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(4982) SILAS OLMSTED, Jr., Galesburg, Ill. b. on Ward's Island, East River, New York, Aug. 20, 1814; d. at Galesburg, Ill., where he lies buried, Apr. 29, 1884; m. at Geneseo, Ill., Sept. 1, 1842, Emily Ward; b. at Stone Church, Genesee County, N. Y., Nov. 10, 1825; dau. of Abner and Huldah (Sykes) Ward.
Mr. Olmsted was one of the pioneer settlers of Illinois. He started for the West from New York City for the first time in August, 1835, and was, at different times, a Miller and a Merchant. He was extremely fond of music and, when a young man, belonged to the Handel and Haydn Society, of New York City. He played both the flute and the cello, and for a long time was first tenor of the choir of the Congregational Church (First Church of Christ) of Galesburg, of which he was a member. He was a man of a deeply religious nature, of medium height, thick set, with hazel eyes and dark hair.
Mrs. Emily (Ward) Olmsted started from Bergen, N. Y., about the middle of April, 1837, for Illinois, incompany with, and under the guardianship of Mr. John C. Ward; b. Sept. 6, 1800; d. June 18, 1868, and his wife Mary (Kellogg) Ward; b. Apr. 17, 1808; d. Jan. 21, 1892; friends, neighbors and third cousins of her fathers. She was accompanied also by her elder brother, Henry Joy Ward. The journey was made in a covered wagon, and it was about the first of June, when they reached their destination, Geneseo, Henry County, Ill. Here it was that she met Silas Olmsted, Jr., whom she married.
They settled near Monmouth, Ill., where he had a flour mill. Here they lived until after the birth of three daughters, then moved to Galesburg, where their fourth child, a son, was born. Emily Ward Olmsted was for some twenty years the leading soprano in the "First Church" choir, to which church she also belonged. She was somewhat below middle height, with blue eyes and dark hair.
6375, Ophella +,
6376, Flora Emma; b. at "Olmsted's Mill," near Monmouth, Ill., Apr. 25, 1847; m. Sept. 1, 1866, at Galesburg, Ill., John Thomas Avery; b. Dec. 25, 1841; d. Aug. 11, 1905; son of George and Seraphina Princess Mary (Phelps) Avery. They have no children of their own, but on May 7, 1892, they adopted Estelle (Johnson) called "Avery"; b. Aug. 14, 1888. They are members of the Congregational Church.
6377, Ella Adele +.
6378, Everett Ward +.
