 July 1906. Dokter P. Fahrnei. Carl asked that his property go to the poor and for genealogical work so that there would be no squabble about what is left among his children

The Children of Carl Steen and Maren Marie Olsen

Click on each name to read a brief history of each member of the Olsen Family

Ole

Chris

Theodore 'TE'

Joseph

Amanda