OBERT, Miles C. was born at Friendship, Allegheny County, N. Y., Sept. 13, 1840. He came to Minneapolis Sept. 30, 1856, and on Oct. 24, 1867, he married Miss Sarah A. Peat.

He enlisted in the Second Minnesota Battery, Light Artillery, Jan. 16, 1862, and was mustered out as corporal gunner March 28, 1865. He was gunner for two years and a half, and was at the following battles: First battle of Corrinth, Miss.; Perryville, Ky.; Knob Gap, Stone River, Chickamaugua, Mission Ridge, Chattanooga, Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost; and while he was detailed in Battery 1, Second Illinois Light Artillery, as gunner, in No. 2 Tunnel Hill, No. 2 Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Dalton, Ringoid, Rome, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, Cassville, Rough and Ready, Kenesaw Mountain, Sand Town Roads, Atlanta, Janesborough, and several others. January 30, 1866, he was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Third Battery, Light Artillery, Minnesota Volunteer State Militia.

Mr. Obert was a millwright and draughtsman, and was a partner with R. P. Russell in the Diamond Roller flour mill, located near Elk River, Minn. Later he entered the drug business in Minneapolis, Minn., where he now resides.

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O'BRIEN, Dennis is a native of Ireland, born December 15th, 1844. He came to the United States in 1866, locating in this city, engaged in lumbering for W. D. Washburn. He remained in that business five years, then went on the Northern Pacific railroad, building bridges he continued in that business two years, returning to this city in 1873 and working at lumbering for Robinson and Company until 1875, and since that time has been in the flouring mills. He is now in the feed department of the Cataract mill.

O'CONNOR, M. J. and Wife. The former was born in London, Eng., March 27, 1833, Migrated with his parents to America in 1836. Received his education in New York City. Removed to Chicago in 1848. He came to Minnesota in 1855; opened a gent's furnishing establishment on Third street. Was a member of the common council from 1859 to 1862, refusing to be a candidate for re-election, but responded to the president's call for troops, and recruited for the Tenth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteers. Was chosen captain of Company K. Took part in General Sibley's campaign in fighting and driving the Sioux Indians across the Missouri River. Went south with his regiment in 1863; was appointed inspector general Department of the Missouri, and saw hard service while on inspecting tours, riding through southwestern Missouri. In 1864 his regiment was attached to the Sixteenth Army Corps and took part in the engagement at Tupelo, Miss., routing the combined forces of Forrest and Chalmers. Served under Gen. A. J. Smith part of the summer of 1864 and took part in several minor engagements. Was with the Tenth and a picked corps under Gen. Joe Mower, who were ordered to follow the confederate General Price, and encountered one of the most severe campaigns of the war, marching thirty consecutive days through Arkansas and Missouri, which terminated in the fight on the Little and Big Blue Rivers, at which Marmaduke and a large force was captured and Price finally driven from that section of the country. On the return of the Union forces south Captain O'Connor was left in the hospital in St. Louis. but recovered in time to join his command at Vicksburg, and took part in the twenty days' siege of Spanish Fort and final capture of Mobile, this being about the last battle of the war. He returned home with his regiment, having seen service from our northwestern boundary at Devil's Lake and the Missouri River, thence southward to the gulf Was mastered out at Fort Snelling in 1865. The following fall was elected city treasurer, which position he left to go into business with his brother, where he continued until 1870, when he was elected city clerk, which office he filled until 1879. He then formed a partnership and built the Northwestern Stock Yards, in which business he remained for a number of years.

In 1885 he was appointed by President Cleveland Appraiser of Customs for Minnesota. He is a member of the G. A. R.

In 1855 he married Miss Mary Fitzpatrick at Chicago, Ill. She was the daughter of Doctor Walter Fitzpatrick, Queens County, Ireland. She made a most amiable wife and mother. She died in November, 1897, leaving her husband and four sons and two daughters to mourn her loss.

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OFSTIE, John E. was born in Norway. He came to America in 1868, locating in Minneapolis. He clerked in the dry goods store of William Gaslin; then went to Chicago, and was employed in a wholesale and retail clothing house until 1876, when he returned to this city, and established the Boston Square Dealing One Price Clothing House, at 227 Washington Avenue south. He remained there until 1878, then removed to his present location, No. 2 Pence Opera House.

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OFTEDAL, Gustav Marcilius was born in Stavenger, Norway, February 22d, 1846, where he attended a preparatory school during his boyhood. In 1868 he accepted the position of "watch inspector" of a telegraph station at Arendal, where he remained almost permanently until his call to America in 1877. While at Arendal he passed "examen candidatus juria," at Christiana University in 1872 also spending some time in the study of theology at Arendal. In 1877 he received a call from the congregation in Minneapolis and at once started for this field of labor, completing his theological course at Augsburg Seminary and ordained at the latter place.

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OFTEDAL, S. was born in Stavenger, Norway, in 1844. He attended college in his native town until he was eighteen years of age, when he entered the university at Christiana, where he passed the degrees of "exanaenatium" and "exanien philosophicum," and spent the next six or seven years traveling, in England, France, Spain, Italy, and the United States. In 1871 he took the degree of divinity at the university, and in 1873 came to Minneapolis, and has since held an important position in the faculty of Augsburg Seminary.

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OLESEN, Simon was born in Norway, in 1837. He came to the United States in 1869, and located at La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was in the timber business four years. In 1873 he became a resident of Minneapolis, and has been at work in the Union Planmg mill since. He married Carrie Johnson in 1876. Their children are: Carrie S. and Mary I.

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OLESON, J. H. is a native of Norway, born August 13th, 1850. He came to Dakota county, Minnesota, in 1866. He commenced learning photography in 1870, with W. H. Jacoby, of this city. He opened an establishment in 1874, at 307 Washington Avenue south. He makes a specialty of card and cabinet photographs. He married Miss Annie G. Johnson of this city, July 11th, 1874. Their children are: Iver W., Gustave H., and Albert J.

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OLIVER, H. C. was born at Sterling, Cayuga county, New York, July, 1842. He lived on a farm in early life, then moved with his parents to Corning, New York. In 1867 he removed to Champaign, Illinois; thence in 1870 to Indianapolis, Indiana, and remained there until coming to Minneapolis in 1880. He was railroading sixteen years prior to his locating in this city, thirteen years of the time being a conductor. He was married in 1869, to Miss S. K. Lower, of New York. They have one daughter.

OLSON, Alice A. b7/10/1896 MN (Death Records, 1900 U.S. Census) - d6/9/1968 (Hennepin County Death Record #1968-MN-015971; Miss Alice A. Olson) Burial: 6/12/1968; age 71; Allen-Olson Family Plot, Hillside Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin, MN (Hillside Cemetery Records) - S.S. #473-01-8582; Lived in Minneapolis, St. Anthony, & St. Anthony Village of Hennepin County, MN (S.S. Death Records) - 1910 U.S. Census, Alice was 13 years old. - In 1920, Alice was a stenographer, 23 years old, and living at her father's house. (1920 U.S. Census, Dist. #185, Ward 9, Sheet 3, Image 6) Alice was a shorthand writer in Minneapolis in August of 1923. (May Dahlbeck: L written to Sweden) Letter of Gustaf's to Sweden on 10/10/1929 saying that the children of Charles, none are married. {SSDI: #473-01-8582 - b7/10/1896 - d6/1968 55418 ,Hennepin,MN}

OLSON, Charles Carl (1910 U.S. Census) Charles Carl Olsson Allen b7-23-1863 Korsbyn,Järnskog,Varmland, Sweden (Jarnskebygda, N.9, Korsbyn) - d3/17/1925 Hennepin, MN (Death Record ID #1925-MN-018618 of Charles Olson) Burial: 3/20/1925; Allen-Olson Family Plot, Hillside Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin,MN - (Hillside Cemetery Records) m Anna (Annie) S. Erickson (Death Record #1968-MN-015971 of daughter, Miss Alice A. Olson) - b5/1864 - d3/17/1917 Hennepin, MN (Death Record #1917-MN-017836 of Anna S. Olson) - Buried: Anna Olson 4/28/1917; age 52, Allen-Olson Family Plot, Hillside Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin, MN (Hillside Cemetery Records) - Moved 4-21-1882 from Korsbyn, Järnskog to Amerika. (Söpple, Ägare 1882) - mAnnie ? b5 1864(1900 U.S. Census) 1900 U.S. 12th Census, Sheet 14, Line 14, 2538 Taylor, Charles is a blacksmith at this time. 1910 U. S. 13th Census, April, Dist. 171, 9th Ward, Sheet 8&9, [Images 15&16], Charles is 46 years old and has been married for 17 years. He was working at Machine ? ? ? ? , Annie was 45 years old and her first marriage, and they had 3 children, Their address was 2538 Taylor, Minneapolis, MN, two doors from brother Gustaf Allen)- 1920, at the same residence, Charles was a Wedge Worker in a Factory, no wife listed. (1920 U.S. Census, Dist. #185, Ward 9, Sheet 3, Image 6) August 6, 1923: Karl wrote a letter to Sweden saying he had been a widower for more than six years. His wife died of a kidney disease after having been sick only 2 1/2 months. (May Dahlbeck: L written to Sweden) In April of 1925?, a letter was written to Sweden saying Charles Olson was dead. Letter from Gustaf to Sweden on 10/10/1929 saying Charles has left and he is lonesome.

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OLSON, Otto T. was born in Sweden, in 1852. He came to Iowa in 1872, thence to St. Paul in 1875. He was in the hardware business in each place. He located in Minneapolis in 1880, opening a sample room at 1229 Washington Avenue north, where he still remains.

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O'NEIL, C. D. was born September 25th, 1849, at Plymouth, Wisconsin. He attended school in his native town until twelve years of age, when he went to New York city to live with an uncle and attend school, also to learn the trade of sign-painting and graining. He finished learning his trade in 1867, and worked at it in New York and Brooklyn, until 1869. Was in Rochester one year, thence to Chicago, here he remained until May, 1879. He then located in Minneapolis, and was employed by Adams and Skinner, painters, and remained with them until commencing business alone, on the comer of Nicollet Avenue and Third street. He makes fine graining a specialty. He was married in 1873, to Miss Guera F. Van Dusen of Michigan. Their children are Clarence and Nina.

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ORFF, George W. was born at Bangor, Maine, in 1836. He remained at Bangor until 1861, when he went to Boston and learned the profession of architect. He remained at Boston ten years, then returned to his native to town where he remained until 1878, being constantly engaged in his profession. He came to this city, and in the spring of 1879 established his office at 250 First Avenue south.

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ORMOND, Alexander T. Ph.D professor of mental and moral philosophy and history at the University, the subject of this sketch, was born in Punxsutawney, Jefferson county, Pennsylvania in 1847. When five years of age, moved with his parents to Armstrong county, near the Allegheny river. Was reared on a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits, with occasional interruptions, until he was twenty-four. Received the ordinary public school education, which was supplemented by a term or two at an academy. Began teaching in the public schools when seventeen years old; teaching winters and working on the farm summers. In 1870, went to Oxford, Ohio, and spent sub-freshman year in Miami University. Returned home at the close of the year and resumed teaching and farming. In 1872-1873 was principal in a soldiers' orphan school at Dayton, Pennsylvania. In the autumn of 1873, went to Princeton and entered the freshman class. Experienced the usual ups and downs of college life, and graduated in 1877, in a class of one hundred and ten. Won by competition the Mental Science Fellowship, which decided the special direction of his future course. Remained at Princeton doing post-graduate work until last June, when he went through the necessary preliminaries and received the degree of Ph. D. Came to the State University of Minnesota in September, 1880, where he occupies the chair of philosophy and history.

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ORTH, Edward is a native of this city, born October, 4th, 1856. He received his early education in this city and finished at Minneapolis Business College. In 1873, he was apprenticed to F. Whale and Company, liquor distillers. In the fall of the next year, he went to La Crosse where he was engaged in lumbering. In 1876, he returned and began work in his father's brewer where he has been since. He married Miss Kate Loftus, a native of Wisconsin, May 4th, 1877. They have two children Maud and Edward.

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ORTH, John was born in 1821, in France. He remained there until 1847, when he emigrated to America, locating at Erie, Pennsylvania, and lived at or near there until he came to Minneapolis in 1850. He started the first brewery and sold the first beer in the county. He first made three barrels which lasted the town of St. Anthony one week. His old brewery occupied the same ground on which is now his large establishment which makes four hundred and eighty barrels of beer each week. He was married in 1849 to Miss Mary C. Weinel. They have had five children: John W. born at St. Anthony in 1850, is the oldest living child born in this city.

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OSANDER, P. was born in Sweden, September 7th, 1843. He emigrated to New York in July, 1869, and came direct to Webster county, Iowa, thence to Minneapolis, in 1870. After visiting several points in the state, and working on the Mississippi river, the next year he located permanently in this city, engaging in the manufacture of pumps. He entered into partnership with Gus Lundell in 1876, which has since continued. Mr. Osander was married in Iowa, September 24th, 1869, to Carrie Oleson, of Sweden. Their children are: Peter W., Eda K., Fred A., and Will V.

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Click to Enlarge

OSWALD, J. C. a native of Switzerland, was born May 20th, 1824. He came to New York in 1847, and remained two months, then went to Cabell county, Virginia. He was one of the first settlers in Dutchtown in that county. He opened a general merchandise store, and was also agent for New York parties, for the sale of land. The spring of 1857, he sold and removed to Minneapolis. In 1862 he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, west of the city limits, on which he lived and devoted his time to raising small fruits, from which he made wine, mostly sold for medicinal purposes in home market. In 1866, he engaged in wholesale wines and liquors in this city, in which he still continues. He married Miss Lisette Scheitlin, in 1847. Their children living are: Matilda, Lisette S., Bertha M., and Emma W. (SEE ALSO BELOW)

As listed in the proceedings and report of the annual meetings of the Minnesota Territorial Pioneers, May 11, 1899 and 1900.

OSWALD, John Conrad was born May 20, 1824, in Oberaach Canton, Theirgan, Switzerland. He was married August 12, 1847, in New York City, to Ussula FIizabeth Scheitlin, who was born in St Gallen, Switzerland, December 24, 1824. Mrs. Oswald died in Minneapolis, Minn., March 24, 1893, leaving a husband and four children - Matilda Ann, now Mrs. Theophil Basting; Lisette Sophie, now Mrs. Floyd Laraway; Bertha Maria, and Emma, now Mrs. Wm. L. O'Brien.

They first located in Virginia (now West Virginia) from October, 1847, until February, 1857, arriving in Minneapolis March 17, 1857. Mr. Oswald kept a general store until March, 1862, when he sold out and purchased a farm, now called "Bryn Mawr." Here he raised tobacco and manufactured wine made of fruits of all kinds for medical purposes. His success as manufacturer of "J. C. Oswald's Native Wines" induced him, in 1866, to add distilled liquors, and he then established the first wholesale wine and liquor business in Minneapolis. Later Theophil Basting, who had been with Mr. Oswald for several years, was taken in as a partner, since which time the business has been conducted under the firm name of J. C. Oswald & Co.

Mr. Oswald's application to business left him little time for attending societies of any kind, but at his quiet home his friends always found a cordial welcome.

In politics he always voted with the Democratic party, but was never desirous of any office and has repeatedly declined offers for nomination. At the time the park law was granted he was elected as one of the commissioners on the first board and served for four years, when he resigned on account of being absent from home for two years. Industrial enterprise being more to his taste, he acted as director of the Minneapolis & St. Louis R. R., also an incorporator and director of the Minneapolis & Sault Ste Marie & Atlantic R. R. Co.

His military career has been confined to the state militia only. In 1863 Gov. Henry A. Swift commissioned him as captain and the following year Gov. Miller commissioned him as major of the same regiment.

In 1886 he was prevailed upon by friends to accept the nomination for state senator and was duly elected for four years of two biennial sessions in a district which for years had been strongly Republican.

The office of Court Honse and City Hall Commissioner has also been added to his public functions. (SEE ALSO ABOVE)

They had 10 children:
George Charles -         1873-1934
Juliana Marie -            1877-1881
Sophia Elizabeth   -     1874-1960
Frederick -                  1880-1945
Susana Marie -           1881-1882
Louis Henry -             1883-1943
Lillian Wilhelmina -   1886-1972
Herman Conrad -       1889-1974
Jacob Frederick -       1894 -1971
Alice Marie -               1896-1961

Above data retyped by Alvin Ebert  ALEBERT@AOL.COM on 11/29/99 from data received from Caroline Kobow (2nd daughter) of Jacob & Frieda Oswald.     

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OVERACKER, J. W. was born in Onondaga, county New York, in 1829. He resided in, New York, California, Illinois and Missouri, came to Minneapolis in July, 1874, and has since been a resident of this city. He is at present, secretary and treasurer of the Cooperative Barrel Company. He resides at 721 Seventh street south.

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OVERLOCK, E. W. a life long resident of Hennepin county, was born at Brooklyn Centre, August 7th, 1859. He acquired a knowledge of drugs, with W. C. Colbrath, of this city. In April, 1880, the firm of Overlock Brothers was organized.

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OVERLOCK. James H. was born at Brooklyn Centre, Hennepin county. He has ever since been a resident of this county. He studied drugs with T. K. Gray, and worked for W. C. Colbrath and Mr. Rose, both of this city. In 1880, he became a partner in the present firm of Overlock Brothers at 102 Central Avenue.

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OWENS, E. A. a native of New York city, was born June 27th, 1859. He accompanied his parents to Chicago in 1875 and completer his education there. In October, 1879, he removed to Iowa and studied law at the University in Iowa City. The following year in June, he came to Minneapolis and associated with W. D. Myers as partner and business manager of the surgical infirmary, which is the only institution of general surgery in the north-west. In October, 1879, Mr. Owens married Mamie Evans, of McGregor, Iowa.