Isaac Oliner Family
Isaac (“J.”) Oliner
Occupation: Merchant Tailor
Born: 1855
Birthplace:
Died:
Gilla Oliner
Occupation:
Born: 1860
Birthplace:
Died:
Jacob Oliner
Occupation:
Born: 1881
Birthplace:
Died:
Fannie Oliner
Occupation:
Born: 1883
Birthplace:
Died:
Abe Oliner
Occupation:
Born: 1885
Birthplace:
Died: 17 February 1891
Harris Oliner
Occupation:
Born:
Birthplace:
Died:
Two seemingly separate families with the last name Oliner arrived in Leadville nearly fifteen years apart. Isaac Oliner (b. 1855), his wife, Gilla (b. 1860), and their children, Jacob (b. 1881), Fannie (b. 1883), and Abe (b. 1885) arrived in Leadville in 1885. [1] Isaac worked as a tailor and owned a shop at 111 East 6th Street while he and his family lived next door at 113 East 6th Street. [2] The Oliners boarded a man named Peter Osika, a tailor who worked for Isaac; however, by 1888, the city directory lists Osika’s residence as 111 East 6th Street, the same as Isaac’s store. [3]
In 1886, Isaac and Gilla moved with their children to the ‘rear’ of 510 Harrison Avenue while Isaac continued to maintain his tailor shop. [4] In 1886, the city directory indicates that a Harris Oliner, a laborer, lived at 518 Harrison Avenue. [5] In 1887, Harris moved to the rear of 510 Harrison Avenue with Isaac and his family, however their exact relationship are unknown. [6] The family suffered tragedy on February 17, 1891, with the death of Abe. He was laid to rest in the Hebrew Cemetery. [7]
While in Leadville, Isaac frequently ran into trouble with the law and other Leadville residents. His first mention in the local newspapers is a court case in which he claimed that a Mr. M(oritz) Mankus threatened his life. [8] The sensationalized events portrayed in the Carbonate Chronicle related an amazing story in which Isaac presented a deal for customers consisting of a riddle, which if answered correctly, would take $10 off their bill. [9] Mankus was the first to attempt the riddle and when Oliner asked him, Why “…am I a dog?” Mankus responded by saying, “Simply because you—are a blank of a blank.” [10] The two entered a heated argument which the article describes as being spoken in Russian, German, and English though neither were fluent in English. Mankus chased Oliner to the home of John Schmidt, continuing to insult him and threatening his life. [11]
In 1887, the Leadville Evening Herald described an Oliner, likely Isaac, who was robbed of his gold watch by a gunman. [12] The author doubts if this event happened. In 1888, Isaac got into a fight with a man named Miller and lost badly. [13] In 1889, Isaac appeared in the court case Heath & Co. V. Isaac Oliner after Isaac defaulted on a loan and he faced a potential fine of $165.07. [14] In the same year, Isaac was “to the use of” the court case H. L. White V. Cornelius Malloy. [15] Finally, between 1890 and 1893, Isaac became involved in the court case of Isaac Oliner V. J. W. Coyne on money demand charges. [16] The only mention of Oliners outside of Isaac’s court cases and altercations during this period was of Fannie performing a dialogue of “Our Flag” at a school performance in 1892. [17]
Gravestone for Abe Oliner. Died February 17, 1890. Age 5.
Hebrew Cemetery, Leadville, Colorado.
Herman Oliner Family
Herman Oliner
Occupation: Laborer, Peddler
Born: 1850
Birthplace: Poland
Died: 7 December 1911
Hanna Oliner
Occupation:
Born: 1849
Birthplace: ‘Central Europe’
Died: 23 January 1916
Minnie Oliner (“Walpensky”)
Occupation:
Born: est. 1881
Birthplace: Hungary
Died:
Joseph Oliner
Occupation: Shoemaker
Born:
Birthplace:
Died: 15 November 1942
Louise Oliner
Occupation:
Born:
Birthplace: Bavaria
Died: 1953
Robert Oliner
Occupation:
Born: 10 December 1905
Birthplace: Leadville, Colorado
Died: 1982
Max Oliner
Occupation:
Born: 1907
Birthplace: Leadville, Colorado
Died: 1973
[Unnamed Male] Oliner
Occupation:
Born: 13 January 1908
Birthplace: Leadville, Colorado
Died:
Stanley (“Skip”) J. Oliner
Occupation: Librarian
Born: 13 June 1938
Birthplace:
Died: 15 January 2012
(Buried at Leadville’s Hebrew Cemetery)
Joseph Oliner
Occupation:
Born: 8 June 1947
Birthplace:
Died: 14 September 2018
(Buried at Leadville’s Hebrew Cemetery)
Herman (b. 1850), Hanna (b. 1849), and their children Minnie (b. ca. 1881) and Joseph, [18] were all recent emigrants from Austrian Poland who likely arrived in the United States in 1898, and soon after, came to Leadville. The parents married at a young age before leaving their homeland. The Oliners made their home in a rental belonging to the Congregation behind the Temple Israel building at 311 North Pine Street from the time of their arrival in 1898 until 1911. [19] This arrangement may indicate the Oliners acted as custodians of the building for the Congregation. Herman initially worked as a laborer at the Arkansas Valley Smelter in 1899 and at the Boston Gold Smelting Company in 1900 after which he became a self-employed peddler of vegetables. [20]
Minnie married Aaron Walpensky, a grocer, and moved in to 330 West 2nd Street whereas Joseph began a career as a shoemaker at 110 East 6th Street in 1903. [21] On January 15, 1905, Joseph married Louise Dorn at a ceremony held at the Temple Israel synagogue, and the newlyweds took up residence at 203 West 6th Street. [22] In 1907, Joseph moved to 130 West 4th Street and got into an altercation in which he reportedly attempted to attack a young boy who called him names and that a man named Rawson defended the boy, attacking Joseph. [23] On January 13th, 1908, Louise gave birth to an unnamed son. [24]
On December 7, 1911, Herman met an untimely death “as the result of an accident in a runaway near Twin Lakes [fifteen miles south of Leadville]. N. H. Miller and Harry Mamlock read the burial service at the residence of the deceased, 311 Pine Street, and at the grave.” [25] Herman’s pallbearers were Joseph Harwitz, Hyman Isaac, Harry Isaac, M. Zeiler, N. H. Miller, and S. J. Amter. [26] He was buried at Leadville’s Hebrew Cemetery. [27] The obituary noted his two children, Minnie, still living in Leadville, and Joseph, then living in Cripple Creek. [28]
Sometime after Herman’s passing, Hanna relocated to Victor to live with Joseph carrying the “hope that the change of climate would benefit her health.” [29] Her health did not improve, however, and she died on January 23, 1916. [30] “Harry Mamlock read the funeral services at the chapel and later at the graveside N. H. Miller and Joseph Harwitz read the committal service.” [31] “The pallbearers were Joseph Harwitz, Nathan Miller, Sol Hecht, Abe Sandusky, Hyman Isaacs and Samuel Amter.” [32] According to the obituary, Hanna and Herman lived in Leadville most of their lives. She was buried next to her husband in Leadville’s Hebrew Cemetery. [33]
Helen Walpensky with her grandparents, Herman and Hanna Oliner, taken about 1903.
Temple Israel Museum collection.
Gravestone for Herman Oliner, 1850-1911.
Hebrew Cemetery, Leadville, Colorado.
Gravestone for Hannah Oliner, 1849.1916.
Hebrew Cemetery, Leadville, Colorado.
The following information was supplied in a letter from Joan Burger (great granddaughter of Herman and Hanna Oliner)
Herman and Hannah Oliner had four children of whom only the history of two are known. There was another daughter named Rebecca Oliner who was born September 15, 1878, in Galicia and died November 30, 1906, in child labor and is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Commerce City, Colorado. She married Sam Dorn, the brother of Louise Oliner. Louise is the wife of Joseph Oliner, Rebecca Oliner Dorn is Joseph Oliner’s sister. I know nothing about a fourth child of Hanna and Herman Oliner.
Joseph and Louise Oliner lived at 216 W 6th in Leadville and were married at Temple Israel at Fourth and Pine Street in Leadville. Joseph Oliner died in Oakland, California, on November 15, 1942, and is buried at Mt. Nebo in Denver alongside his wife Louise Oliner who died in Denver in 1953. They had 3 sons, two of whom were born in Leadville. Robert Oliner, my father, was born December 10, 1905, in Leadville and died in 1982 in Denver, Colorado, and is buried at Mt. Nebo in Denver. Max Oliner was born in 1907 in Leadville and died in Denver in 1973 and is buried at Fairmont Cemetery Mausoleum in Denver. His son is Myron Oliner who is on the dedication stone at the Hebrew Cemetery, Leadville.
There is a Hersh Issac Oliner family in Salt Lake City. He was born in 1853 and may be possible that he would be the Issac that left Leadville in 1888...I can’t confirm this...just a note of interest.
A note of gratitude from the Temple Israel Foundation
Stanley Oliner (June 13, 1938-January 15, 2012), although never a resident of Leadville, was a great-grandson of Herman and Hannah who became the head librarian for the Colorado State Historical Society. In this capacity he was of enormous help to the Temple Israel Foundation during its early years and for this we are deeply indebted. After his passing, he was laid to rest alongside Herman and Hannah in Leadville’s Hebrew Cemetery. He is well remembered by those who knew him.
Joseph Oliner (June 8,1947-September 14, 2018), like his cousin Stanley, was not a resident of Leadville but participated for many years helping to restore the Hebrew Cemetery. He was interred there on September 20, 2018 in the family plot next to his great-grandparents, Herman and Hannah, and Stanley.
1 "Colorado State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8WN-C4L: 1 April 2016), J Oliver, 1885; citing NARA microfilm publication M158 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 498,507; "Colorado State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8WN-C4G: 1 April 2016), Gilla Oliver in entry for J Oliver, 1885; citing NARA microfilm publication M158 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 498,507; "Colorado State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8WN-C45: 1 April 2016), Jacob Oliver in entry for J Oliver, 1885; citing NARA microfilm publication M158 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 498,507; "Colorado State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8WN-C4R: 1 April 2016), Fannie Oliver in entry for J Oliver, 1885; citing NARA microfilm publication M158 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 498,507; "Colorado State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8WN-C4T: 1 April 2016), Abe Oliver in entry for J Oliver, 1885; citing NARA microfilm publication M158 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 498,507.
2 Thomas B. Corbett and John H. Ballenger, Corbett & Ballenger’s Sixth Annual Leadville City Directory Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. in the City of Leadville for 1885 (Leadville: Corbett & Ballenger, Publishers, 1885): pp. 194.
3 "Colorado State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8WN-C4P: 1 April 2016), Peter Osika in entry for J Oliver, 1885; citing NARA microfilm publication M158 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 498,507; John H. Ballenger and William H. Richards, Ballenger and Richards’ Ninth Annual Leadville City Directory Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. in the City of Leadville for 1888 (Leadville: Ballenger and Richards, Publishers, 1888): pp. 205, 207, 227.
4 Thomas B. Corbett and John H. Ballenger, Corbett & Ballenger’s Seventh Annual Leadville City Directory Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. in the City of Leadville for 1886 (Leadville: Corbett & Ballenger, Publishers, 1886): pp. 203-204.
5 Thomas B. Corbett and John H. Ballenger, Corbett & Ballenger’s Seventh Annual Leadville City Directory Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. in the City of Leadville for 1886 (Leadville: Corbett & Ballenger, Publishers, 1886): pp. 203-204.
6 Thomas B. Corbett and John H. Ballenger, Corbett & Ballenger’s Seventh Annual Leadville City Directory Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. in the City of Leadville for 1886 (Leadville: Corbett & Ballenger, Publishers, 1886): pp. 203-204.
7 “Abe Oliner,” Hebrew Cemetery id. N/A (Leadville, Colorado) http://www.jewishleadville.org/tombstonedetails.php?PersonID=1103 (accessed August 5, 2018).
8 “A Russian Riddle,” Carbonate Chronicle (Leadville, CO) November 21, 1885: 3.
9 “A Russian Riddle,” Carbonate Chronicle (Leadville, CO) November 21, 1885: 3.
10 “A Russian Riddle,” Carbonate Chronicle (Leadville, CO) November 21, 1885: 3.
11 “A Russian Riddle,” Carbonate Chronicle (Leadville, CO) November 21, 1885: 3.
12 “After the Event,” Leadville Evening Chronicle (Leadville, CO) September 13, 1887: 4.
13 “Scrap on East Sixth Street,” Leadville Evening Chronicle (Leadville, CO) May 26, 1888: 5.
14 “Legal Log,” Leadville Evening Chronicle (Leadville, CO) January 4, 1889: 3.
15 “In the Courts,” Leadville Evening Chronicle (Leadville, CO) December 3, 1889: 3.
16 “Legal News and Notes,” Herald Democrat (Leadville, CO) February 4, 1890: 5; “In Secret Circles,” Herald Democrat (Leadville, CO) May 12, 1893: 5.
17 “The Schools Close,” Herald Democrat (Leadville, CO) May 14, 1892: 5.
18 “Herman Oliner,” Find a Grave, Hebrew Cemetery id. 18472541 (Leadville, Colorado) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18472541/herman-oliner (accessed July 31, 2018); “Hanna Oliner,” Find a Grave, Hebrew Cemetery id. 18472884 (Leadville, Colorado) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18472884/hanna-oliner (accessed July 31, 2018); "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK4C-48H: accessed 31 July 2018), Minnie Walpensky in household of Aaron Walpensky, Leadville Ward 3, Lake, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 71, sheet 2B, family 50, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 121; FHL microfilm 1,374,134. Little-to-no census records exist for the second wave of Oliners though they do appear in city directories and in the newspapers.
19 John H. Ballenger and William H. Richards, Ballenger and Richards’ Eighteenth Annual Leadville City Directory for 1899 Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. (Leadville: Ballenger and Richards, Publishers, 1899): pp. 240.
20 John H. Ballenger and William H. Richards, Ballenger and Richards’ Eighteenth Annual Leadville City Directory for 1899 Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. (Leadville: Ballenger and Richards, Publishers, 1899): pp. 240; John H. Ballenger and William H. Richards, Ballenger and Richards’ Nineteenth Annual Leadville City Directory for 1900 Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. (Leadville: Ballenger and Richards, Publishers, 1900): pp. 264; John H. Ballenger and William H. Richards, Ballenger and Richards’ Twentieth Annual Leadville City Directory for 1901 Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. (Leadville: Ballenger and Richards, Publishers, 1901): pp. 268.
21 “Rose’s Regime Utter Failure,” Herald Democrat (Leadville, CO) February 11, 1913: 6; John H. Ballenger and William H. Richards, Ballenger and Richards’ Twenty-Fourth Annual Leadville City Directory for 1905 Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. (Leadville: Ballenger and Richards, Publishers, 1905): pp. 324; John H. Ballenger and William H. Richards, Ballenger and Richards’ Twenty-Second Annual Leadville City Directory for 1903 Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. (Leadville: Ballenger and Richards, Publishers, 1903): pp. 248.
22 “Pretty Wedding Ceremony Took Place Yesterday,” Herald Democrat (Leadville, CO) January 16, 1905: 3; John H. Ballenger and William H. Richards, Ballenger and Richards’ Twenty-Fourth Annual Leadville City Directory for 1905 Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. (Leadville: Ballenger and Richards, Publishers, 1905): pp. 247.
23 John H. Ballenger and William H. Richards, Ballenger and Richards’ Twenty-Sixth Annual Leadville City Directory for 1907 Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. (Leadville: Ballenger and Richards, Publishers, 1907): pp. 263; “Assault and Battery,” Herald Democrat (Leadville, CO) July 11, 1907: 5.
24 “Born,” Herald Democrat (Leadville, CO) January 14, 1908: 5.
25 “Around the City,” Herald Democrat (Leadville, CO) December 8, 1911: 5.
26 “Around the City,” Herald Democrat (Leadville, CO) December 8, 1911: 5.
27 “Herman Oliner,” Find a Grave, Hebrew Cemetery id. 18472541 (Leadville, Colorado) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18472541/herman-oliner (accessed July 31, 2018).
28 “Around the City,” Herald Democrat (Leadville, CO) December 8, 1911: 5.
29 “Mrs. Annie Oliner,” Carbonate Chronicle (Leadville, CO) January 31, 1916: 2.
30 “Mrs. Annie Oliner,” Carbonate Chronicle (Leadville, CO) January 31, 1916: 2.
31 “Mrs. Annie Oliner,” Carbonate Chronicle (Leadville, CO) January 31, 1916: 2.
32 “Mrs. Annie Oliner,” Carbonate Chronicle (Leadville, CO) January 31, 1916: 2.
33 “Hanna Oliner,” Find a Grave, Hebrew Cemetery id. 18472884 (Leadville, Colorado) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18472884/hanna-oliner (accessed July 31, 2018).
Bibliography
Ballenger, John H. and Richards. Ballenger and Richards Annual Leadville City Directory Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. in the City of Leadville. Leadville: Ballenger and Richards, Publishers. Via Lake County Public Library.
Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. Search criteria, “Lake County” “Oliner” “Walpensky.” Accessed August 9, 2018. https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/cgi-bin/colorado?a=q&hs=1&r=1&results=1&txq=Oliner&t=0&txf=txIN&ssnip=txt&o=20&dafdq=&dafmq=&dafyq=&datdq=&datmq=&datyq=&ccq=Lake&puq=&e=-------en-20--1-byDA-txt-txIN-Raabe-------0-Lake
Colorado State Census, 1885. Via FamilySearch.org. https://www.familysearch.org/.
Corbett, Thomas B. and John H. Ballenger. Corbett & Ballenger’s Annual Leadville City Directory Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. in the City of Leadville. Leadville: Corbett & Ballenger, Publishers, 1881-1886. Via Lake County Public Library.
Find a Grave. Accessed August 9, 2018. https://www.findagrave.com/.
United States Census, 1910. Via FamilySearch.org. https://www.familysearch.org/.
To cite any of the information in this biography, please use the following reference.
AUTHOR: Quinn Whittington
EDITOR: William Korn
SOURCE: Jewish Surnames/Oliner
PUBLISHED BY: Temple Israel Foundation. Leadville, CO; USA. 2018
STABLE URL: http://www.jewishleadville.org/oliner.html
