Oliver Olmstead is a native of Canada, and was born in 1816. He came to the State of Illinois in 1836, and first located in Plainfield, Dupage county, but remained on a year, and in 1837 came to Prophetetown. During that year he married Miss Electa Hunt, and the young couple passed their honeymoon in a small cabin in Eight Mile Grove, rudely constructed of logs, with puncheon floor, mud fire-place and chimney, and minus a window.
Their provisions were corn bread and frozen pork and potatoes, and at night the cabin was filled with a pretty rough-looking set of wood-choppers. The place was then in reality a howling wilderness, the fierce, cold winds finding their way into the cabin through the numerous cracks, and the wolves keeping a continual chorus during the night in the surrounding timber.
In March, 1838, Mr. Underhill moved to his claim on Washington street, where he had erected a cabin twelve feet square. On this claim he commenced work in good earnest, and at odd times worked at any job he could find, so as to get something to live on. At one time some necessary article was wanted by his wife for the household, and Mr. Olmstead started for Albany, a distance of twenty miles, to get it, walking the whole way. Not finding the article there, he went up to Fulton, eight miles further, where he obtained it, and then returned home by the way of Union Grove, making the whole distance traveled fifty miles, a feat of devotion and endurance worthy of record.
He has carried on farming at his old place from 1838 until the present time, and is still able to do a good day’s work. He married Miss Electa Hunt in 1837. There children have been: George, who married Miss Fanny Green, and lives in Prophetstown; Oscar, who married Miss Elizabeth Clifton, and lives in Prophetatown; Alonso, who enlisted in the 9th fllinois cavalry, and died in the service; John W., Rosantha, David, and Willie, living with their parents; and Edna C., who is dead.
Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County Page 385
