Michael Olbrich
Michael Olbrich (September 29, 1881 – October 10, 1929) was a Madison, Wisconsin, lawyer, politician, and conservationist, who founded Olbrich Botanical Gardens and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum.[1]
Biography[edit]
Olbrich was born Michael Balthasar Olbrich in Chemung, Illinois in 1881. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1902,[2] where he was a member of the debate team.[3]
A noted enthusiast of nature, Olbrich founded what is now known as Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin. The Olbrich Gateway at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum is also named for him.
Olbrich was involved in a court case over a Montana sheep ranch in which he had invested much of his money,[2] which led to his suicide in 1929.[2][4]
Career[edit]
Olbrich was chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin in 1912. Later, he served as deputy attorney general of Wisconsin from 1919 to 1921.[2] He was a member of the law firm of Olbrich and Siebecker.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ Franklin E. Court, "Michael B. Olbrich's Role in the History of Wildlife Conservation in Wisconsin", Wisconsin Magazine of History, Spring 2015, pp. 40–53.
- ^ a b c d e "Michael Olbrich, Madison Lawyer, Takes Own Life". The La Crosse Tribune. October 10, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved May 19, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Michael Olbrich". Historic Madison, Inc. of Wisconsin. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
- ^ "Funeral of Michael Olbrich, University Regent, Attended by Many High State Officials". Leader-Telegram. October 13, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved May 19, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- People from McHenry County, Illinois
- Republican Party of Wisconsin chairs
- Wisconsin lawyers
- University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni
- 1881 births
- 1929 suicides
- 1929 deaths
- American politicians who died by suicide
- Suicides by hanging in Wisconsin
- Politicians from Madison, Wisconsin
- Lawyers from Madison, Wisconsin
- 19th-century American lawyers
- 20th-century American lawyers