WI BIO - Dane Co - OLIN, John M.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 259-260

John M. OLIN, of Madison [Dane County], Wisconsin, one of the most prominent 
and successful members of the Dane County bar, was born in Lexington, 
Richland County, Ohio, 10 July 1851. His parents were Nathaniel G. and 
Phoebe R. (ROBERTS) OLIN, the father being a native of Shaftsbury and the 
mother of Manchester [both in Bennington County], Vermont. Reared on a farm 
in Ohio, his primary education was secured by attending the neighborhood 
schools three months of the year, and working on the farm the remainder of 
the time. After reaching his fourteen year he attended the Belleville [Dane 
County, WI] high school two years, and following that, attended the private 
academy of the Rev. DAILEY, at Lexington, Ohio, for six months. He next 
spent two years at Oberlin College, Ohio, and in 1878 graduated at Williamson 
College, with honors, having assigned him on commencement one of the 
philosophical orations, and was chosen by the faculty of the college as a 
member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

Following his graduation he held the position of principal of the Belleville 
high school, which was followed by a term as principal of the Mansfield 
schools. In the fall of 1874 Mr. [John M.] OLIN came to Madison [Dane 
County, WI] and took a position as instructor in the department of Rhetoric 
and Oratory, in the schools of the city. In the fall of 1878 he took a 
course in the law department of the University of Wisconsin, and graduated in 
1879, with the degree of A. M., in a class of seventy-six students. After 
his admission to the bar he opened an office in Madison, and began the 
practice with a partner. His partnership continued during two years, since 
which time he has practiced alone, until 01 January 1892, when he associated 
with him Harry L. BUTLER.

On 14 June 1880 Mr. [John M.] OLIN was married to Miss Helen REMINGTON, of 
Baraboo [Sauk County], Wisconsin, the daughter of Cyrus C. REMINGTON, a well 
known attorney of that place. Mrs. OLIN graduated at the University of 
Wisconsin, class of 1876, taking first honors. The success of Mr. OLIN at 
the bar has been in many points remarkable. In a comparatively brief time he 
has risen from the point of a beginner to the position of one of the leading 
members of an able bar; and that, too, unaided. Coming into the field as a 
young and inexperienced practitioner, at a time when the Madison bar was 
considered an exceptionally strong and brilliant one, he encountered 
contemporaries who were not only his senior in years and experience, but were 
gentlemen who had for years enjoyed strong reputations, and were resting 
secure in the laurels already won, while he had neither name nor position. 
But he diligently applied himself to his work, and step by step has won his 
way up to a professional reputation for ability, integrity, and learning of 
the highest order, and has secured a conspicuous place in the front ranks of 
the leading members of the bar, of not only Madison, but of Wisconsin. 
During his brief professional [p 260] career, Mr. OLIN has achieved an 
elevated position as a learned and profound lawyer, and most successful 
advocate, and in legal arguments few lawyers among his contemporaries have 
proved themselves his equal in clearness of statement, logical reasoning, and 
impressive diction, and few surpass him in his ability as an orator. With 
the eminent success already achieved while still young, it is easy to 
understand the hopes of his friends and admirers in foreshadowing and 
predicting a brilliant future for Mr. OLIN in the legal profession.

Personally Mr. OLIN is a most congenial and agreeable character. Of a manner 
rather quiet and retiring, he yet possesses a power back of this that is 
comprehensive, clean-cut and vigorous. His time is given to his profession, 
to the exclusion of political ambition, though in 1886 he was the candidate 
of the Wisconsin Prohibition party for Governor.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly