Jacob
Omstead
by Danean Mitchell
I
am so respectful of Doreen’s research that I am almost too embarrassed to
submit this. However, the thought of her running out of gas is frightening. She
has provided volumes of vital details and valid information based on her
“virgin research”. Thank you, Doreen.
In
1990, my passion for genealogy surfaced. I began working on my mother’s maiden
name CURLEY, which led me back in time to my 3rd great grandfather,
JACOB CURLEY, who resided in Bureau County, Illinois. He married a lovely lady
by the name of Anna OMSTEAD, thus, enter my interest and obsession in the
OLMSTEAD surname and my search for Anna’ s pedigree.
My
first viewing of GOFA caused great excitement for me as there under Jacob
(9209) Olmsted was MY Anna, b. abt
1819, m. abt 1841, Jacob Curley. This would certainly provide me with success
zeroing in on Anna’s heritage. Well, all I can tell you now are that there is
some correct information and a great deal of wrong information in the GOFA. So,
to reiterate Doreen’s sentiments regarding the GOFA book, use the book with
great care. Seek out the clues and document the information yourself.
CHRONOLOGY
OF JACOB OMSTEAD (9209)
Rendering
all of the children “according to GOFA” on a FGS, I began proving out what I
could. The following are those results. I will begin with Jacob’s father, who
is supposed to be Gideon (9128). I have never found any proof, i.e. will, land,
baptisms, etc to prove who Jacob’s father was. What I know for sure and want to
set straight is that Jacob was born somewhere
in Vermont January 3, 1786. His birth date was calculated from the death date
in a most wonderful and charming letter written by son Harvey (9303) to his
sister Anna (Omstead) Curley (9309) and the age given on his headstone of 80 y,
2 m, 21 d. The following is an excerpt
of that letter dated 22 Apr., 1866:"
Father died the 24 day of March with the Palpitation of the Hart. He
was confined the most of the time to the Bed since September Last. He had his
senses to the last. Died very easy firme in the fath of sperituelis &
recond sild to Depart from this speare to another hier & gloures
wone."
The death date in GOFA, 31 Mar., 1866, was taken
from Jacob’s tombstone located in Rogers cemetery, Springfield, La Grange
County, IN. It is incorrect.
And
now that we have Jacob resting in peace in a Higher and Glorious Place, I would
like to return to the earlier years of Jacob’s wondering lifestyle. During my
research of Jacob (9209), various records were found for Jacob’s surname under
the spelling of “Olmstead” with the “L”. 80% plus of the records found so far
indicate that the accepted spelling for him is OMSTEAD without the “L”. Some of
his descendants did use the “L”.
His
father is suppose to be Gideon (9128) and was suppose to have gone to Canada.
Appearing in the History of Wright & Hamilton County, Iowa, 1880 on
p 439 is a biographical sketch on Jacob son’s, N. G. OMSTEAD (9312), which gives us the following
insight. It says:
“Jacob Omstead, the father of our subject, was born in the Green Mountain State and when ten years of age he went to Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He married Betsey VANNATTA, by whom he had twelve children, ten of whom grew to man and womanhood: three of his sons came to this County, and started the town of Saratoga. Here the father lived for ten years and then returned to Indiana and lived till death in LaGrange County; he died at the age of eighty-three years.”
YEAR
1796
So we have Jacob (9209), age
10 growing to manhood in Ohio. As a young adult he is going to marry Elizabeth
“Betsey” Vannatta/Venatie who was supposedly b. in PA abt 1784.
YEAR 1806 -1807
I have never found anything
on Elizabeth’s parents, a marriage date, or place of marriage accept for an
estimated date of 1808 (GOFA) and another statement in a biographical sketch
from History of LaGrange County, Indiana from the original History of LaGrange & Noble County, Chicago,
F.A. Battey & Co., 1882., page 303
on Harvey OLMSTEAD (9303) showing the
following:
“His parents were Jacob and
Elizabeth (Venater) Olmstead, the former born in Vermont 1786 and the latter in
1788 in Pennsylvania, where they were married In 1807, Jacob Olmstead went to
Canada, and served in the War of 1812, first as a British soldier, but
subsequently deserted and entered the United States Army. After the war, he
settled with his family in New York, but subsequently resided in the States of
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Iowa.“
I
have placed Jacob in Canada for now. Proof has never been found to establish
Jacob’s military service. I believe that his first daughter, Maria Hannah
(9302) was born in Canada on 17 Jan., 1810, followed by Harvey (9303), who was
born in Lundy’s Lane, Ontario, Canada 7 Dec., 1811. This has been documented in
several sources, so we know at that moment in time, the family was in Canada.
From 17 Dec., 1811 to 19 Jan., 1819 the following children were born; Lucia
(9304) born abt 1813 (GOFA). No further information has been found: His second
son, Jonathan (9306) born abt 1814 (GOFA). No information has been found on the
son: The fifth child of Jacob & Elizabeth was Elijah born abt 1815: John
(9307) was born abt 1816.
When
his daughter Elizabeth Jane “Eliza” (9308) in Crawford County, PA, Jacob is
said to have resided in New York and possibly Ohio before showing up in
Fallowfield twp, Crawford County, Pennsylvania on page 58a in the 1820 census.
Index has name spelled as Jacob OMSTAD. The census tells us that Jacob is 30/40
and there is 1F 20/30, probably Elizabeth, with 1 daughter 10/16 (Maria), 2M
0/5 (Harvey & Elijah), 2F 0/10. 19 Jan 1819, Elizabeth Jane “Eliza” OMSTEAD
(9308) was born possibly in Fallowfield, Crawford County, PA. We do not know when Jacob moved to Mercer
County, PA.
YEAR 1820
We find Jacob residing in Fallowfield twp, Crawford
County, PA on the 1820 census, as JACOB OMSTAD, on p 58a.
11 Oc.,
1820 Anna S. OMSTEAD (9309) was born in Mercer County, PA
8
Sep., 1824 Jacob OMSTEAD, Jr. (9310) was born in Trumbull County, OH.
8 Sep.,
1826 Levi Rose OMSTEAD (9311) was born in Crawford County, PA
Betsey was born abt 1827 (9313).
No further information has been found on this young lady.
YEAR 1830
Jacob appears to have moved to French Creek, Mercer
County, PA by the 1830 census, where he was enumerated twice, once as Jacob
ORMSTEAD on p 243 and once as Jacob UMSTEAD on p 244. The head count is exactly
the same.
1831 May, 30 Nelson Gideon
OMSTEAD (9312) was born in French Creek, Mercer County, PA.
1831 Sep., 26, On this day in Mercer County, PA, Commissioners Grantor Deeds, Vol 1, pps 544-545, Jacob bought at public sale, 200 acres of forest land located in the southern part of Mill Creek twp (twp to the south of French Creek twp, where he was enumerated in the 1830 census).
1833, Jacob assigned the
deed to his son, Harvey, for value received.
1835/36,
Elizabeth Vanatta dies in Michigan. ??? I have found no record of her death or
where she is buried. This is from the sketch on son, Harvey.
1838 Sep., 10, Jacob Omstead
of Branch Co., MI purchases 40 acres of land.
1839 Sep., 23, Jacob takes a
second wife, Margaret Woodard in LaPorte County, IN.
YEAR 1840
Jacob
and family have removed and started west. Jacob has original land patents in
LaGrange County, IN. The 1840 census taker found Jacob and family in
Springfield twp. The family consisted of Jacob, age 50/60, 2M 20/30 (who are
presumed to be Elijah and Jacob Curley), 1M (probably Jacob, Jr), 2M 10/15 (Sons Levi & Jacob jr) and 1M (this
would be Nelson, last son and child born to Jacob and Elizabeth). The females
listed were 1F 20/30 (No idea, but maybe Luricia), 2F 15/20 (projected to be
Mrs Anna Curley and her sister Elizabeth) and lastly 1F 10/15 (Betsey?) I am
not sure where the new Mrs. Omstead is.
By 1842, records indicate that the family has
started west again. This time the destination is Bureau County, IL. And also
where we find Jacob and Margaret in the 1850 census.
YEAR
1850
In
Oct 1851, Bartholomew Woodard filed suit in Bureau County against Jacob Omstead
claiming moneys owed him for debts incurred for driving breaking team two weeks
($5.00), expenses for his and his horses needs from Indiana to Green River
Illinois ($10.00).
And
once again, my ever on the move ancestors are traveling west headed for Iowa. In
a biographical sketch of Nelson G., “
the father of our subject was Jacob, who, with his family, came here [Iowa] in
the spring of 1853. His sons were Jacob, jr., a married man; Levi, also a man
with a family. N. G. Omstead was a single man, but was married a year later.“
An
Iowa State census was taken in 1856 and my family was counted in Webster
County, Iowa as follows: Jacob, Sr, 70 years, a married male born in Vt. He resided in Iowa three years. Margarett, his wife is also 70. Since Jacob
marries again in 1857, it is safe to assume that Margaret dies in this time
window, probably in Hamilton county. No death record or cemetery record has
been located.
A widower, Jacob returns to
Indiana very soon afterward to live with his son Harvey, who had settled down
and remained in LaGrange County, Indiana. 1857 Mar 1, Jacob Amstead was married
to Perley Anderson in LaGrange Co, IN
by Thos B. Connelly, J. P. Theory is probable that Perley (Howard) is the
mother-in-law of Mary Gage’s first husband John Anderson.
YEAR 1860
The
1860 census shows Jacob living with his son at age 74 and born in Vermont.
Pearly OMPSTEAD, age 72 born in Vermont, whom I believe, is the same as Perly
Anderson living with Harvey in the 1850 census and possibly an ex
mother-in-law.
1866
March 31, Jacob passes on and is buried in Rogers cemetery, Springfield Twp.
Also shown on the tombstone is Parley, wife of Jacob, d. Nov 22, 1864 aged 76y,
10 m, 20d.
Descendants of Jacob OMSTEAD
Generation No. 1
1. JACOB1 OMSTEAD
was born 3 Jan., 1786 in Vermont1,
and died 24 Mar., 1866 in Springfield, LaGrange, IN2. He married (1) ELIZABETH VANNATTA abt 1808. She was
born abt 1784 in Pennsylvania, and died 1835 in Michigan. He married (2) MARGARET WOODWARD 23 Sep.,
1839 in LaPorte Co, IN. She was born
abt 1786 in New York. He married (3)
PERLEY HOWARD 1 Mar 1857 in LaGrange, Indiana3. She was born abt 1786 in Vermont, and died 22 Nov.,
1864 in Lagrange Co., IN.
Children
of JACOB OMSTEAD and ELIZABETH VANNATTA are:
i. HANNAH MARIA2
OMSTEAD, b. 17 Jan., 1810, Possibly Canada4;
d. 5 Nov., 1837, LaGrange, IN; m. ABRAM GAGE, JR, Probably Mercer County, PA;
b. 13 Sep., 1803, PA; d. 26 Dec., 1850, LaGrange, IN.
ii HARVEY OMSTEAD, b. 7 Dec., 1811, Lundy's Lane,
Lincoln, Upper Canada; d. 4 Aug., 1890, Bloomfield, LaGrange, IN5; m. (1) SARAH GAGE, 17
Apr., 1834, LaGrange, Indiana6;
b. 4 Feb., 1813, NY; d. 11 Jul., 1841, Springfield, LaGrange, Indiana; m. (2)
MARY A. GAGE, 24 Mar 1842, Gilead Twp., Branch, Michigan; b. 25 Feb., 1815,
Rutland, Rutland, Vermont; d. 19 Aug., 1852, Springfield, LaGrange, IN; m. (3)
ELIZABETH BURRELL, 14 Apr 1852, LaGrange Co., Indiana; b. 19 May., 1828; d. 4
Sep., 1865, Springfield Twp., LaGrange, Indiana; m. (4) LYDIA LOUISA MCNULTY, 6
Mar., 1866, Springfield, LaGrange,
Indiana; b. 24 Aug., 1827, Ogden, Monroe, NY; d. 21 Jan., 1882,
Springfield, LaGrange, Indiana7;
m. (5) MARGARET TENANT, 19 Oct., 1882, LaGrange Co., IN; b. abt 1820, Maryland; d. 29 Feb., 1888, LaGrange,
IN.
iii. LURICIA
OMSTEAD, b. abt 1813; d. abt 1844.
iv.
JONATHAN OMSTEAD, b. abt 1814; d. Unknown, infancy.
v. ELIJAH OMSTEAD, b. abt 1815, Fallowfield, Crawford, PA; d. 14
Sep., 1845, Fairfield, Bureau, IL; m. ELECTA L. HALL, 10 Sep., 1837, LaGrange,
Indiana; b. abt 1820, OH; d. abt 1848,
Fairfield, Bureau, IL.
vi. JOHN
OMSTEAD, b. abt 1816; d. Unknown. ; b. 22 Jul., 1815, NY; d. 17 Jan., 1888,
Sedgwick, Sedgwick, KS.
viii. ANNA S. OMSTEAD, b. 11 Oct., 1820, Mercer, PA; d. 27 Aug., 1892,
Fairfield, Bureau, IL; m. JACOB CURLEY, 24 Sep., 1840, Lagrange, IN8; b. 2 Jul., 1820,
Dansville, Steuben, NY; d. 22 Dec.,
1908, Fairfield, Bureau, IL.
ix. JACOB OMSTEAD, JR, b. 8 Sep., 1824, Trumbull, OH; d. 18 May, 1898,
Webster City, Hamilton, IA; m. CATHERINE ELIZABETH CLARK, 15 Apr., 1848,
Bureau, Illinois; b. 9 Sep., 1826, Green, PA; d. 28 May, 1895, Webster City,
Hamilton, IA.
x . BETSEY OLMSTEAD, b. abt 1825; d. Unknown.
xi. LEVI ROSE OMSTEAD, b. 8 Sep., 1826, Crawford, PA; d. 20 Dec., 1914, Los Angeles, CA; m. (1) ELIZABETH COLEMAN, 8 Jul., 1849, Bureau Co., IL by Nehemiah Hill; b. abt 1835, Pennsylvania; d. 1875, Arapaho, Furnas, NE; m. (2) AUGUSTA BLISS, 31 Aug., 1874, Eureka School House, Saunders Co., NE; b. abt 1823.
xii. NELSON GIDEON OMSTEAD, b. 30 May, 1831, French Creek, Mercer, PA; d.
25 Sep., 1919, Webster City, Hamilton, IA; m. SARAH ANNE EVANS, 6 Sep., 1854,
Bloomington, Story, IA9;
b. 29 Dec., 1833, Bloomington, McLean, IL; d. 30 Jun., 1909, Webster City,
Hamilton, IA.
Endnotes
1. Computed from death date using letter from Harvey
Omstead to Anna Curley.
2. Letter - Harvey OMSTEAD to Anna CURLEY.
3. Bk 2, p 352
4. Computed from age on tombstone, Rogers Cemtery,
Springfield Twp, LaGrange, IN
5. Bk H-12, Page 67, LaGrange Co, IN
6. Bk A-12, LaGrange Co., IN
7. H-12, p 1
8. Bk A, p. 116
9. Story County Brides Index, Ames City Public
Library.