Genesee County MI Archives Biographies.....Olmstead, Amos D. 1841 - 
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Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

AMOS D. OLMSTEAD. One of the veterans of the late war whose devotion to the
cause has cost him many an hour of pain and illness during the years that have
passed since that struggle, is he whose name is above. He is a farmer, located
on section 30, Mt. Morris Township, Genesee County, where he has eighty-four
acres of land which is excellently improved. He was born in Buffalo, N. Y.,
April 27, 1841, and is a son of Maj. Daniel and Jane A. (Kidder) Olmstead. The
former was a native of Ithaca, N. Y., and was born March 16, 1810. He was a
hatter by trade, and was employed in the manufacture of hats in Buffalo until
1846, when he purchased a farm in Niagara County, N. Y., and was engaged in
improving the same until the breaking out of the Civil War. At the first tap of
the drum he enlisted in Capt. Mapes' Company, known as the Twenty-eighth New
York Infantry, serving as a fifer.

  Our subject's father was in many engagements —at Winchester, Rappahannock,
Antietam and Cedar Mountain. He was promoted to be Fife Major and re-enlisted in
the United States Navy, serving in all four and a half years. In the fall of
1865 he came to Flint, whither his wife and our subject had preceded him, and
here he engaged in gardening until his death, which occurred December 6, 1879.

  Our subject's mother was a well-educated woman of large business ability. She
died April 4, 1888, in Flint. She belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church,
but was at heart a Seventh Day Adventist. She was the mother of seven children,
four of whom lived to be grown. Her children are named as follows; Louisa J.,
Horatio G., Charles H., all of whom died when young; Amos D., our subject;
William H., Melvine and Lydia. After a brilliant service in the war, William H.
came to Michigan, and in company with a brother in-law, Mr. Thomas, started a
business college in Flint, known as the Thomas & Olmstead National Business
College. The brother died April 6, 1871; Melvine, Mrs. Thomas, died in Colorado,
November 20, 1887; Lydia, Mrs. Springer, is now a resident of Alamosa, Col.

  Mr. Amos Olmstead was reared in Buffalo until five years of age, and then was
on his father's farm. He attended the district school when a lad, but was early
set to work and kept busy both summer and winter. When sixteen years of age he
assumed charge of the farm in Pekin, which comprised ninety-six acres, and then
January 1, 1863, was married in Cambria, to Miss Nancy B. Cottington, a daughter
of Adam Cottington. Mrs. Olmstead's maternal grandsire, Isaac Burgess, a New
Englander, was an old Revolutionary soldier, who died at the age of one hundred
years. Her mother still lives and resides on the old place.

  Five months after marriage, July 17, 1863, Mr. Olmstead was mustered into
Company G, Ninety-seventh New York Infantry. He served in the following battles:
Raccoon Ford, the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania Court House, North Ann
River, Bethesda Church, White Oak Swamp and Petersburg, conducting himself as a
soldier most valiantly in every engagement. After the siege of Petersburg he was
taken sick while on detailed duty and was sent to his regiment and was exchanged
from one department to another until he reached the Armory Square Hospital in
Washington. He had written to his mother to try to secure a discharge for
himself, his father and brother, and she came heroically to Washington, where
with some difficulty she obtained an interview with President Lincoln, and was
successful in getting her wish granted. Our subject was on his way back to join
his regiment when the order arrived for his discharge.

  The original of our sketch returned immediately to his home and as soon as
able made preparations to come to Michigan, sold the farm for his mother and
arrived in Flint, March 13, 1865, He located at once upon the farm, which a few
years later he purchased from his mother. Since that time he has made valuable
improvements, and has built a very attractive residence, a good barn, and made
other changes. He is the father of four children: Frances died at the age of
three years; Nettie lives at home; Belle is Mrs. Twitchell, of Flint; and Harry
is a graduate of the Flint Commercial College of 1891, and is now located at
Jackson.

  Our subject has been School Director for three years, and was School Treasurer
for several terms. Socially he is a member of Ransom Post, No. 89, G. A. R., and
has attended the National Encampment at Columbus, Boston and Detroit. Both
himself and wife are members of the Grange at Flushing, and Mrs. Olmstead, who
is a lady of marked attractions, is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan,
Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens,
Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of the 
Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892

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