Mr Ole Martin Olsen

Who was Ole Martin Olsen?

Ole Martin Olsen was a 27 (twenty-seven) year-old American third-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on February 17, 1885, in Homer Township, Langford, South Dakota, Olsen was a general laborer who had recently visited family in Norway before embarking on his fateful journey back to the United States.

Early Life and Background

A South Dakota Upbringing

Ole Martin Olsen was born into a Norwegian-American family, the eldest of nine children. His parents, Ole Andreas and Anna Jacobsdatter, had immigrated to the United States from Norway in 1883, shortly after their marriage. Olsen was christened on March 29, 1885, at Brule Creek Lutheran Church in Elk Point, South Dakota.

Family Roots

Olsen’s family tree included:

Father: Ole Andreas (born September 5, 1846, died 1926)
Mother: Anna Jacobsdatter (born August 10, 1862, in Etne, Hordaland)
Siblings:
- Anna Julia (born September 28, 1886)
- Joseph (born June 1888)
- Martha Olena (born May 18, 1890)
- Serena (born January 1, 1893)
- Severen (born May 23, 1895)
- Engebert Christian (born November 9, 1898)
- Ander “Andrew” Ovid (born October 8, 1900)
- Myrtle Serine (born January 10, 1905)

Life Before the Titanic

Where did Ole Martin Olsen settle as an adult?

As an adult, Ole Martin Olsen moved northward to establish a homestead in Broderick, Saskatchewan. This location was approximately 60 miles south of the province’s capital, Saskatoon, and just east of the Saskatchewan River. When not engaged in fieldwork, Olsen would assist with operations at the local grain elevator in Broderick.

Winter Traditions and the 1911 Exception

Typically, following the harvest season, Olsen would spend the winter months with his family in Langford, South Dakota. However, the winter of 1911 marked a departure from this tradition. Olsen decided to visit his grandmother, Anna Johannesen Birkenes, and other relatives in the Sunnhordland region of Norway.

The Titanic Journey

Embarking on a Fateful Voyage

After his visit to Skjarsvik, Sønhordaland, Norway, Ole Martin Olsen began his journey back to his home in Langford, South Dakota. He boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger, holding ticket number 265302.

Ticket Details

Detail	Information
Class	3rd Class
Ticket Number	265302
Fare	£7 6s 3d

Olsen’s intention was to return to Canada in time for spring plowing in April. Little did he know that this journey would be his last.

Fate During the Disaster

What happened to Ole Martin Olsen on the night of April 14, 1912?

Ole Martin Olsen, like many other third-class passengers, did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. He perished in the early hours of April 15, 1912, at the young age of 27 (twenty-seven). His body, if recovered, was never identified.

Legacy and Remembrance

While Ole Martin Olsen’s life was cut tragically short, his story serves as a poignant reminder of the many lives affected by the Titanic disaster. As one of the numerous victims of this historic tragedy, Olsen’s tale contributes to the larger narrative of immigration, hope, and unforeseen fate that characterizes the Titanic’s legacy.

“He died in the sinking and his body, if recovered was never identified.” - Encyclopedia Titanica

Olsen’s story, though brief, encapsulates the dreams and aspirations of many young immigrants of his time. His journey from South Dakota to Saskatchewan, his winter visit to his ancestral homeland, and his final voyage on the Titanic paint a picture of a life full of movement and potential, abruptly halted by one of history’s most famous maritime disasters.