chapter 356

Eli Olmsted

7/27/2014

war and peace

This Soldiers Monument is right in the center of Ballston Spa outside the Whistling Tea Kettle. Walked by it many times without even realizing it was there. It lists Eli Olmsted as being one of the local natives to have sacrificed his life in the cause of the Union's Civil War. This caught my attention because ironically, my Grandson Lucas Eli Olmsted lives right in that village.

Elijah Olmsted (Olmstead) - 77th NY I, the Bemis Heights Regiment  age18, enlisted 10-20-1861 at Wilton for 3 years as Private in Company H, died of disease 12-22-1862 at camp near White Oak Church, VA. [Brookside Museum]

Tried and failed to determine just which family he descended from. But what difference does it make at this point. Nobody cares, but it does give one pause to consider. He's probably not in our direct lineage, but from a splinter group.

At the NYSM, I photographed this painting by Robinson Gifford Sanford a native New Yorker from nearby Greenfield. He served in the 7th Reg and painted this May 1861 bivouac scene after his participation at Arlington Hts, Va. I think he really captures the mood. He was a member of the renowned Hudson River School of landscape artists. 

Our Lucas Eli Olmsted rides like a soldier at Saratoga's Carousel, itself an historic venue. A Lithuanian born just a decade after the Civil War carved this horse. My kids rode this same horse when located at Kaydeross Park on Saratoga Lake.

We did the Hoffman's Playland amusement park bit before it will be closed for good. Got some good ride shots but I liked this one best. Aunt Christie may not recall us taking her here 25 years ago?

Talked Grandson into Breakfast at Saratoga, a tradition that started during the Civil War. He was able to do the backstretch tour without throwing a fuss and we scarfed up a genuine Aluminum racing horseshoe memento tossed aside by the farrier we watched.

The 1860 census had 13 Olmsteds living in Saratoga County. Eli Olmsted was age 16 but living with Oliver and Catherine Whited along with their 7 relatives and another teen in North Galway of Milton Town. [Heritage Quest online, free via library]

Another  Edward G Olmsted is on the monument: 115th NY I- age 27, enlisted 8-14-62 at Malta  for 3 years as private in Company I, captured in action 9-15-62 and paroled 9-16-62 at Harper's Ferry, VA. Died in hospital 7-6-63 at NYC of typhoid. Buried at Stillwater. This could be his brother / cousin , living at Thuns Corners, Saratoga County, Town of Providence, NY. They were both farmers and if related may have been co-inspired to join the volunteers. It might be less likely he descended from the other Olmsteds employed as carriage maker, merchant, cabinet maker, and tailor.

See Chapter 186D for Olmsted geneology link.

Ballston Spa History their San Souci was the largest resort hotel in America.

Brookside Museum B.S. Historical Society

Ballston Spa Centennial History 1807-1907 began quest searching telegraph insulators- Jay Gould from Roxbury, NY managed NY's second oldest Railroad in Ballston Spa before owning the Western Union and Union Pacific Railroad.

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