Milwaukee County Wisconsin Genealogy

Biographies and Family Information

Includes Marriages, Births, Confirmations, Baptisms

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WILLIAM O'DONNELL

William O'Donnell, 82, former Milwaukee County executive but always a man of the people. He left a legacy that affected most aspects of county government. He was a staunch supporter of the transit system, the medical complex, the zoo and the war memorial, as well as programs to help senior citizens and the poor. O'Donnell died of cancer Sept. 5.

CAPT. D. O'DRISCOLL

Capt. D. O'Driscoll was born in Ireland, October 31, 1831; commenced sailing in 1846, in the British merchant service in the Mediterranean trade; was a seaman on the salt water about five years; came to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1851; was master of the schooner, "D.O.DICKINSON," eight years; of the bark "SARLINIA" out of Buffalo two years. In January, 1868, was appointed Harbor Master at Milwaukee; served in that capacity five years; was United States store-keeper one year. Residence, No. 572 Seventh avenue.

Source: History of Milwaukee County, 1881

JOSEPH OSCAR OGDEN

JOSEPH OSCAR OGDEN, retired, one of the most respected citizens of Milwaukee, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 16,1833. His father was James Kilborn Ogden, who was born in Elizabethtown, N.J., on July 30, 1793 and his mother was Margaret (Hall) Ogden, a native of Baltimore. Md. The father’s educational advantages were limited to the country schools. When twenty-one years of age, in 1814, he removed to Cincinnati and established there the first pottery west of the Alleghany mountains. His marriage occurred in 1818 and his union was blessed with the following children: Ezekiel Hall, Elizabeth Hall, Sarah Anna Wood, Joseph Oscar and Albert Hall. He was a most successful businessman and was known in all walks of life as an upright, honest Christian gentleman. He was a direct descendant of the Ogdens who settled in Elizabethtown in its early history. Joseph O. Ogden, the subject of this review, attended the public schools of Cincinnati and rounded out his scholastic career by a course at Herron Seminary in the same city. In 1849 he came to Milwaukee and for a year served in a clerical position in the Magie & Swain Clothing Company. Then for a number of years he was again a resident of Cincinnati and later of Philadelphia, Pa., where he was engaged in the malleable iron industry. When he returned to Milwaukee it was to retire from active participation in business affairs. He has a beautiful home at 2324 Sycamore Street. In politics Mr. Ogden is a Republican, but has never aspired to public office. He is a devout communicant of St. James Episcopal Church. On Feb. 14,1860, Mr. Ogden was united in marriage to Miss Ester A. Swain, a daughter of James Swain of Milwaukee. Her parents were both natives of Elizabethtown, N. J., and the father was a merchant tailor who came to Milwaukee in 1848 and was in the merchant tailoring business a 168 East Water Street for a good many years. For a term he was adjutant-general of the Wisconsin National Guard. When the War of the Rebellion opened he accepted a commission as a colonel in the quartermasters department and served throughout the struggle. After the war he settled in Memphis, Tenn., where he died in 1880, eleven years after his wife’s demise. To Mr. and Mrs. Ogden were born the following children: Fannie B., deceased; Sarah L., wife of George W. Goodman, of Milwaukee; Margaret Hall, now Mrs. W. K. Kilgore, of Oak Park, Ill;; James K., a varnish manufacturer located at St. Paul, Minn.; Alberta, wife of Harry P. Trayser of this city; Franklin, deceased; and Bell Armour Reis, of St. Paul, Minn., secretary of the Twin City Varnish Co.

Milwaukee County Biographies Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Vol. I & II by Jerome Anthony Watrous, 1909 PAGE 287

THOMAS H. OLIN

was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1811. He remained in his native state until twenty-three years of age, then went to Ohio for one year, thence to Milwaukee, it being at that time a little hamlet without one frame house in completion. Going to Waukesha, Wisconsin, he made that place his home until coming to Minnesota in 1856. He, with his family, came the entire distance from Waukesha to Northfield, by ox team, bringing their stock with them, cows, pigs, and chickens. They were about four weeks on the road, and during the time did not enter a house, but camped in a tent prepared for the purpose. Arriving at Northfield, he settled on and pre-empted the farm which has since been his dwelling place. Although often asked to accept different offices in this state he has not done so, but was a member of the Wisconsin legislature two terms. Married in 1837, Miss Sarah Church, of Milwaukee. They have five children: Rollin C., living in Detroit, Michigan, he was in the army, and was assistant adjutant to General Sibley; M. T., who was in the army three years, and a sergeant in First Wisconsin Cavalry; Clara E, adopted, wife of H. Scriver, of Northfield; A.M. and S. M.

Source: History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota , and Outlines of the History of Minnesota". By Rev. Edward D. Neill and J. Fletcher Williams. Published in Minneapolis by North Star Publishing Company, 1881 Page 500

CAPT. GABRIEL OLSON

No. 540 Reed street, was born in Norway, in 1829. He was engaged sailing in a coasting vessel before coming to Milwaukee. He came here in 1849, and has been on the lakes since. He has been a captain for fifteen years, and now commands the steam barge "WM. CRIPPIN." He has been a very careful and successful seaman and never was wrecked. He was married in 1853, to Miss Margaret Syrerson, a native of Norway. They had ten children, eight of whom are now living.

Source: History of Milwaukee County, 1881)