(4328) SILAS OLMSTED, b. at Norwalk, Conn., Dec. 5, 1780; d. at Tarrytown, N. Y., Feb. 7, 1874; m.
(1) abt. 1804, Mary Selleck, probably of Quaker descent; ...
(2) in Trinity Church, New York City, Aug. 31, 1808, Nancy Westervelt; ...
Silas Olmsted probably resided in Norwalk, Conn., until after 1805, for his first son, and only child by his first wife, was born in that city. He began life as a poor boy ; was a ship carpenter by trade, but soon abandoned that for the grocery business in New York City. By hard work, business sagacity and careful economy, he gained the then unusually large fortune of between a quarter and a half million dollars. As is so often the case, there was disagreement among the heirs, the will was contested, and when, after many years, the case was finally arbitrated, the lawyers had made their fortunes, and many of the heirs had lost theirs. Mr. Olmsted was a just man in his business dealings, giving good weight and measure, paying every cent that he owed, and exacting the same from others. For this reason, some thought him a hard man to deal with. He was not a demonstrative man, nor even affectionate, some thought, but he was always fond of children. He belonged to the Episcopal Church, as did his daughter Elizabeth. As a young man he was about five feet, eight inches in height, good-looking, with a clear blue eye, light hair, clear skin and red cheeks. As he grew older, his frame became heavy, though he was never corpulent. In 1848, he removed from New York City to Tarrytown, N. Y., where he spent the remainder of his life. ...
...Silas Olmsted was the first "Olmsted" in the New York City Directory.
