Robert Harvey Olmstead (1848 - 1906)

Ancestors Descendants

Biography

Robert Harvey Olmstead was born February 26, 1848 in Harmony, Chautauqua County, New York. He was the son of Harvey and Wealthy (Lytle) Olmstead. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

In 1860, Robert was with his widowed mother, Wealthy, in Cambridge, Illinois. ^[4]

Giving his age as 18, Robert was only 14 when he enlisted in the Army on August 15, 1862 in Cambridge, where he was living at the time. He was described as a farmer, 5’-4” tall with brown hair, light eyes and a light complexion. He was mustered in as a Private with Company H, 112th Illinois Volunteer Infantry at Peoria on September 20, 1862. The regiment fought tough battles, especially in Tennessee. He was mustered out on May 11, 1865 at Lexington, Kentucky, making one believe he was either wounded or sick, when his regiment went on to North Carolina where they were mustered out on June 20, 1865 in Greensboro. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

On April 12, 1868, Robert married Mary L. Case in Champaign, Illinois. ^[8]

They settled in Champaign, where he worked as a clerk for the railroad. In 1900 they were listed on N. Sixth Street in Champaign, Illinois. ^[9]

They had twelve children, eight living at his death. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

1. George Harvey, 17 Nov 1868
2. Murray, 1871 died young
3. Mabel, 1873
4. Olive “Ollie” (Mrs. F. C. Spelman) 1875
5. Erma (Mrs. John W. Plotner) 1878
6. Wealthy “Goldia” (Mrs. Wm. R. Brower) 21 Jun 1879
7. Robert R., born 13 Dec 1880
8. Male 23 Oct 1882 – died young
9. Muriel V. 18 Jul 1884
10. James “Jamie” Lytle 4 Feb 1887
11. Wilbur 27 Feb 1888 - died 2 Jul 1899
12. Mary Laura 1891-1891

On May 4, 1891, Robert filed for a Pension. Then on May 23, 1902 he was admitted to the Disabled Soldiers home in Danville, Illinois, suffering from Rheumatism. He was described as a Clerk, age 54, 5’-4” tall with blue eyes, gray hair and a light complexion. He was discharged on April 24, 1903. ^{[13] [14]}

Robert H. Olmstead died November 6, 1906 in Champaign, Illinois. He is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery and Mausoleum, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois. ^{[15] [16] [17]}

Sources

1. ↑ Olmste(a)d files of Walt Steesy
2. ↑ Birth date: on obituary.
3. ↑ U. S. Federal Census: 1850, Harmony, Chautauqua County, New York.
4. ↑ U. S. Federal Census: 1860, Cambridge, Henry County, Illinois.
5. ↑ U. S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865; online database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Provo, UT.
6. ↑ Illinois, U.S., Databases of Illinois Veterans Index, 1775-1995; at Ancestry.com.
7. ↑ History of the 112th Illinois.
8. ↑ Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940; database with images, FamilySearch, Robert H Olmstead and Mary Case, 1868; citing Champaign, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 338,046.
9. ↑ U. S. Federal Census: 1900, Champaign Ward 1, Champaign, Illinois.
10. ↑ U. S. Federal Census: 1870, Champaign, Champaign, Illlinois.
11. ↑ U. S. Federal Census: 1880, Champaign, Champaign, Illlinois.
12. ↑ Sourced Family Tree; at familysearch.
13. ↑ U. S. Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934; online database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Provo, UT.
14. ↑ U.S., National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938; Danville; online database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Provo, UT.
15. ↑ Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999; database, FamilySearch, R. H. Olmstead, 1906.
16. ↑ Illinois Soldier Burial Places, 1774-1974; database, FamilySearch, R H Olmstead; citing Burial, Urbana, Champaign, Illinois, United States, Mt Hope Cemetery, Illinois State Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,001,196.
17. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #90803695

Acknowledgment

Thanks for Dee (Olmsted) Poole for researching and writing the biography.