Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889 [page 591-592] O. R. OLMSTEAD, a retired boot and shoe dealer of Cherokee, Iowa, was born in Bethany, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, December 4, 1830, and is the son of RAYMOND and JOANNA (JACK) OLMSTEAD. The father was a shoemaker by trade. Our subject's ancestors on his father's side were of English descent. He was reared in the town of his nativity, receiving a common-school education. At the age of thirteen years he commenced to learn the shoemaker's trade of his grandfather, remaining with him until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1854 he went to Grant County, Wisconsin, where he worked at farming until 1863. He then removed to the beautiful town of Boscoebel, Wisconsin, where he again resumed his trade, at which he continued until 1876, when he removed to Cherokee, Iowa, and purchased the boot and shoe stock owned by DAVIS BATES, after he had worked at the bench six months. He continued in the boot and shoe trade until 1887, when he sold his stock to Mr. BATES, of whom he had originally purchased it. Mr. OLMSTEAD was married in 1853, to SUSAN B. SIMPSON, a native of Wayne County, Pennsyl- vania, and daughter of JOHN SIMPSON, Esq. Three children have been born to these estimable parents: RAYMOND, a resident of Grant County, Wisconsin; MINNIE M., wife of EUGENE HODGINS, and AGNES M. I n poli- tics Mr. OLMSTEAD is counted with the Republicans. In his business career he has been prudent and thorough, and is now comfortably situated, owning a pretty home near the Congregational Church in Cherokee. ===========================================================================