lumberman, merchant, b. Bavaria, Germany. He migrated with his parents to the U.S. and to Wisconsin in 1845, settling in Washington County. In 1852 he moved to Milwaukee, and in 1872 to Wausau, where he engaged in the lumber and mercantile business. Known as the founder of Tomahawk, Oelhafen settled there in 1887, erected the first house and general store; he operated the store as John Oelhafen Co. until his retirement in 1914. He was the owner of extensive timber lands in northern Wisconsin and was a director of the Bradley State Bank of Tomahawk. E. B. Usher, Wis. (8 vols., Chicago, 1914); G. O. Jones, et al., comps., Hist. of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Cos. (2 vols., Minneapolis, 1924); WPA field notes.

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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]