PELEG OLIN FAMILY
HISTORY
from Portrait and Biographical Album of Barry
and Eaton Counties, Michigan,
Chapman Bros, Chicago, 1891
Marcus D. Olin. A pleasant location in Chester Township, Eaton
County, is occupied by the farm of Mr. Olin-one of the self-made
men whose lives stand in bold relief as examples to those who
follow them. It is a well-equipped and thoroughly-tilled estate,
comprising one hundred and forty acres of good land, from the
cultivation of which, combined with the raising of stock, the
owner derives a satisfactory income. In the pastures a fine flock
of sheep grazed and a goodly number of cattle browse.
Mr. Olin was born in Monroe, Ashtabula County, Ohio, May 11,
1837. His parents, Peleg G. and Amanda (Green)[1] Olin, determined
to remove to Michigan in 1843, and made their home in Jackson
County some three years, then came to Eaton County. An unimproved
farm in Chester Township was bought and here a home was literally
hewed out from the wilderness. A log shanty was put up and later
a more substantial log house which in due time was replaced by
a good frame dwelling. Money was scarce in those early days and
the families that lived in the wilderness resorted to many expedients
to obtain the few articles they found it absolutely necessary
to buy. Their frugal fare was largely obtained by hunting, fishing
and hard work in their little fields. He of whom we write used
to help make black salts which would bring two and a half cents
per pound. He drove an ox-team to Battle Creek, Marshall and Eaton
Rapids in order to have corn ground and when the weather was good
would sleep in the wagon.
Young Olin had very limited school privileges but whenever
it was possible to do so, he went to the log schoolhouse and perused
the few text books that were in use there. He learned to use a
rifle and frequently brought down such game as still abounded
in the forest around his home. He did not undertake a personal
career until he was twenty-two years old, but gave his services,
with those of the other members of the family, to the general
good. When ready to take up the burdens of life for himself he
gave his attention to farming, that being the occupation with
which he was most familiar and in which he promised to be most
successful.
The father of Mr. Olin was born in Vermont in 1798 and went
from that State to New York, where he followed farming for several
years. He then removed to Ohio, which was his home somewhat more
than a decade. In the War of 1812 he served as a fifer and received
a land warrant but never succeeded in getting a pension. He lived
to the ripe age of seventy-five years, dying in 1873. He had become
well-known in Eaton County, to the development of which he had
given such hearty support and aid. He was of Welsh descent, although
his father, Henry Olin, was born in Vermont but afterward lived
in New York and Ohio. The mother of our subject was born in Rhode
Island May 11, 1800, and died in 1880. To her and her husband
fourteen children came and of this large family seven survive.
One son died during the Mexican War.
The wife with whom Mr. Olin was united in early manhood was
Lucy Clark, a native of Ohio, whose wedded life extended from
March 27, 1859, to December 26, 1864. She was then called from
time to eternity. She was the mother of three children-Mary Emma,
wife of Hiram Grant, a farmer living in Vermontville; Charles,
who is deceased; and Lucy, wife of Leonard Cole, a farmer in Benton
Township. Mr. Olin made a second marriage September 13, 1865,
the bride on this occasion being Mrs. Louisa Clark nee Grant.
She was born in Ohio in 1842, being a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth
(Swick) Grant, natives of New York and Pennsylvania respectively.
Mr. Grant set up his home in Ohio and married there, but later
removed to Indiana and finally came to Eaton County, Mich., where
he died in 1868. She preceded him to the tomb, breathing her last
in 1860. Their daughter, Louisa, was first married to Nathan B.
Clark, who died in New Orleans during the war, being a member
of the Sixth Michigan Infantry. By that union she became the mother
of two children-Dexter and Nathan N.
Mr. Olin has been a Mason for a quarter of a century. He manifests
a proper interest in political questions, and being convinced
of the propriety of Democratic principles, he votes accordingly.
He is a reliable citizen, a careful farmer and an honorable man,
and by his connection with the pioneer development of the section
in which he lives has won the lasting gratitude of all true Michiganders.
From Eaton County Cemeteries-Chester Township we find the
following Olin listings:
(Section B)
Lucy E. Olin 1840-1865 (wife of Marcus)
Marcus D. Olin 1837-1920 Age 83 years
Louisa Olin 1842-1926 (wife of Marcus)
Charlie Olin 1862-1865 (son of Marcus)
Lamanda Olin 1800-8/21/1880 (wife of Peleg)
Peleg G. Olin 1798-1873
(Section C)
Walter C. Olin 1850-1919
Roswell W. Olin 2/24/1823-9/19/1882
(No headstone/burial site unknown)
Bertha Olin died 9/1887 (age 2 y 4 d, daughter of Edwin and
Sarah)
From the above records and printed history I am assuming that
this is the descendancy from Peleg:
Peleg G. Olin b: June 30,
1798 d: 1873 Chester, Eaton Cty, MI m: Lamanda Wilcox in 1818 in RI. Lamanda
was born
May 11, 1800 in Rhode Island, and died in 1880 in Chester, Eaton
County, Michigan. They had probably among others:
Almira Olivia OLIN b. 1819 in Alleghany Cattaraugus NY married
James MCALLISTER 15 April 1845 in Jackson County, MI. Date of
death is uncertain but between 1880 and 1886 in Labette County,
KS They had 8 children. Almira's descendant, Donna
McAllister
Roswell W. Olin b: February
24, 1823 in Allegheny, NY and d: September 19, 1882 in Chester, Eaton Cty,
MI. To wife
unknown at least two sons were born:
Walter C. Olin b: 1850 d:
1919 Chester, Eaton Cty, MI
Edwin Olin married Sarah
and had one daughter:
Bertha Olin b:1885 and
d: September 1887 in Chester, Eaton Cty, MI.
Marcus D. Olin b: May 11,
1837, Monroe, Ashtabula Cty, OH d: 1920 in Chester, Eaton Cty, MI. He married
first to Lucy
E. Clark b: 1749 d: 1865 Chester, Eaton Cty, MI. Their
children:
Mary Emma Olin married Hiram Grant
Charles Olin b: 1862 and d:1865 in Chester, Eaton Cty,
MI
Lucy Olin married to Leonard Cole
Marcus married secondly to Louisa Grant b: 1842 d:
1926 Chester, Eaton Cty, MI. She was the widow of Nathan B. Clark
and brought two young children to the marriage:
Dexter Clark
Nathan N. Clark
Obviously more research will have to be done on this family.
[1 ]This is an error-should read Wilcox. Greene was the maiden
name of Peleg's mother.
