P. P. Olmsted, one of the first
settlers of Clayton County, was born in Farifax, Franklin
County, Vt., on the 27th day of March 1819, son of
Timothy Olmsted and Eunice, nee Page, the former a native
of Litchfield, Conn., born May 12, 1767, the latter of
New Hampshire, born in 1780. They were married in
Franklin County, Vt., in 1818. By this union there were
two children--Page P. and David. Mr. Olmsted was
previously married to Huldah Smith, by whom he had ten
children, one living--Isaac T., now of Fairfield,
Franklin County, Vt. Mr. Olmsted died in 1844, his wife
in 1865. The subject of this memoir was reared on farm
and received a common school education. In 1839 he left
his home in Vermont and came West, spending his first
winter in Prairie du Chien, and in the spring of 1840
came to Clayton County, and located in Monona Township on
what is known as the Cold Spring, in company with his
brother David, being the first settlers in the northern
portion of the county; at that time there was not a white
settler in Minnesota or north and west of this county.
They shortly afterward erected a cabin and broke the
first prairie in Monona Township. Remaining until the
following May they sold their original claim and located
where the village of Monona now stands. P. Page built a
cabin in the northwest quarter of section 13, his brother
David claiming the southeast quarter of section 11, where
he fenced and broke ten acres, being the first land
fenced in the township. P. Page sold his claim and
claimed the northeast quarter of section 13, making some
improvements. He afterward traded with his brother for
the southeast quarter of section 11, where he erected the
first frame house in Monona, it being the only one north
of Guttenberg. After making the trade he enterd into
partnership with C. B. Guy, building the first blacksmith
shop. Mr. Olmsted's house was long used for a hotel, it
being the only available place for people to stop. In
July, 1852, he moved to his present farm of 580 acres,
which he has under excellent improvement and valued at
$50 per acre. In December, 1843, he married Hannah Rowe,
a daughter of Frederick Rowe, of Moriah, N.Y., and widow
of Stanton Cumins, by whom she had two children, one
living--Bertha A., wife of Nathan Bowles. She was born
near Albany, N.Y., Oct. 27, 1814. By this union there
were eight children, six living--Irving D.; Clara, now
the wife of Harry S. Curtis; Esther, now Mrs. Melvin
Davis; Parma, wife of Henry S. Wilson; Phineas P., and
Sarah, wife of Frank Gilbert. Mr. Olmsted has held
several local offices of trust, was Supervisor for twenty
years, and in 1866 was elected to the State Legislature,
where he represented his district with honor. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1055-1056 |
