Ole Oleson was a son of Halvor Oleson and Margit (Margarette) Kittilsdatter Oleson. He was a veteran of the Civil War and captain/owner of a boat that plied Lake Winnebago. He was a well-known and well-regarded citizen of Oshkosh, known throughout Wisconsin. A number of publications available online outline his many accomplishments. His wife and daughter were noted for their beauty. He had just that one child but also mentored and at times employed his nephew,John Oleson, the son of Ole's brother,Henry (Hans) Olsen, after that brother's death.

(Fun fact: Ole's mother Anne was the sister of John Olesen's mother-in-law.)

Photo credit: Capt. Ole Oleson photo,

National Magazine, vol 14 (April-September 1901), p. 112.

Edited by Arthur Wellington Brayley, Arthur Wilson Tarbell, Joe Mitchell Chapple

There appears to be a photographer's stamp in the corner, but it's illegible.

I believe it to be in the public domain, given the date of publication.

++++

Six hours after being seized with a stroke of apoplexy while seated on the tug boat, S.W. Hollister, Captain Ole Oleson, prominent resident of this city and for years prominent in Wisconsin politics, passed away this morning about one o'clock at his home, 262 Algoma street at the age of nearly sixty-six years.

Although Mr. Oleson was not in the best of health for some time he remarked Sunday afternoon that he felt much better than usual. Sunday he took lunch with his wife and son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John Harmon, at his home on Algoma street.

About five o'clock in the afternoon he left the house to go to his daughter's home and while on his way went to the river front near the Oshkosh Gas Light company's dock where the tug boat S. W. Hollister was moored. He boarded the boat to give the crew instruction as to their work for today and while seated near the grouses suddenly threw his hands to his head and exclaimed that he had a very severe headache. It wee but a few minutes later that he was seized with the apoplectic stroke and fell backward to the deck. The men nearby assisted him to a sitting posture and the city ambulance was hurriedly summoned.

The seizure came about 6:45 o'clock. He was taken to his home and Drs. W. A. Gordon, Harvey B. Dale and Burton Clark were summoned to his bedside. Everything that could be done to alleviate his suffering was attended to by the attending physicians but after suffering considerably, Mr. Oleson passed away at one o'clock with the members of his family at the bedside. In the early part of the evening he was in a semi-conscious condition but later sank into an unconscious state.

WAR VETERAN AND POLITCIAN. Captain Ole Oleson was numbered among the best known men in this city and state. He has in various ways figured prominently in Wisconsin politics and twice was postmaster of this city,

He was born in Norway, December 30, 1839, and possessed all the strength of frame and mind that characterizes the men of that rugged country. The boy had very little opportunity to become acquainted with his wild surroundings before his parents moved to America in 1843, and settled in Racine county, this state. Ten years later they removed to Winnebago county, and settled in the town of Winchester. Here Mr. Oleson remained until he was twenty-one years of age, having had little opportunity for attending school. But the blood of the Norseman was in his veins, and he found that the farm was not the place for him.

He came to Oshkosh in 1859 and began work on the river steamers, rising to the position of captain. At the breaking out of the civil war In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Second Wisconsin volunteers, and marched to the front. A year later he secured his transfer from the infantry to the naval service, enlisting on a Mississippi gunboat at Cairo, Ill. Captain Oleson served his country faithfully and well during the hard fighting until the Mississippi was opened. He then returned to this city. He resumed his work as a boatman which the war had interrupted and followed the river for years.

Mr. Oleson has always been an active Republican and the respect with which he was held by all and his energetic service gave him great influence in politics. This influence he at all times used in the Interests of the party at large, seeking no personal favors from his party. In the course of time hie reward came in the form of an appointment from President Harrison to the office of postmaster of Cehkosh. He held the position under President Harrison for four years, until his successor, Joseph Kloeckner, was appointed by President Cleveland.

SECOND APPOINTMENT. Mr. Oleson made a very successful official, and was again appointed to the office by President McKinley. He took charge of the office for the second time early in the spring of 1898. He was succeeded by the present Incumbent of the office, E. M. Crane, in August, 1902, after his friends exerted every effort to have President Roosevelt re-appoint him.

Coming to this city in its early history, Captain Oleson was one of the city's oldest settlers and was an honored member of the Old Settlers' club. Mr. Oleson was also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belonged to Oshkosh lodge 27. He was also a member of Oshkosh lodge of Elks, No. 192. During his life Mr. Oleson accumulated considerable wealth,

The deceased is survived by his wife, who has been an invalid for years, one daughter, Mrs. John Harmon, two sisters, Mrs. N. Haverson of Los Angeles, Cal., Mrs. Anna Jackson of Omaha, Nebraska, one brother, Martin Oleson of this city.

FUNERAL WEDNESDAY. Tho funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock with services at the house. Rev. J. W. Greenwood. rector of Trinity Episcopal church, will officiate. The Masonic funeral ritual will be observed in charge of Oshkosh lodge, No. 27. Interment will take place in the family lot at Riverside cemetery.

The Oshkosh Northwestern

1905 Mon. Aug 14 Page 1

Contributor: JAZ (48097722)

Ole Oleson was a son of Halvor Oleson and Margit (Margarette) Kittilsdatter Oleson. He was a veteran of the Civil War and captain/owner of a boat that plied Lake Winnebago. He was a well-known and well-regarded citizen of Oshkosh, known throughout Wisconsin. A number of publications available online outline his many accomplishments. His wife and daughter were noted for their beauty. He had just that one child but also mentored and at times employed his nephew,John Oleson, the son of Ole's brother,Henry (Hans) Olsen, after that brother's death.

(Fun fact: Ole's mother Anne was the sister of John Olesen's mother-in-law.)

Photo credit: Capt. Ole Oleson photo,

National Magazine, vol 14 (April-September 1901), p. 112.

Edited by Arthur Wellington Brayley, Arthur Wilson Tarbell, Joe Mitchell Chapple

There appears to be a photographer's stamp in the corner, but it's illegible.

I believe it to be in the public domain, given the date of publication.

++++

Six hours after being seized with a stroke of apoplexy while seated on the tug boat, S.W. Hollister, Captain Ole Oleson, prominent resident of this city and for years prominent in Wisconsin politics, passed away this morning about one o'clock at his home, 262 Algoma street at the age of nearly sixty-six years.

Although Mr. Oleson was not in the best of health for some time he remarked Sunday afternoon that he felt much better than usual. Sunday he took lunch with his wife and son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John Harmon, at his home on Algoma street.

About five o'clock in the afternoon he left the house to go to his daughter's home and while on his way went to the river front near the Oshkosh Gas Light company's dock where the tug boat S. W. Hollister was moored. He boarded the boat to give the crew instruction as to their work for today and while seated near the grouses suddenly threw his hands to his head and exclaimed that he had a very severe headache. It wee but a few minutes later that he was seized with the apoplectic stroke and fell backward to the deck. The men nearby assisted him to a sitting posture and the city ambulance was hurriedly summoned.

The seizure came about 6:45 o'clock. He was taken to his home and Drs. W. A. Gordon, Harvey B. Dale and Burton Clark were summoned to his bedside. Everything that could be done to alleviate his suffering was attended to by the attending physicians but after suffering considerably, Mr. Oleson passed away at one o'clock with the members of his family at the bedside. In the early part of the evening he was in a semi-conscious condition but later sank into an unconscious state.

WAR VETERAN AND POLITCIAN. Captain Ole Oleson was numbered among the best known men in this city and state. He has in various ways figured prominently in Wisconsin politics and twice was postmaster of this city,

He was born in Norway, December 30, 1839, and possessed all the strength of frame and mind that characterizes the men of that rugged country. The boy had very little opportunity to become acquainted with his wild surroundings before his parents moved to America in 1843, and settled in Racine county, this state. Ten years later they removed to Winnebago county, and settled in the town of Winchester. Here Mr. Oleson remained until he was twenty-one years of age, having had little opportunity for attending school. But the blood of the Norseman was in his veins, and he found that the farm was not the place for him.

He came to Oshkosh in 1859 and began work on the river steamers, rising to the position of captain. At the breaking out of the civil war In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Second Wisconsin volunteers, and marched to the front. A year later he secured his transfer from the infantry to the naval service, enlisting on a Mississippi gunboat at Cairo, Ill. Captain Oleson served his country faithfully and well during the hard fighting until the Mississippi was opened. He then returned to this city. He resumed his work as a boatman which the war had interrupted and followed the river for years.

Mr. Oleson has always been an active Republican and the respect with which he was held by all and his energetic service gave him great influence in politics. This influence he at all times used in the Interests of the party at large, seeking no personal favors from his party. In the course of time hie reward came in the form of an appointment from President Harrison to the office of postmaster of Cehkosh. He held the position under President Harrison for four years, until his successor, Joseph Kloeckner, was appointed by President Cleveland.

SECOND APPOINTMENT. Mr. Oleson made a very successful official, and was again appointed to the office by President McKinley. He took charge of the office for the second time early in the spring of 1898. He was succeeded by the present Incumbent of the office, E. M. Crane, in August, 1902, after his friends exerted every effort to have President Roosevelt re-appoint him.

Coming to this city in its early history, Captain Oleson was one of the city's oldest settlers and was an honored member of the Old Settlers' club. Mr. Oleson was also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belonged to Oshkosh lodge 27. He was also a member of Oshkosh lodge of Elks, No. 192. During his life Mr. Oleson accumulated considerable wealth,

The deceased is survived by his wife, who has been an invalid for years, one daughter, Mrs. John Harmon, two sisters, Mrs. N. Haverson of Los Angeles, Cal., Mrs. Anna Jackson of Omaha, Nebraska, one brother, Martin Oleson of this city.

FUNERAL WEDNESDAY. Tho funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock with services at the house. Rev. J. W. Greenwood. rector of Trinity Episcopal church, will officiate. The Masonic funeral ritual will be observed in charge of Oshkosh lodge, No. 27. Interment will take place in the family lot at Riverside cemetery.

The Oshkosh Northwestern

1905 Mon. Aug 14 Page 1

Contributor: JAZ (48097722)