Mount Olive...with a side of lutefisk...

I've been doing some research into the family cemetery. I've been doing it because there's no Wikipedia article on it...and as one of Chicago's older cemeteries...that seems a little odd to me. You can find MILES of information on Mount Olivet Cemetery...it's kind of a who's who of the Chicago dead. But not much about Mount Olive...


But I found a juicy tidbit. One of the cemetery founders was apparently famous bank embezzler, Paul O. Stensland. He was the former president of Milwaukee Avenue Bank...and almost got away with $1,500,000.00. Impressive for 1906! I mean...holy crap. Makes the Enron folks seem like amateurs.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9F03E4D61F3EE733A25755C2A96F9C946797D6CF

I found several sources citing that he tried to cover up some of the funds by laundering them as his "salary" as president of the Cemetery Association that bought the land that became Mount Olive.

Unlike a lot of Chicago cemeteries...there isn't anyone particularly famous in Mount Olive. (I think that's because Norskies don't typically BECOME famous...preferring to eat herring and drink beer in peace.) Halvol Michelson...one of the largest Great Lakes shipbuilders of the last century...is buried there in a family plot. Olympic gold medalist in swimming, Sybil Bauer. Earl Herold Juul...pitcher for the Brooklyn Tip-Tops in the 1914 season...in the defunct "Federal League." And Niels Juul (no relation) former U.S. Congressman...and U.S. Collector of Customs for Port of Chicago.

Haven't figured out if Mr. Stensland is buried there. One would think that he would have managed to buy a plot in a cemetery he managed...but then again...all of his assets and property were seized...so...

I guess I'll have to stop by and see.

I need to go take photos of the gate...and the viking fountain. And maybe the chapel...even though it's been shuttered for the last 20 years. When I'm finished, I should be able to post a pretty comprehensive article for Wikipedia. Even though I'll probably be the only person interested in it.

But besides my Great Aunt Helen...who is in Mount Emblem (because it's a Masonic cemetery...and my Uncle Bill and Aunt Helen were big into lodge) all of the rest of the Ericksons are there. My Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Mickey. My Great Grandparents Andrew and Martha. Great Aunts Anne and Alice. Great Uncle Edwin. My Uncle Melvin. None of them historical figures. Most of them people I never met. But family nonetheless.