CHESTER OATMAN, a farmer of Ashtabula county, was born in this county Apr. 12, 1819, a son of Andrew and Phoebe Oatman, natives of Vermont.  The parents came to Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1815, where they were among the pioneer settlers, and remained here until their death, the father dying at the age of fifty years and the mother at eighty-five years of age.  They had eleven children, viz.: Spencer, Safford, Dianna, Jane, Maryette, Arnold, Chester, Electa, Lorenzo, Lucinda and Phoebe.  The father was a farmer by occupation, was identified with the Democratic party, and a member of the Methodist Church.
     Chester Oatman, our subject, now owns 233 acres of well-improved land in Wayne township, and has all the necessary farm conveniences.  He was married, at the age of twenty-four years, to Miss M. E. Platt, a native of this township, and a daughter of Hezekiah and Permelia J. (Segar) Platt.  They have three living children.  The eldest, Spencer H., was born Aug. 24, 1848, was educated at Austinburgh, and has lived for the past eight years in Ottawa county, Michigan, engaged in the manufacture of cheese.  He was married, at the age of twenty-four years, to R. A. Slabough, now deceased.  In January, 1893, he was united in marriage with Amelia J. Chambers, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret Chambers.  The second child, Julia C., is the wife of S. J. Gillette, of this township.  Etta E. married R. P. Miner, also of Wayne township, and they have two children: Fanny and Fred.  Mr. and Mrs. Oatman lost two children: Sheldon C., deceased at the age of five years; and Edgar, who died at the same age.  Mr. Oatman affiliates with the Republican party, and has served as Township Trustee, Assessor, and as a member of the School Board for twenty years.
Source:  Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio embracing the Counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake - Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. - 1893 - Page 513

CHARLES J. OLDS is Postmaster at Orwell, Ashtabula county, Ohio, as well as editor of the Orwell News Letter, a weekly paper which has a large circulation.  It is ably edited and contains interesting county and State news.  Our subject does all kinds of general job printing, etc., and makes low rates and estimates on all varieties of work in his lines.  In every possible manner he endeavors to improve his paper and has made of it a very interesting and newsy sheet, one of the best in the county.  He has had considerable experience along literary lines and as an editor is able and well posted.  The post office comes under the head of fourth class, and Mr. Olds has been the genial Postmaster sine 1889.
     The birth of our subject occurred in Richmond, Ashtabula county, May 11, 1865.  His parents, Frank E. and Matilda C. (Nims) Olds, now make their home in the village of Orwell.  Charles J. is one of seven children, two of whom died in infancy, and one, Sarah, died at the age of thirteen years.  The others who survive are Agnes, now Mrs. Porter Hodge, of Orwell, who was born Aug. 2, 1861; Heman C., born Oct. 12, 1863, and who now lives in Orwell, and Henry W., whose birth occurred June 24, 1877.  Until ten years of age our subject was reared on a farm, after which his parents removed to Orwell, where he received his entire education at the Orwell Normal Institute.  For some time he engaged in teaching, but finding that occupation now as remunerative as he wished he embarked in 1886 in the printing business, purchasing a half interest in the Andover Citizen, published in Andover, Ohio.  After remaining there for one year he sold out and entered the employ of the Gazette, of Jefferson, Ohio, Senator Lampson's paper.
     In Jul, 1889, Mr. Olds was appointed Postmaster at Orwell by President Harrision who gave him the preference over two other candidates.  In 1891, he erected a fine brick business house, where he conduct his editorial work.  The large front apartment is devoted to the post office.  In 1890, he established the Orwell News Letter and has continued as its editor and sole proprietor.  Though the paper has been so recently established, the circulation has steadily grown and the paper maintains its place among the best of the county.
     On the 11th of Dec., 1888, Mr. Olds married Miss Josephine Tuttle, daughter of A. T. and Abigail Tuttle,  of West Andover, their family being one of the representative ones of the township.  Mrs. Olds is a graduate of the New Lyme Institute.  She was, before her marriage, one of the successful teachers of the county.  She is very fond of painting and has given instruction in the art.  One worthy subject and wife are the parents of two children:  Harmon T., born Mar. 15, 1890, and Marjorie, born July 25, 1892.  Mrs. Olds is a member of the Congregational Church of West Andover.
     Politically, Mr. Olds is a stanch Republican, and it is needless to say that his paper is a purely Republican sheet, devoted to the interests of the party.  Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and also belongs to the Junior Order of American Mechanics.  As a man he merits the high esteem in which he is held by one and all, for he is a man of integrity and sterling worth.
Source:  Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio embracing the Counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake - Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. - 1893 - Page 531

LIEUTENANT JOHN OLMSTED, a retired farmer living in Conneaut, Ohio, was born in Delaware county, New York, Jan. 25, 1828.
     His parents, James and Hannah (Gilbert) Olmsted, removed from their native State, Connecticut, to New York soon after their marriage.  They established their home and developed a fine farm, on what was then the frontier, there being only five white families in the county of Delaware at the time they settled there.  Mr. Olmsted was keenly alive to the best interests of the farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life.  He died at the age of fifty-five years, honored and respected by all who knew him.  His life was characterized by honesty, simplicity and industry, his word ever being regarded as good as his bond.  His good wife was for many years a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Her parents were Allen and Polly Gilbert, and her father was a cavalry soldier in the Revolutionary war, carrying to his grave the scars he received during that struggle.  Mr. and Mrs. Olmsted had a family of twelve children, the subject of this sketch being the youngest and one of the four who are now living.  The other three are as follows: Lucy, widow of James Wills, living in New York city; Mary, the widow of Mason Saulisbury, Oswego, New York; and Samuel, a farmer of Delaware county, Iowa.
     John Olmsted was reared a farmer, and the greater part of his life has been devoted to that occupation. In 1859 he made the journey to California, via the Isthmus route, returning to New York in 1862 by the way of Central America.  While in the Golden State he was first engaged in mining and afterward in various other pursuits.  In February, 1865, he enlisted, at Oswego, in Company I, One Hundred and Ninety-third New York Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged in February, 1866, his service for the most part being guard duty.  He also assisted in gathering up the Government property through the Shenandoah valley.  His regiment went first to Summit Point, West Virginia, where they remained in camp for three months, being then sent to Cumberland, Maryland, to do guard duty; thence were ordered to Harper’s Ferry to dismantle all the adjacent farms there: they then proceded to Winchester to gather up Government property, taking in all the towns along the the valley.  They camped fora time at Harrisburg and were then again ordered to Harper’s Ferry, whence they returned to Albany, where they were mustered out.  After the war he turned his attention to the oil business in Pennsylvania, in which he was engaged for ten years. Then he came to Conneaut, and has been interested in farming ever since, being very successful in his operations.  He takes little interest in political matters, never seeking nor accepting office, but always votes the Republican ticket.
     Mr. Olmsted was married Feb. 14, 1849, to Miss Hannah M. Saulisbnry, daughter of Daniel Saulisbnry, of Oswego county,
New York. They had live children, namely: Mary; Frank, who married Eva Robins, has three children,—Homer, Harold and Lottie; Addie, wife of Laurel Stone, has two children, Frank and John; and Nannie, wife of A. F. Gove, has one child, Jennie; and Jennie, who died at Bradford, Pennsylvania, May, 1876.  Mrs. Olmsted died May 6, 1887, aged fifty-six years.  She was a member of the Baptist Church, as are also Mr. Olmsted and two of the daughters.  He has been a Trustee of the Church for many years and is also a member of the G. A. R., Custer Post, No. 9.  He is one of the substantial and highly respected citizens of the county.
Source:  Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio embracing the Counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake - Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. - 1893 - Page 662

SOLYMAN CLARK OSBORN, second son and child of Samuel Osborn, Jr., and Polly (Webster) Osborn, was born in Franklin, Delaware county, New York, Jan. 1, 1807. He removed with his parents in the fall of 1813, to Jefferson, Ashtabula county, Ohio, to Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1814, to Huron county (now Erie), Ohio, in 1817. Here his father died in September, 1819,vand the family returned to Jefferson.
     His residence has been since in Ashtabula county, where his time has been consecutively passed at school, learning the clothes making trade, running a cloth factory, merchandising, milling, and lastly on the small fruit farm on which he now lives in Ashtabula. He was married in Conneaut, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1831, to Harriet Sanford, daughter of Eli Sanford and Sarah (Wheeler) Sanford, of Conneaut, who was born in Conneaut, Sept. 16, 1815, and is still living. Both he and his venerable wife are in comfortable health and actively engaged in labor,—he with his grapes and fruit and she keeping the house. Both united early in life with, the Baptist Church, and have been always active working members in good standing. Mr. Osborn's paternal and maternal grandfather were Revolutionary soldiers; his father was long: connected with the militia of Delaware county, in some command. Of these offices he can only remember that of adjutant of the regiment. He was out for some time as a volunteer in the war of 1812. He was a farmer, lumberman and a breeder and lover of good horses, and he was also a hunter and nat­ural mechanic. He possessed great physical strength, which proved, however, to be no de­fense against the malaria of the section known in those early days as the West.
     Mr. Osborn and his wife are of New England stock, his father coming from East Windsor, Connecticut, and his mother from Litchfield county, Connecticut. Mrs. Osborn's father and mother also came from Connecticut. It may be said of his ancestry on both sides, if not great they were good, being pious, honest, temperate and industrious.
     Mr. and Mrs. Osborn have not been blessed with children. An adopted daughter, now Mrs. Charles Hall, of Conneaut holds them in loving, grateful remembrance, as do also two motherless nieces of Mrs. Osborn—Mrs. Aaron Pickett and Mrs. Hulburt, of Ashtabula, both of whom were tenderly reared from childhood to maturity at the home of their aunt.
Source:  Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio embracing the Counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake - Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. - 1893 - Page 233

DAVID C. OSBORNE, D. D., a prominent minister of the East Ohio Conference, stationed at Conneaut, Ohio, has long been identified with the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Following is a brief sketch of his life:
David C. Osborne was born in Ripley, Chautauqua county, New York, Aug. 3, 1831, son of P. S. and Mary A. (Platt) Osborne, natives of Washington county, New York. His father was a tanner, currier and shoemaker in early life, and later a merchant in Sherman, New York. He filled several minor offices in his county, and was well known there. He was reared in the United Presbyterian Church, but became a Methodist and was a member of that church up to the time of his death, in 1871, at the age of eighty-three years. His wife died July 31, 1846, at the age of forty-three. She was a Presbyterian for many years. They had a family of four sons and six daughters, David C., the subject of this article, being the oldest. The other sons are Platt S., Harris B. and James W.  Platt S. learned his father's trade and was engaged in business until death, Sept. 12, 1887. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was an active and useful man, being gifted in music. Harris B. is an eminent physician in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and James W., also of Kalamazoo, has attained prominence as an attorney. Of the daughters we record that Lucretia is the wife of Dr. C. P. Graves, of Alden, Illinois; Ann, wife of Dr. S. McNair, Blackberry, Illinois; Harriet, wife of Hon. S. P. McCalmont, of Franklin, Pennsylvania; Cynthia died at the age of thirty-three years; Isadore, wife of F. L. Brown, of South Vernon, Vermont; and Mary, widow of Mr. Benedict, Sherman, New York.
     David C. Osborne entered the ministry at the age of twenty-two years, and has since been actively engaged in the work of the Master. Previous to the division of the Erie Conference, he was a member of that body, and since then has belonged to the East Ohio Conference, filling many of its best appointments, both as stationed minister and as Presiding Elder. Among the appointments he has filled we mention those of Franklin, Titusville, New Castle and Erie in Pennsylvania, and Akron, Cleveland (Erie Street Church), Steubenville, Massillon, Canton and Youngstown, in Ohio. In many of these charges churches were built or improved during his pastorate. He came to Conneaut in October, 1890, and in his labor here has given a high degree of satisfaction. The present Methodist Church of Conneaut was begun in 1886 by T. F. Phillips. When it was completed money was subscribed to provide for the debt. The amount, however, was not paid up, and other means were used to raise the money. Upward of $9,000 has been paid within the past two years and a half. The church membership has increased, and both the church and Sabbath-school are in a nourishing con­dition.
Dr. Osborne was married in 1856 to Miss Arvilla M. Hill, daughter of Rev. B. S. and Mary Hill, of Wattsburg, Pennsylvania. Rev. B. S. Hill, a clergyman in the Methodist Episcopal Church, was at one time the Tract Secretary of the Erie Conference and a Presiding Elder of the Jamestown district. He was also a delegate to the General Conference at its session in Boston, Massachusetts, when, by reason of ill health, he was compelled to assume a supernumerary relation to the Conference, his friends were so many that he was elected to the Legislature from the Erie (Pennsylvania) district. He was appointed Chaplain of the lower house by his official colleagues, who recognized his great Christian integrity. He retired, from the active ministry and was appointed Postmaster by President Grant, and continued to hold this office by successive appointments, until the election of President Cleveland, in 1884. He also served as Justice of the Peace for two or three terms, and was recognized as a man of great ability and force of character. Five children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Osborne, and all received excellent educational advantages, by which they have duly profited. The names of the children are as follows: Bryan H., David W., Cyrus C, Mary and Donald P. Dr. Osborne is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In person he is tall, of commanding presence, dignified yet cordial in manner. After more than forty years in the pulpit, he is still an earnest student. He is a preacher of more than ordinary ability, is modest and retiring in deportment, and is public-spirited and patriotic. He has been successful in all lines of church work, and has, by his ability as a preacher and his personal worth as a Christian man, won the admiration and love of those to whom he has ministered. Mrs. Osborne is a clergyman's wife in every sense of the word, being loyal to the cause of Christ and in perfect sympathy with her husband's work.
Source:  Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio embracing the Counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake - Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co. - 1893 - Page 145