Henry S. Olin, oldest child of Schuyler and Orra Messenger Olin, was born in Lincklaen, Chenango county, N. Y., July 12, 1829, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. A. Langworthy, in Dodge Center, Minn., June 20, 1907.
He often spoke of his happy childhood home, where loving parents taught their children the Word of God, prayed and sang praises to Him. His beloved mother was called from earth when he was about twenty years old, but to the last days of his life, he spoke of her with peculiar affection and tenderness. November 20, 1856, he was married to Annie P. Crandall, of DeRuyter, N. Y. The following June, he settled in Freeborn county, with several other families from the east, where, after a short time, the Seventh-day Baptist Church of Trenton was organized. He became a member of that church through the preaching of Elder A. B. Burdick, and being true and steadfast, was a great help in the church, neighborhood, and surrounding country. In those days, neighborhoods were large and settlers were not very numerous; but when a man went eighty miles “to mill” he would meet someone who could be benefitted by a good word from a hale and hearty, God-fearing man like Brother Olin. During the “Indian troubles,” although he lived near the scenes of massacre, he was not disturbed, although many Indians passed his beautiful home. In 1890, he moved to Dodge Center, transferring his membership to the church there, and serving his God faithfully till called to the Church Triumphant. In politics, he was a staunch prohibitionist. He loved all who tried to do the work of the Lord, whether they were of his own individual belief or not. “He was a friend of sinners,” as his Lord was, and a friend of the sad and forsaken. His home was a sort of refuge for homeless ones, a large number of whom were befriended by him, and helped by his advice and example. He had great faith in young people and children. He loved music and his neighbors often heard his clear, strong voice across the fields, as he sang while he followed the plow. Mr. Olin was left very lonely by the death of his wife, which occurred about eight years ago; but he drew near to God in his sorrow, and did not repine, though broken in health and failing in strength. His last illness was brief. His intellectual faculties remained clear and his faith and hope were bright until the end. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. E. Clarke and Rev. C. S. Sayre.
