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Term: Olin, John Myers 1851 - 1924

Definition:

lawyer, politician, civic planner, b. Lexington, Ohio. He graduated from Williams College (B.A., 1873), and in 1874 came to the Univ. of Wisconsin as instructor in rhetoric and oratory. He studied law for one year at the university, and in 1879 was admitted to the bar and set up a law practice in Madison. Olin was active in Wisconsin politics, and was twice an unsuccessful candidate for office on the Prohibition ticket; after 1890 he joined the Republican party. He was a lecturer in law at the Univ. of Wisconsin (1885-1887, 1892-1910), and was president of the Wisconsin Bar Association (1911-1913). From 1892 until 1909 Olin was the president and guiding force of the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association, a private organization designed to promote the planting of trees and shrubs, and the development of Madison's park system. In recognition of his services in this capacity, the city named Olin Park in his honor (1924). After 1909 Olin retired from most public affairs because of ill health, but continued to live in Madison until his death. Wis. Reports, 188 (1926), pp. xlv-lvi; Madison Wis. State Journal, Sept. 21, 1909, Dec. 8, 1924; J. M. Olin Papers.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has manuscripts related to this topic. See the catalog description of the John M. Olin Papers for details.

View newspaper clippings at Wisconsin Local History and Biography Articles.