Barron County Sheriff's Department, Wisconsin
End of Watch: Tuesday, January 25, 1916
Age: 46
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 3 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 25, 1916
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 25 years
Sheriff Matt Olson was shot and instantly killed by a farmer in rural Barron County while he was trying to repossess a horse at 11 am.
The farmer was later arrested by a posse and brought to the county seat to be held accountable for the murder. The suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison on May 10, 1916. He applied for parole in 1923. The outcome is unknown.
Sheriff Olson had served as Sheriff for over a year with the Barron County Sheriff's Department. He was survived by his wife and three children.
He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Prairie Farm, Wisconsin.