IAGenWeb Project - Clayton co.


P.P. Olmsted
Monona Twp.

P.P. Olmsted   Click to enlarge!!

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
Transcribed by Sally Scarff and Marlene Chaney

 

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