Please Note: There is no gravestone in the cemetery for William.
William was executed in Ft. Madison, Iowa, for the murder of Berthold Halfpap, who is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Fort Dodge. For an account of this murder from the Oakland Cemetery Walk, copy and paste this link into your browser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqqyYOkiZ0I
William married Daisie Mary or Daisie Mable Bolsinger on October 16, 1915, in Forrest City, Winnebago County, Iowa. I believe that William and Daisy had three children: Duane, who would have been about six when his was father was executed; LeRoy, who would have been about four; and Margie, who would have been around two. If ancestry is leading me in the right direction, these three children were living with Daisy’s sister Emma and her husband Lewie Barth, in 1930, in Ellington, Hancock County, Iowa, and going by their last name of Barth. It also appears that they went by the last name of Barth for the rest of their lives. I can find nothing further on the fate of William’s wife Daisie.
-----------------------------------------
From “Ottumwa Courier,” September 8, 1923:
OLANDER RITES SUNDAY AT 3:30
PUBLIC SERVICE IS AT THAT HOUR IN SHAUL CEMETERY; PRIVATE EARLIER.
William Olander, executed yesterday in the Ft. Madison prison for the murder of a Ft. Dodge grocer, will be buried here tomorrow. The body arrived overland late yesterday. The services at 2:30 o'clock at the Roscoe mortuary, 434 West Second, will be strictly private and no admission to the public. A. O. Smith of Ottumwa and James Erskine of Des Moines will be in charge. At 3:30 o’clock there will be a public service in Shaul cemetery and a large crowd is expected. Burial will take place there.
LAST STATEMENT
The complete statement of Olander, made before he went to the gallows, and the signed copy of which was given to A. O. Smith, 304 West Fourth street of this city, follows:
"I, William C. Olander, was born December 1, 1893 in Boone county, Iowa, and am sentenced to die at 6:30 a. m. September 7, 1923 at Fort Madison, Iowa.
"I was the oldest of three children. When I was four years of age my mother was left to support the three children and I always knew poverty. At the age of eleven I was hired to
a farmer who was to feed and clothe me and allow me to go to school. I got what was essential; no more, and allowed to attend school when there was no work that I could do. My life was hard and unpleasant. At the age of 15, when I left that place, I had about a second grade education.
"I was married when I was but eighteen. After marriage I decided that I needed more education and so took a correspondence course. What education I have, I obtained thus.
"I was a soldier in the World war, serving about one year. When I returned I had a little money and my job was gone. I sought work for I was never lazy, but could not get work of any kind to do. My wife and children were in want; they faced cold and hunger. In this condition I was tempted to obtain, in an illegal way, the means I had sought to obtain in an honorable way, but in vain.
"In company with my companions, I sought to obtain money by burglary. When our plans did not work out, we fled and attempted to escape. In the excitement of the moment, I unintentionally pulled the trigger and shot. Twenty-four hours later I learned that I was a murderer. When I was arrested I confessed for God knows I was sorry for the deed I had unintentionally committed.
DESERVED PUNISHMENT
"I do not now and never have felt that I should not be punished, but if murder in the first degree is willfully and knowingly injuring a fellowman to death, then I affirm that I do not deserve to die for the crime I acknowledge I committed.
"I naturally shrink from the death that faces me, but in the firm faith in Jesus Christ as my savior and advocate with God, who knows how sorry I have been for my sins as my judge I go to my death in the firm faith that I am a pardoned sinner saved by the grace of God. The tears I have shed have been secret before God. I deeply regret that there are those who, if a man in my condition weeps, will call him a coward, and if he does not, will call him unfeeling. I only plead for the truth. If there were more of the spirit of Jesus manifested, I know there would be less temptation for man to lead sinful lives.
"I regret ? my wife, with whom I have been so happy and who has been ? and loyal to me for I realized that upon her has fallen the burden of raising our children. I trust that no one will hold it against them that their father died as I die.
"I die blaming no one for doing what he believes to be his duty. I know that I am at peace with God and man.
"Signed this 6th day of September,
A. D. 1923.
(Signed) W. C. Olander"
William was executed in Ft. Madison, Iowa, for the murder of Berthold Halfpap, who is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Fort Dodge. For an account of this murder from the Oakland Cemetery Walk, copy and paste this link into your browser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqqyYOkiZ0I
William married Daisie Mary or Daisie Mable Bolsinger on October 16, 1915, in Forrest City, Winnebago County, Iowa. I believe that William and Daisy had three children: Duane, who would have been about six when his was father was executed; LeRoy, who would have been about four; and Margie, who would have been around two. If ancestry is leading me in the right direction, these three children were living with Daisy’s sister Emma and her husband Lewie Barth, in 1930, in Ellington, Hancock County, Iowa, and going by their last name of Barth. It also appears that they went by the last name of Barth for the rest of their lives. I can find nothing further on the fate of William’s wife Daisie.
-----------------------------------------
From “Ottumwa Courier,” September 8, 1923:
OLANDER RITES SUNDAY AT 3:30
PUBLIC SERVICE IS AT THAT HOUR IN SHAUL CEMETERY; PRIVATE EARLIER.
William Olander, executed yesterday in the Ft. Madison prison for the murder of a Ft. Dodge grocer, will be buried here tomorrow. The body arrived overland late yesterday. The services at 2:30 o'clock at the Roscoe mortuary, 434 West Second, will be strictly private and no admission to the public. A. O. Smith of Ottumwa and James Erskine of Des Moines will be in charge. At 3:30 o’clock there will be a public service in Shaul cemetery and a large crowd is expected. Burial will take place there.
LAST STATEMENT
The complete statement of Olander, made before he went to the gallows, and the signed copy of which was given to A. O. Smith, 304 West Fourth street of this city, follows:
"I, William C. Olander, was born December 1, 1893 in Boone county, Iowa, and am sentenced to die at 6:30 a. m. September 7, 1923 at Fort Madison, Iowa.
"I was the oldest of three children. When I was four years of age my mother was left to support the three children and I always knew poverty. At the age of eleven I was hired to
a farmer who was to feed and clothe me and allow me to go to school. I got what was essential; no more, and allowed to attend school when there was no work that I could do. My life was hard and unpleasant. At the age of 15, when I left that place, I had about a second grade education.
"I was married when I was but eighteen. After marriage I decided that I needed more education and so took a correspondence course. What education I have, I obtained thus.
"I was a soldier in the World war, serving about one year. When I returned I had a little money and my job was gone. I sought work for I was never lazy, but could not get work of any kind to do. My wife and children were in want; they faced cold and hunger. In this condition I was tempted to obtain, in an illegal way, the means I had sought to obtain in an honorable way, but in vain.
"In company with my companions, I sought to obtain money by burglary. When our plans did not work out, we fled and attempted to escape. In the excitement of the moment, I unintentionally pulled the trigger and shot. Twenty-four hours later I learned that I was a murderer. When I was arrested I confessed for God knows I was sorry for the deed I had unintentionally committed.
DESERVED PUNISHMENT
"I do not now and never have felt that I should not be punished, but if murder in the first degree is willfully and knowingly injuring a fellowman to death, then I affirm that I do not deserve to die for the crime I acknowledge I committed.
"I naturally shrink from the death that faces me, but in the firm faith in Jesus Christ as my savior and advocate with God, who knows how sorry I have been for my sins as my judge I go to my death in the firm faith that I am a pardoned sinner saved by the grace of God. The tears I have shed have been secret before God. I deeply regret that there are those who, if a man in my condition weeps, will call him a coward, and if he does not, will call him unfeeling. I only plead for the truth. If there were more of the spirit of Jesus manifested, I know there would be less temptation for man to lead sinful lives.
"I regret ? my wife, with whom I have been so happy and who has been ? and loyal to me for I realized that upon her has fallen the burden of raising our children. I trust that no one will hold it against them that their father died as I die.
"I die blaming no one for doing what he believes to be his duty. I know that I am at peace with God and man.
"Signed this 6th day of September,
A. D. 1923.
(Signed) W. C. Olander"
Please Note: There is no gravestone in the cemetery for William.
William was executed in Ft. Madison, Iowa, for the murder of Berthold Halfpap, who is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Fort Dodge. For an account of this murder from the Oakland Cemetery Walk, copy and paste this link into your browser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqqyYOkiZ0I
William married Daisie Mary or Daisie Mable Bolsinger on October 16, 1915, in Forrest City, Winnebago County, Iowa. I believe that William and Daisy had three children: Duane, who would have been about six when his was father was executed; LeRoy, who would have been about four; and Margie, who would have been around two. If ancestry is leading me in the right direction, these three children were living with Daisy’s sister Emma and her husband Lewie Barth, in 1930, in Ellington, Hancock County, Iowa, and going by their last name of Barth. It also appears that they went by the last name of Barth for the rest of their lives. I can find nothing further on the fate of William’s wife Daisie.
-----------------------------------------
From “Ottumwa Courier,” September 8, 1923:
OLANDER RITES SUNDAY AT 3:30
PUBLIC SERVICE IS AT THAT HOUR IN SHAUL CEMETERY; PRIVATE EARLIER.
William Olander, executed yesterday in the Ft. Madison prison for the murder of a Ft. Dodge grocer, will be buried here tomorrow. The body arrived overland late yesterday. The services at 2:30 o'clock at the Roscoe mortuary, 434 West Second, will be strictly private and no admission to the public. A. O. Smith of Ottumwa and James Erskine of Des Moines will be in charge. At 3:30 o’clock there will be a public service in Shaul cemetery and a large crowd is expected. Burial will take place there.
LAST STATEMENT
The complete statement of Olander, made before he went to the gallows, and the signed copy of which was given to A. O. Smith, 304 West Fourth street of this city, follows:
"I, William C. Olander, was born December 1, 1893 in Boone county, Iowa, and am sentenced to die at 6:30 a. m. September 7, 1923 at Fort Madison, Iowa.
"I was the oldest of three children. When I was four years of age my mother was left to support the three children and I always knew poverty. At the age of eleven I was hired to
a farmer who was to feed and clothe me and allow me to go to school. I got what was essential; no more, and allowed to attend school when there was no work that I could do. My life was hard and unpleasant. At the age of 15, when I left that place, I had about a second grade education.
"I was married when I was but eighteen. After marriage I decided that I needed more education and so took a correspondence course. What education I have, I obtained thus.
"I was a soldier in the World war, serving about one year. When I returned I had a little money and my job was gone. I sought work for I was never lazy, but could not get work of any kind to do. My wife and children were in want; they faced cold and hunger. In this condition I was tempted to obtain, in an illegal way, the means I had sought to obtain in an honorable way, but in vain.
"In company with my companions, I sought to obtain money by burglary. When our plans did not work out, we fled and attempted to escape. In the excitement of the moment, I unintentionally pulled the trigger and shot. Twenty-four hours later I learned that I was a murderer. When I was arrested I confessed for God knows I was sorry for the deed I had unintentionally committed.
DESERVED PUNISHMENT
"I do not now and never have felt that I should not be punished, but if murder in the first degree is willfully and knowingly injuring a fellowman to death, then I affirm that I do not deserve to die for the crime I acknowledge I committed.
"I naturally shrink from the death that faces me, but in the firm faith in Jesus Christ as my savior and advocate with God, who knows how sorry I have been for my sins as my judge I go to my death in the firm faith that I am a pardoned sinner saved by the grace of God. The tears I have shed have been secret before God. I deeply regret that there are those who, if a man in my condition weeps, will call him a coward, and if he does not, will call him unfeeling. I only plead for the truth. If there were more of the spirit of Jesus manifested, I know there would be less temptation for man to lead sinful lives.
"I regret ? my wife, with whom I have been so happy and who has been ? and loyal to me for I realized that upon her has fallen the burden of raising our children. I trust that no one will hold it against them that their father died as I die.
"I die blaming no one for doing what he believes to be his duty. I know that I am at peace with God and man.
"Signed this 6th day of September,
A. D. 1923.
(Signed) W. C. Olander"
William was executed in Ft. Madison, Iowa, for the murder of Berthold Halfpap, who is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Fort Dodge. For an account of this murder from the Oakland Cemetery Walk, copy and paste this link into your browser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqqyYOkiZ0I
William married Daisie Mary or Daisie Mable Bolsinger on October 16, 1915, in Forrest City, Winnebago County, Iowa. I believe that William and Daisy had three children: Duane, who would have been about six when his was father was executed; LeRoy, who would have been about four; and Margie, who would have been around two. If ancestry is leading me in the right direction, these three children were living with Daisy’s sister Emma and her husband Lewie Barth, in 1930, in Ellington, Hancock County, Iowa, and going by their last name of Barth. It also appears that they went by the last name of Barth for the rest of their lives. I can find nothing further on the fate of William’s wife Daisie.
-----------------------------------------
From “Ottumwa Courier,” September 8, 1923:
OLANDER RITES SUNDAY AT 3:30
PUBLIC SERVICE IS AT THAT HOUR IN SHAUL CEMETERY; PRIVATE EARLIER.
William Olander, executed yesterday in the Ft. Madison prison for the murder of a Ft. Dodge grocer, will be buried here tomorrow. The body arrived overland late yesterday. The services at 2:30 o'clock at the Roscoe mortuary, 434 West Second, will be strictly private and no admission to the public. A. O. Smith of Ottumwa and James Erskine of Des Moines will be in charge. At 3:30 o’clock there will be a public service in Shaul cemetery and a large crowd is expected. Burial will take place there.
LAST STATEMENT
The complete statement of Olander, made before he went to the gallows, and the signed copy of which was given to A. O. Smith, 304 West Fourth street of this city, follows:
"I, William C. Olander, was born December 1, 1893 in Boone county, Iowa, and am sentenced to die at 6:30 a. m. September 7, 1923 at Fort Madison, Iowa.
"I was the oldest of three children. When I was four years of age my mother was left to support the three children and I always knew poverty. At the age of eleven I was hired to
a farmer who was to feed and clothe me and allow me to go to school. I got what was essential; no more, and allowed to attend school when there was no work that I could do. My life was hard and unpleasant. At the age of 15, when I left that place, I had about a second grade education.
"I was married when I was but eighteen. After marriage I decided that I needed more education and so took a correspondence course. What education I have, I obtained thus.
"I was a soldier in the World war, serving about one year. When I returned I had a little money and my job was gone. I sought work for I was never lazy, but could not get work of any kind to do. My wife and children were in want; they faced cold and hunger. In this condition I was tempted to obtain, in an illegal way, the means I had sought to obtain in an honorable way, but in vain.
"In company with my companions, I sought to obtain money by burglary. When our plans did not work out, we fled and attempted to escape. In the excitement of the moment, I unintentionally pulled the trigger and shot. Twenty-four hours later I learned that I was a murderer. When I was arrested I confessed for God knows I was sorry for the deed I had unintentionally committed.
DESERVED PUNISHMENT
"I do not now and never have felt that I should not be punished, but if murder in the first degree is willfully and knowingly injuring a fellowman to death, then I affirm that I do not deserve to die for the crime I acknowledge I committed.
"I naturally shrink from the death that faces me, but in the firm faith in Jesus Christ as my savior and advocate with God, who knows how sorry I have been for my sins as my judge I go to my death in the firm faith that I am a pardoned sinner saved by the grace of God. The tears I have shed have been secret before God. I deeply regret that there are those who, if a man in my condition weeps, will call him a coward, and if he does not, will call him unfeeling. I only plead for the truth. If there were more of the spirit of Jesus manifested, I know there would be less temptation for man to lead sinful lives.
"I regret ? my wife, with whom I have been so happy and who has been ? and loyal to me for I realized that upon her has fallen the burden of raising our children. I trust that no one will hold it against them that their father died as I die.
"I die blaming no one for doing what he believes to be his duty. I know that I am at peace with God and man.
"Signed this 6th day of September,
A. D. 1923.
(Signed) W. C. Olander"
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