Olmsted, David, 1822-1861.

David Olmsted was born May 5, 1822 in Fairfax (Franklin County), Vermont. After living in the lead mining region near Potosi (Grant County), Wis. (1838-1840), he lived in Monona Township (Clayton County), Ia. (1840-1848), where he farmed, traded with the Winnebago Indians at Fort Atkinson, and was a delegate to the state constitutional convention (1846).

Following the 1848 removal of the Winnebago Indians to the Long Prairie reservation (Todd County, Minn.), Olmsted moved to Long Prairie, established a trading post, which he operated until 1853, and served as postmaster (1850-1853). He was a member of the council of the first territorial legislature (1849-1851) and was its first president. After relocating to St. Paul (1853), he published and edited the Minnesota Democrat newspaper (1853-1854) and served as the city's first mayor (1854-1855). Olmsted's last Minnesota residence was in Winona (1855-1857). Olmsted County was named in his honor (1855).

Due to poor health, Olmsted returned to Fairfax (1857), where he died on Feb. 2, 1861. He was married (1851) to [Parma?] Stevens of St. Albans, Vt. They had two children, David, Jr. and Alice.

From the description of David Olmsted papers, 1843-1860. (Minnesota Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 313848441