The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 1019 WILLIAM R. OLSEN. William R. Olsen, whose name is on the list of Yakima merchants, while his straightforward business policy and enterprise have enabled him to build up a gratifying grocery trade, was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1888, his parents being Tellaf and Mary Olsen. The father, who devoted his life to the business of contracting and building, died in 1896 but the mother survives and now makes her home in California. William R. Olsen completed his education in the Lane high school of Chicago and began his business career as clerk in a drug store, where he was employed for a few years. He was afterward manager of the Forty-eighth Avenue Pharmacy in Chicago, having gained broad and valuable experience along that line that qualified him to take control of a store of that character. He arrived in the Yakima valley in 1915 and was proprietor of a general merchandise establishment at Buena, Washington, for a time and was instrumental in having a postoffice established there. In 1916 he came to Yakima, where he opened a grocery store in the Public Market and he has since built up a very substantial trade through honest dealing and also by reason of the excellent line of staple and fancy groceries which he carries. He has ever recognized the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement and he has done everything possible to please those who give him their trade. His commercial methods will hear the closest investigation and scrutiny and his course again proves the wisdom of the old adage that honesty is the best policy. In 1915 Mr. Olsen was married to Miss Julia Matilda Erickson, of Redfield, South Dakota, and they have become parents of two children, Richard and Lois. Mr. Olsen votes with the republican party and he belongs to the Commercial Club. His lodge connections are with the Masons and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist church. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.