Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Olin, Benjamin 1838 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 10:35 am

Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890

BENJAMIN OLIN. 

The legal profession of Will County is worthily represented by the subject, of 
this notice who has been engaged in the practice of law at Joliet since June, 
of the year 1870. He is a native of the Empire State and was born in Allegany 
County, August 12, 1838. He emigrated to Illinois with his parents when quite 
young, they settling first in La Salle County, from which they subsequently 
removed to Kendall County. Judge Olin received his English education in the 
common and select schools of La Salle and Kendall Counties and subsequently 
entered Beloit College, Wis. He commenced the reading of law in the office of 
Messrs. Gray & Bushnell at Ottawa, Ill., and later studied with John Cruthers, 
of Oswego, Kendall County. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Olin in 
April, 1861, assisted in raising Company K, Twentieth Illinois Infantry and 
was elected First Lieutenant of his company. After about one year spent in the 
service he was obliged to send in his resignation on account of ill-health. He 
then went to Colorado where he spent several months and upon his return 
resumed his law studies at Chicago with the firm of Mather, Taft & Bates. He 
was admitted to the bar in 1863 and began the practice of his profession at 
Morris, this State. Subsequently Mr. Olin associated himself in partnership 
with Hon. P. A. Armstrong, of Morris, and they engaged in the practice of law 
until the removal of Mr. Olin to Joliet in June, 1870. In the meantime he had 
become prominent in the local affairs of Grundy County, representing his ward 
in the City Council of Morris and holding the office of School Inspector, 
besides filling other positions of trust and responsibility. He was looked 
upon as a man of sound judgment and his opinions were generally respected. 
After his removal to Joliet Judge Olin associated himself in partnership with 
Capt. Phelps in the practice of law, which partnership continued until 1873, 
when it was dissolved by the election of Mr. Olin to the Judgeship of the 
County Court. He acquitted himself with great credit, serving his full term 
and in 1877 was re-elected and held the office the full term of the four 
years, and one year over on account of a change in the law fixing the time of 
holding elections. Then after nine years of public service and when his 
nomination was again talked of, he declined to be a candidate for re-election. 
Since his removal to Joliet Mr. Olin has been identified with many of its 
leading enterprises and has distinguished himself as a liberal and public-
spirited citizen. He is particularly interested in educational affairs, having 
held the office of School Inspector for several years, and was also a member 
of the Board of Directors of the Joliet Public Library, which office he has 
recently resigned. As an attorney he has been entrusted with important 
interests, while his intimate knowledge of the intricacies of law has enabled 
him to serve his clients in a just and satisfactory manner. His strict 
integrity and honorable dealings have gained him the confidence and esteem of 
his fellow-citizens and both in social and business circles he occupies an 
enviable position. Mr. Olin in September, 1865, was joined in wedlock with 
Miss Julia Schauber. Mrs. Olin is a lady of high culture and varied 
attainments and well fitted to be the partner of such a man as her husband. 
She was born in Saratoga County, N. Y. The family residence is pleasantly 
located at No. 102 Young's Avenue. In 1889 Judge Olin associated himself in 
partnership with George J. Cowing, a young gentleman of fine attainments, who 
is rapidly rising in his profession.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 
 


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