Was born June 19, 1803, in the town of Pittstown, Rensselaer county, New York, and afterwards settled in Monroe county. In the fall of 1831 he came from the town of Wheatland * in the latter county, and purchased the east half of the southeast quarter of section 36, in township 3 north, range 8 east, now called White Lake, Oakland. County, Michigan. He returned to New York, and in February, 1832, was married to Dyantha Spencer, who was born in 1813. In May, 1832, he came with his wife, his brother, James Olmsted, Jr., and two sisters to Michigan, and located on the land he had previously entered, where he built the first house in the township, also the first frame barn.

Mr. Olmsted's first wife became the mother of five children, and died February 9, 1840, at the age of twenty-seven. These children were as follows, viz.: James H., the first white child born in the township, his birth occurring February 20, 1833; died April 23, 1855. Elizabeth, born October 23, 1834; married to Norman Payne, of Commerce township, June 21, 1852. Ann R., born January 15, 1836; married February 2, 1861, to Ralph W. Hopkins ; now living at Oxbow. Mary Sophia, born March 22, 1837 ; married April 7, 1855, to Horatio Swan, of Birmingham ; now living with her second husband, Charles Stevens, at Fremont, Sanilac county, Michigan. Sarah Samantha, born July 31, 1838 ; married October 10, 1858, to Smith Cole, of White Lake ; died December 24, 1859. On the 3d day of November, 1843, Mr. Olmsted was married to Rachel Taylor, whose father, Thomas Taylor, came from Dutchess county, New York, in 1830-31, and settled in the township of Lyon. Mrs. Olmsted was born in Dutchess county. New York, and is now living with her husband, on section 1, in the town of Commerce, Oakland County, Michigan.

The issue of Mr. Olmsted's second marriage is a family of ten children, as follows : Dyantha L., born March 7, 1844; married February 22, 1865, to Smith Cole, after the death of his first wife (her half-sister), Samantha Olmsted ; died December 13, 1872. Adelia M., born February 25, 1845 ; married November 12, 1865, to Linus B. Hathaway, of Waterford, now living in that township. Harley Shepherd, born February 28, 1847 ; died March 14, 1849. Charlotte L., born December 14, 1848; died in March, 1854. Rosalia R., born March 28, 1852 ; died also in March, 1854. Eveline F., born April 17, 1854; married October 10, 1872, to Lorenzo N. Hathaway, of Pontiac ; now living at Oxbow. Charles H., born May 29, 1855. Charlotte R.. born March 25, 1858. Jennie A., born October 26, 1859. William H., born June 12, 1864.

Nine of Mr. Olmsted's children are living, as will be seen by referring to the record. Mr. Olmsted himself is seventy-four years of age, and still possessed of muih of the vigor of his youth. His prospects are promising for yet a long sojourn in the land to which he first came forty-six years ago (1831).