Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah November 1, 2020

In a review of the business men of Carroll, proper mention should be made of Edwin F. Olmstead, a well known tinner and plumber who possesses the characteristics of industry and perseverance which lead to acknowledged success. He was born in Calhoun county, Iowa, August 18, 1873, a son of William and Clara (Robbins) Olmstead, both of whom were natives of Illinois. The father was reared on a farm in his native state and after reaching maturity came to Lake City, Iowa. Subsequently he removed to Carroll county and lived at Arcadia and Glidden. In 1875 he took up his residence at Carroll and ran a livery barn for five years. He then removed to Sheridan township and engaged in farming, but in 1887 returned to Lake City and went in to the real-estate business, also handling organs and pianos. His wife now resides at Carroll. Edwin Olmstead, the paternal grandfather, was a native of New York and a settler of McHenry county, Illinois. There were four children in his family, Viseny, William, Esther and Silas. The maternal grandfather was John C. Robbins. He engaged for a number of years in stock-buying. He was married three times and has outlived all of his wives. Mrs. Clara Olmstead, the mother of our subject, was the only child of John C. and Jan Robbins. William and Clara Olmstead were the parents of eight children, namely: Emma, now Mrs. H. A. Scott, of Rockwell City, Iowa; Edwin F., the subject of this review; Lulu, the wife of C. C. Struck, of Carroll; Ray, deceased; Ella, the wife of G. H. Townsend, of Carroll; Ezra P. Olmstead of Valley Junction, Iowa; and Clara and Grace, both of whom are living in Carroll.

Edward F. Olmstead was reared in Calhoun and Carroll counties, living most of the time in town. He secured good advantages of education in the public schools and in October, 1899, began learning the tinner’s trade with which he has ever since been identified. On the 7th of July, 1910, he opened an establishment of his own on Main street in Carroll and is meeting with a fair share of success in his undertaking.

On the 1st day of June, 1895, Mr. Olmstead was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Metzger, a daughter of Charles C. and Carrie (Richter) Metzger. One son, Charles E., has been born of this union. Mrs. Olmstead was born at Grand Junction, Iowa. Her father was born in Germany and the mother in New York state. He came to America at the age of sixteen and took up his abode in eastern Iowa, subsequently becoming one of the early settlers of Grand Junction, where he died in 1905 at the age of sixty-five years. His wife is still in Grand Junction. In their family were eight children, William F., Charles, Sarah, Frank, Theresa, Guy, Harry and Roy.

Mr. Olmstead began at his trade more than twenty years ago and by diligence and enterprise acquired the capital necessary to make an independent start as a tinner and plumber. He understands his trade in every detail and as he conscientiously aims to give satisfaction to his patrons, has attained a deserved reputation for reliability. In politics he adheres to the republican party.

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