Martinus Olesen was born on July 17, 1858, in Klitten, Asdal, Hjorring, Denmark. His parents were Ole and Else Marie Pedersdatter Kristensen. He was Christened in the Asdal Kirke, on November 14, 1858; #7434047 sh76, and confirmed there in 1872.

Martinus was child #9 in a family of 12 children. He had two older brothers and one younger brother; six older sisters and two younger sisters. All of the children except two sisters, immigrated to America.

Martinus came to America at age 20. He is found in the 1880 U.S. Census, living with his brother Christian Olsen in Spring Creek Precinct, Nuckolls County, Nebraska. He returned to Denmark in 1886, where he met Caroline Jensen whom, in 1886, he married in Warwick, Kansas, USA, (just south of Nuckolls County, NE). They spent several years in Golden, CO, where Martin worked on the railroad and then they moved to Reardon, Washington, where he was in the mercantile business for 13 o 14 years. In 1889, Caroline's sister, Margaret, had a child out of wedlock. A few years later, Caroline's mother, Ane Cathrine Sorensdatter Damsguard (name of farm where she was born) brought the young boy, Karl Andreas E. Jensen (born March 20, 1889) to Caroline and Martinus. They adopted Karl and his name changed to Klitten. In 1898, Martinus Klitten founded the Reardon Exchange Bank, but sold it in 1901 and moved to Spokane, Washington. In 1903 they moved to Kennewick, Washington. He founded the American Securities Bank, in Kennewick, WA. In 1904 they moved to Los Angeles, where their son Carl was attending USC. In 1908 they moved back to Kennewick and were involved in various businesses. They moved back to Los Angeles about 1910-1916, and then returned to Kennewick again in 1916.

The 1910 Census of Kennewick, Benton Co, WA (pg 292) lists:
Klitten M O Head 51 Own Income
Klitten Caroline wife 46 No business
Damsgaard Anna Katrina m-in-law 76 widow

His son, Karl A. E. Klitten, age 23, is also on the WA state 1910 Census with his wife Edna Georgia, age 20 and son, Martin Linwood Klitten, age 12 mo.

Martinus was a member of the Masonic order and Shrine.

The Washington State Board of Health, Bureau of vital Statistics, Certificate of Death Place of death, Kennewick, Benton co, Washington, record 19, registered no. 390. Died age 65, in U.S. 49 years.