Genealogy of the Olmsted family in America : embracing the ...

448 Olmsted Family Genealogy
He was a charter member of the Society which built the first church
edifice in Potter County.
In 1851 he was elected Prothonotary, Register and Recorder and Clerk
of the Courts of Potter County. He was defeated for re-election in 1854
by Mr. Thomas B. Tyler, Democrat, and soon after was appointed to a position
in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, at Harrisburg, which
position he resigned in May, 1857, having been appointed Prothonotary by
the Governor to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Tyler. He
was elected in the following Fall and re-elected from time to time, so that he
served in all a part of a term by appointment and seven full terms by election
as Prothonotary.
Mr. Olmsted was the senior member of the firrn of H. J. Olmsted & Sons,
hardware merchants.
In 1876 he received the nomination of the Republican party for State
Senator in the district composed of the counties of Tioga, Potter and McKean;
but, although the political complexion of the district was such that a nomina-
tion was equivalent to an election, he nevertheless declined, fearing that his
acceptance might interfere with the re-nomination of his friend, Sobieski
Ross, residing in the same county and at that time representing the District
in Congress.
He was an active and useful member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
Always of a cheerful disposition, encouraging the young, sympathizing
with and aiding those in distress, ever generous and kind, public spirited and
active in good works, he was deservedly popular and possessed to an unusual
degree the love and esteem of his neighbors and of all who knew him.
(No. 5515) Page 305
ARTHUR GEORGE OLMSTED
Mr. Olmsted is a son of Daniel and Lucy A. (Scofield) Olmsted;
was born September 3, 1827, at Masonville, Delaware County, New
York. When he was nine years of age, he moved with his parents
to Potter County, Pennsylvania, and there lived and worked upon his
father's farm at what came to be known as " Olmsted's Comers,"
about two miles from the present town of Ulysses. The common, or district,
school and a short experience at Coudersport Academy afforded all his educational
advantages, but he made excellent use of them and also burned the
midnight oil at home; and thus, by industry and close application, became
eventually a well educated and well informed young man. At twenty years of
age he removed to Coudersport, the county seat, and there read law with
Hon. John S. Mann, and was admitted to the bar January 12, 1850, passing
a very successful examination at the hands of Isaac Benson, Carlton B. Curtis
and James Lowery, who comprised his examining committee. The same year
he was elected District Attorney of Potter County and served with credit to
himself and satisfaction to the people. His exceptionally large vocabulary,
happy choice of words and almost faultless rhetoric, combined with an impressive
and pleasing manner in addressing juries and political and other assemblages,
soon made him a popular speaker, as well as a very successful lawyer. His
practice soon widened out and extended to numerous other counties. In his
own county he was identified with nearly every important case on the calendar