Oliver G. Oakland enjoys the distinction of being the first settler and
first merchant of the thriving little town of Baker, LaSalle county,
Illinois, where he opened his general store in the fall of 1890. He was born
in Adams township, this county, January 28, 1856, on his father's farm. His
parents were Gunder A. and Seneva (Serhus) Oakland, both of whom were
natives of Stavanger, Norway. The father was one of the first settlers in
Adams township, where he bought government land and followed farming until
1864, when he disposed of this property and moved to the vicinity of
Pontiac, where he died, in his eighty-fourth year, in 1887. In his early
life in his native country he worked at the trade of a carpenter; and he was
married in that country, but had lost his wife before coming to America. He
was again married while residing in Mission township, this county, to Miss
Seneva Serhus, by whom he had children. She now resides at Rowe, Illinois.
Oliver G. Oakland was reared on a farm, having been eight years of
age when his parents moved to Livingston county, where he grew up to an
industrious manhood. At the age of seventeen he began to work for himself,
hiring out to do farm work until he was twenty, when he rented a piece of
ground, which he cultivated. He continued to follow the pursuit of
agricultural life until 1890, when he came to Baker and opened a general
store in the depot, serving also as agent for the railway company, a
position he still holds. His trade increased to such proportions that he was
justified in erecting his present commodious store room, and it is still
increasing. He began life as a poor man and by his own efforts has built up
a neat competency, dealing honestly and uprightly with all men and winning
their respect and admiration for his strict business methods. He was the
manager of the elevator for five years and has been a busy, energetic man.
Mr. Oakland was married in Livingston county, Illinois, in 1878, to
Miss Mary Chew, who was born at Chillicothe, Illinois. They have three
children — Jesse M., Ella S., and Imus M. He is a Republican and held the
post office from 1891 to 1897, giving general satisfaction to the patrons of
the office. He is a zealous member of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran
church.
Extracted 13 May 2019 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 602-603.
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