Person:John Olmstead (23)

1826: Birth of John Adams Olmstead

1830s-1840s: Education and Apprenticeship

• 1833-1841 - per Dunshee ⁷, John attended the Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church school for 8 years, from 28 Oct 1833 until his graduation 27 Sep 1841. His brothers and sisters attended as well, but he was the only sibling who graduated.
• abt 1841: Apprenticeship - it is assumed that John began his apprenticeship after graduating from school.

1850s: Marriage

• 1852: Marriage - On 5 Nov 1852, John Adams Olmstead, age 25, married Catherine Elizabeth DeForest, age 15, daughter of William T and Matilda H DeForest of New York City. Her parents were native New Yorkers and her father worked as a butcher.

1860s-1880s: Career and Problems

• Occupation: Engraver and Silversmith
• Feb 1867 - arrested on a charge of counterfeiting⁸ ; held for 7 weeks
• Jul 1867 - patents Improved Boat and Trunk (US 67,342) [1]
• Nov 1868 - arrested for forging citizenship papers⁹
• 1872/73 - arrested and Imprisoned for counterfeiting railroad bonds along with George Vincent, Andy Roberts and Steve Raymond. [more info pending]
• 1874 - appears in Court
  • Note: during this trial, Daniel Watson (aka Dutch Dan) gave testimony that Louisa H Olmstead, the wife of notorious counterfeiter William E Brockway, was a sister of this John A Olmstead. [2] - I have investigated this and found no other evidence to support that relationship. To date, her parents are unknown. --cos1776 16:27, 21 June 2022 (UTC)
• 1876 - patents "Improvement in dies for cutting and embossing rubber" (US 172765 A) [3]
• 1877 - patents Rubber Overshoes (USD9847) - Illustrated Scientific News, 15 Feb 1878, p 32: A new idea in Rubber Overshoes is to form the shoe with a back leg extension of shield, extending up beyond the ankle, but open in front and fastened by strap and buckle at the ankle and leg. John A. Olmstead, of Port Richmond, is the patentee.
  • Note: he later signs over one-half of his rights to Christopher Meyer, of New York. (US 198,901)
• 1883 - patents "Art of making rubber shoes and boots" (US 272308 A)[4]

Death of John Adams Olmstead

• According to his death notice ¹⁰, John Adams Olmstead died 11 Jul 1897 at his home in Graniteville, Staten Island, New York.
• On 19 Jul 1897, widow Catherine Olmstead appears in Richmond County court to prove her husband's will which is dated 06 Jul 1897.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 9967 and 9968, in Olmsted, Henry King (1824-1896), and George Kemp Ward (1848-1937). Genealogy of the Olmsted Family in America: Embracing the Descendants of James and Richard Olmstead and Covering a Period of Nearly Three Centuries, 1632-1912. (New York: A. T. DeLaMare, 1912)
   424 .

   (9968) JOHN ADAMS OLMSTED, b. Dec. 21, 1826; m. Nov. 1, 1852 Catherine Elizabeth De Forest.
   -----
   [NOTE OF CAUTION: Supposedly this information was given to the compiler by Mrs. Mary Ann Olmstead before her death in 1887. Based on family research done since the 1912 publication of this book, it has become evident that some of the information is incorrect. For example, in the second entry for John Adams Olmstead, he is mislabeled with the 9968 number of his brother, James.]

2. ↑ United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432).

   [Q: Where is John? He is not found in the household of his widowed mother in 1850.]

3. ↑ Kings, New York, United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Year: 1860; Census Place: Brooklyn Ward 11 District 2, Kings, New York; Roll: M653_770; Page: 382; Image: 382; Family History Library Film: 803770.
   -----
   Name: John A Olmstead
   Age in 1860: 39
   Birth Year: abt 1821
   Birthplace: New York
   Home in 1860: Brooklyn Ward 11 District 2, Kings, New York
   Gender: Male
   Post Office: Brooklyn
   Occupation: Engraver
   
   Household Members: Name Age
   John H Olmstead 39
   Catherine Olmstead 24
   W Deforest Olmstead 6
   Theodore Olmstead 4
   James Olmstead 3
   Matilda H Deforest 42

4. ↑ Richmond, New York, United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Year: 1870; Census Place: Northfield, Richmond, New York; Roll: M593_1086; Page: 225A; Image: 459; Family History Library Film: 552585.
   -----
   Name: John A Olmstead
   Age in 1870: 45
   Birth Year: abt 1825
   Birthplace: New York
   Home in 1870: Northfield, Richmond, New York
   Race: White
   Gender: Male
   Post Office: New Springville
   
   Household Members: Name Age
   John A Olmstead 45
   Catherine E Olmstead 35
   Theodorus Olmstead 12
   W Deforest Olmstead 14
   James G Olmstead 10
   George W Olmstead 8
   Gertrude Olmstead 1

5. ↑ Richmond, New York, United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Year: 1880; Census Place: Staten Island, Richmond, New York; Roll: 923; Family History Film: 1254923; Page: 230C; Enumeration District: 304; Image: 0465.
   -----
   Name: I. A. Olmsted
   Age: 48
   Birth Year: abt 1832
   Birthplace: New York
   Home in 1880: Staten Island, Richmond, New York
   Race: White
   Gender: Male
   Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
   Marital Status: Married
   Spouse's Name: Cathrine E. Olmsted
   Father's Birthplace: New York
   Mother's Birthplace: New York
   Occupation: Engraver
   
   Household Members: Name Age
   J. A. Olmsted 48
   Cathrine E. Olmsted 44
   James G. Olmsted 21
   George W. Olmsted 19
   H. May Olmsted 9

6. ↑ New York, New York, United States. 1840 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Source Citation: Year: 1840; Census Place: New York Ward 14, New York, New York; Roll: 307; Page: 414; Image: 839; Family History Library Film: 0017197.
   -----
   Name: Lewis Olarsted [Lewis Olmstead] [Lewis Olmsted] Home in 1840 (City, County, State): New York Ward 14, New York, New York
   Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1 --- [Thos J, 2]
   Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1 --- [Geo Washington, 6]
   Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 2 --- [John Adams, 14, James, 13]
   Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1 --- [Lewis, Jr., 15]
   Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 1 --- [father Lewis]
   Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1 --- [Jane Eliza, 4]
   Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 1 --- [Anna Amanda, 8]
   Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1 --- [Mary Magdalena, 10]
   Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1 --- [mother Mary Ann]
   Persons Employed in Manufacture and Trade: 1 --- [father Lewis]
   Free White Persons - Under 20: 8
   Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2 --- [parents, Lewis and Mary Ann]
   Total Free White Persons: 10
   Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 10
   -----
   [Note: of course, the unnamed entries are just guesses, but it all fits]

7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Dunshee, Henry Webb. History of the school of the Collegiate Reformed Dutch Church in the city of New York, from 1633 to 1883: 2d ed., rev. and enl. by authority of consistory. (New York: Print of the Aldine Press, 1883).

   [CATALOGUE OF SCHOLARS-Continued.]
   Page / No. / Pupil / Age / Admitted / Withdrawn / Parent / Residence / Graduated
   146 / 1331 / Schiener, Lewis / 8 / Oct. 28, 1833 / Sept. 27, 1841 / Lewis Olmsted / 148 Elizabeth / ...
   146 / 1332 / Olmsted, James H / 5 / Oct. 28, 1833 / May 30, 1842 / Lewis / 148 Elizabeth / ...
   146 / 1333 / Olmsted, John / 7 / Oct. 28, 1833 / Nov. 25, 1833 / Lewis / 148 Elizabeth / Sept. 27, 1841
   
   147 / 1381 / Olmsted, Mary M / 4 / June 29, 1835 / Sept. 26, 1842 / Mary Ann / 148 Elizabeth / ...
   151 / 1505 / Olmsted, Ann Maria / 7 / Nov. 25, 1839 / Jan. 30, 1843 / Lewis / 148 Elizabeth / ...
   152 / 1554 / Olmsted, Jane E / 5 / Sept. 27, 1841 / Jan. 30, 1843 / Lewis / 79 Mercer / ...
   -----
   [cos1776 note: Information on siblings is provided for context.]

8. ↑ The Central Bond Forgeries, in The New York Times. (New York, New York)
   8, 17 Jun 1874.

   ... Robert Murray testified that he was a Deputy United States Marshall from 1861 to 1869, and that he arrested Olmstead, the engraver, on a charge of counterfeiting in connection with Nelse Stewart. The arrest was made in February, 1867, and Stewart was convicted in Brooklyn. On that occasion Olmstead was kept in custody for seven weeks. ...
   ... Davis stated that he was a professional burglar, and knew Olmstead for years. For three years, Olmstead was in the habit of hardening burglar's tools for him, and charged him at the rate of $2 for tempering a "drill." Mr. Purdy offered to show by the witness that Olmstead concocted a burglary which Davis carried out. He also offered to prove that Olmstead shared in the proceeds of the burglary. The evidence was offered to controvert the testimony of Olmstead, who said he never did any business except legitimate business. ...

9.   CHARGE OF FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATION, in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. (Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States)
   6 Nov 1868.

   COMMISSIONER'S COURT - COM. JONES
   CHARGE OF FRAUDULENT NATURALIZATION
   Yesterday afternoon a man named John Olmstead, doing business as a saddler at Port Richmond, S.I., was brought before Commissioner Jones, on a charge of having issued fraudulent naturalization papers. The warrant upon which he was arrested charges that he did falsely make and forge and cause and procure to be falsely made and forged, certain certificates or evidences of citizenship by which it was made to appear that Michal Horan, Patrick Horan and Thomas Prendelle, had been admitted to citizenship. Mr. Olmstead waived examination and was held to await the action of the Grand Jury giving bail to the amount of a $1,000 for his appearance. The complainant in the case is one Erasmus Sterling, also a resident of Staten Island, who sets forth in his affidavit that three men named above received three papers without ever having gone into any court.

10. ↑ Death Notice, in Daily Times (New Brunswick, New Jersey)
    8, 12 Jul 1897.

    JOHN OLMSTEAD DEAD- Well Known Here In Connection With the Rubber Business.
    John A. Olmstead, who is well known in this city and throughout the United States generally, from his connection with the rubber business, died in his 71st year, at Graniteville, S. I., yesterday. He was an engraver and patternmaker, his chief business being the engraving upon the rolls of the stamp which marks the name of the maker upon the bottom of the shoe. An interesting fact in the life of Mr. Olmstead is that, he was hired several years ago by several men whom he thought to be secret service officials. But instead they were a gang of counterfeiters, who proved to be very dangerous because of the skillful workmanship of Mr. Olmstead. The gang was caught and Mr. Olmstead had to stay in jail several days before his innocence could be established. The funeral will be held tomorrow morning at l1 o'clock from his late residence on Kruzer avenue, in Graniteville, S. I.

11. ↑ ^11.0 11.1 Richmond County, New York Will Book
    3 (1894-1897):408-410.

    06 Jul 1897 - John A Olmstead writes his will, naming only his wife Catherine Elizabeth Olmstead sole heir and executor. Witnesses: John Croak and William T Croak of Port Richmond, NY.
    19 Jul 1897 - widow Catherine appears in court to prove will