When Jakob Olin was born on 30 October 1853, in Oravainen, Vaasa, Finland, his father, Johan Olin, was 29 and his mother, Lotta Johansdotter Lillbars, was 25. He married Fredrika Olin Knuters on 7 June 1887, in Oravainen, Vaasa, Finland. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 5 daughters. He died on 7 April 1932, at the age of 78.