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| JAMES
H. OLCOTT, farmer; P. O. Litchfield Center; was born in
Litchfield, Conn., Mar. 5, 1815. He came to Litchfield with
the family of his father, Benoni, when he
was 19 years of age. Together with a younger brother, Mr.
Olcott, chopped down the trees and cleared the spot not covered
by the Litchfield Hotel, and a portion of the park, about one square
acre in area. After cutting, hewing and laying up the logs for
his father's dwelling, he went through the mud for ten or twelve
miles from the settlement, until he had collected sufficient lumber
to finish the house. The roof was of what is known as "shake,"
no nails being used, but weight poles in their stead. With the
exception of one small rocking-chair, which the family brought from
their home in the Nutmeg State, the seating accommodations of the
family consisted of benches split out of whitewood. The table
and floor were of similar material. When the young folks went
to an old fashioned country hoedown, it was necessary to stoop when
passing under the low joist of the ceiling, or a bumped head was the
consequence. Mr. Olcott danced in the first set ever on
teh floor of the old Litchfield Hotel, some forty-three years ago.
On the 4th of January, 1838, Mr. Olcott was married to
Miss Lovisa Snow, of Chatham, Medina Co., who bore him two
children. Newton R. Olcott was born Aug. 24, 1841, and
married Miss Kate S. Murphy, of Marshall, Tex., Oct, 6, 1874,
and is now living in Houston, Tex. Adalaide D. Olcott
was born Nov. 25, 1846, and is now living at home. Mr.
Benoni Olcott donated the ground upon which the Congregational
Church in Litchfield now stands, and subsequently assisted in
building the edifice. He also gave one acre of ground to the
Township Trustees, which was aid out for a place of interment for
the dead, and is now used for that purpose. Also, one and a
half acres of ground for the first steam saw-mill and grist-mill
which was built in Litchfield; this he donated to David
Hinman, now deceased. |
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| ELI OVERHOLT,
Postmaster, Wadsworth; was born Jan. 23 1842, and is a son of
Martin L. and Elizabeth (Tinsman) Overholt, both natives of
Pennsylvania, but moving to this county at an early date -
forty-eight years ago - and bought a tract of land about 240 acres,
in the southwest part of the township, where the subject of this
sketch was born, received his education and lived until his
enlistment in Co. H, 29th O. V. I., Oct. 28, 1861, serving two years
and over, being discharged Dec. 3, 1863, on account of a severe
wound in the leg, received in the battle of Chancellorsville, Va.;
he was also at the battles of Winchester and Port Republic, Va.,
being taken prisoner at the latter place on the 9th day of June,
1862, and sent to Belle Isle; was also at the battles of Winchester
and Port Republic, Va., being taken prisoner at the latter place on
the 9th day of June, 1862, and sent to Belle Isle; was released on
parole and then exchanged after two months' confinement, and
returned to his regiment, under Gen. Shields as division
commander. He was married, Oct. 6, 1869, to Anna Baughman,
of Wadsworth, daughter of David and Amelia (Deshler) Baughman,
who were among the early settlers of the country; their union was
blessed with two children - Olive Bell and Albert -
the former born Aug. 9, 1870, the latter Sept. 6, 1872.
Mrs. Overholt died Nov. 23, 1877 after a brief illness of two
weeks, leaving two small children and a loving husband to mourn her
loss. Mr. Overholt was appointed to the office of
Postmaster of Wadsworth, Oct. 1, 1871, which place he has filled
creditably to himself and acceptably to the community. He is a
stanch Republican, a member of the Congregational Church, a
consistent Christian and a good citizen. His mother is living
in his family, the father having died when he was quite small. |
NOTES:
Note #1 - Benoni Olcott can be found in Litchfield
Census records as follows:
1790 - Series M637 - Roll 1 - Page 410 along with Asahael Olcott & Eli
Olcott families on the same page of the census.
1810 - Series M252 - Roll 2 - Page 23
1812 - Series M33 - Roll 1 - Page 378 |
