My Genealogy Hound

RICHARD M. OLMSTED has served for years as a member of the Sedalia Central Democratic Committee from the Third Ward. In 1886 he was elected to serve as an Alderman from the same ward, and was Chairman of the Streets and Alleys and Cemetery Committees. After an interval of a year he was re-elected for another two-years term, and was Chairman of the Committees on Streets and Alleys and Sewers. For two years he was out of office, but in 1893 was once more elected, and is now Chairman of the Sanitary and Printing Committees, and is also a member of the one on streets and alleys. He was among the very first to advocate street pavement, and can always be found on the side of progress. In 1882 he started in business as a liveryman, being a pioneer in this line, and has also been much interested in real estate transactions.

At an early day the paternal grandfather brought his family as far West as Jersey County, Ill., from New York State. His son Richard, father of our subject, was a native of the Empire State, and in his early manhood operated a farm near Jerseyville, Ill., where he died when only twenty-eight years of age. His wife, who was a Miss Louisa Crab, afterward became the wife of P. S. Prentice. She was born in Knoxville, Tenn., and is a daughter of Joseph B. Crab, an early settler in Jersey County, Ill. He took part in the Black Hawk and Mexican Wars, and in 1853 went overland to Oregon, dying soon after his arrival there. Mrs. Prentice resided in Jersey County until 1864, when she located in Macoupin County. After being a resident of Litchfield, Ill., about ten years she came to Sedalia, where she is now living, having reached her seventy-seventh year. She is a faithful and zealous member of the Baptist Church. Of the four children by her first marriage, only two are living, our subject and S. H. The latter, who was in the Civil War, lives in Sedalia. By her marriage with Mr. Prentice she had four children.

R. M. Olmsted was born in Jersey County, Ill., April 27, 1848, and received a district-school education. In 1864 he moved with his mother to Macoupin County, and a year later to Litchfield. His first employment was as a teamster, after which he entered the service of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad as a brakeman, and was later promoted to be yardmaster. In 1871 he moved to the vicinity of Versailles, Mo., where he was engaged in farming about two years. In 1873 he located in Sedalia and engaged in the teaming business for some seven years, gradually drifting into his present occupation. His livery barn at No. 313 Hancock Avenue is 45x90 feet in dimensions, and affords room for thirty horses.

In connection with his other business Mr. Olmsted is the manager of a transfer line. From time to time he has invested in real estate and owns seven residences, besides farm lands.

In 1875 occurred the first marriage of Mr. Olmsted, the lady of his choice being Miss M. Bowlin, of that city. Her death occurred in Sedalia, at which time she left two sons and a daughter, namely: Henry W., Bessie P. and Frederick. In 1887 our subject married Eudora Marvin, a native of this city. Mr. Olmsted is a member of Equity Lodge No. 26, A. O. U. W., belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, and is also connected with the Woodmen of the World.