Sell oleo and go to jail

November 23, 10:07 AMMilwaukee History ExaminerEd Pahule

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Imagine being jailed for selling oleo-margarine. For many years, the Dairy State waged a war against Oleo-margarine (a butter substitute). It was illegal to sell it in Wisconsin.

The product was invented in 1869 and for nearly 100 years, Wisconsin waged its own war against it. The Oleo Wars, as they came to be known, were fought because it was feared Oleo would be sold as a butter substitute and laws were passed to protect the public from such duplicity. Although there were no shots fired, there were casualties of a sort.

One shocking example came on November 23, 1909 when A.E. Graham was tried in a federal court for selling oleo-margarine as butter. Two months later on January 29, 1910 the Janesville man was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months at Fort Leavenworth Prison. At the time a maximum security federal prison that has held some of America's most dangerous prisoners, including Chicago gangster Bugs Malone, gangster "Machine Gun" Kelly, and serial killer Carl Panzram.

Hard time for selling oleo and labeling it butter. Wisconsin took it's butter seriously.

          Questions, comments, or suggestions: Contact Ed at milwaukeehistory@gmail.com.