Person Page - 243

     Ralph Alphonzo Olds was born on 15 Apr 1904 at Crow Wing County, Minnesota.^1,3,4 He was the son of Alfonso Olds and Rachel Goldsbury.¹ Ralph Alphonzo Olds died on 17 Feb 1970 at Cass County, Minnesota, at age 65.^5,6

     Ralph E. Olds was born on 19 Aug 1902 at Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.^1,2 He was the son of Ransom Eli Olds and Metta Ursula Woodward.¹ Ralph E. Olds died on 20 Aug 1902.^1,3

     Ralph S. Olds was born in Aug 1866 at Ohio.¹ He was the son of Gilbert Ogden Olds and Sarah Catharine Showman. Ralph S. Olds married Susie A Boger on 20 Jul 1892 at Seneca County, Ohio.² Ralph S. Olds and Susie were divorced in 1894 at Ohio.³ Ralph S. Olds married Eva Barbour on 30 Oct 1894 at Delaware County, Ohio.⁴
     Ralph S. Olds and Eva Olds appeared on the census of 1 Jun 1900 at Porter Township, Delaware County, Ohio, as follows:
     8/8 Olds, Ralph, head, b. Aug 1866, 33, marr. 5 yrs, b. Ohio, parents b. Ohio, farmer
      , Eva, wife, b. July 1862, 37, marr. 5 yrs, 0 children, 0 living, b. Ohio, father b. Connecticut, mother b. Ohio.¹
Ralph S. Olds and Eva Olds appeared on the census of 20 Apr 1910 at 411 C Street, Bakersfield, Kern County, California, as follows:
     108/118 Olds, Ralph S., head, 44, marr. once, 15 yrs, chaffeur
      , Eva. wife. 47, marr. once, 15 yrs, 0 children, 0 living, b. Ohio, father b. N. Y., mother b. Ohio
      Barbour, Carl S., brother-in-law, 43, single, b. Ohio, father b. N. Y., mother b. Ohio, retired merchant.⁵
Ralph S. Olds and Eva Olds appeared on the census of 5 Jan 1920 at 1415 Beale Avenue, Bakersfield, Kern County, California, as follows:
     104/106 Olds, Ralpha [sic], head, 53, male, b. Ohio, parents b. Ohio, solicitor for creamery
      , Eva, wife, 57, b. Ohio, father b. Connecticut, mother b. Ohio.⁶
Ralph S. Olds and Eva Olds appeared on the census of 8 Apr 1930 at 1415 Beal Avenue, Bakersfield, Kern County, California, as follows:
     239/244 Olds, Ralph S., 63, first marr. at age 27, b. Ohio, parents b.Ohio, painter & carpenter, job work
      , Eva, 67, first. marr. at 32, b. Ohio, father b. Conn., mother b. Ohio.⁷

     Ralph W. Olds was born on 6 Dec 1877.¹ He was the son of Alfred W. Olds and Louise B. (?).^1,2 Ralph W. Olds married Clara Josephine Halstead on 16 Apr 1907 at Lake County, Ohio.³ Ralph W. Olds died in 1930⁴ and was buried at Middle Ridge Cemetery, Madison Township, Lake County, Ohio.⁵

     Ransom Olds was born on 18 Dec 1800 at Rutland County, Vermont, Vermont.^1,2 He was the son of George Olds. Ransom Olds married Florella H. McMillan on 19 Feb 1828.^1,3,4 Ransom Olds was buried at Shrontz Cemetery, Momence Township, Kankakee County, Illinois.^5,6
     Although described as a soldier of 1812⁷ he would have been rather young at the end of the war. French Mills, New York, where he may have been living at the time was the site of a winter headquarters for the American Army in that war (1814).
Ransom Olds appeared on the census of 1830 at Ft. Covington, Franklin County, New York, as follows:
Olds, Ransom, 1 male under 5, 1 male 20-30, 1 female 20-30, 1 female 70-80.⁸ He "went West, probably Ohio."⁹
     Ransom Olds "moved in an early day to La Porte County, Indiana, and settled on a farm at Door Village, but after a few years removed to Elgin, and passed through Chicago, which was then a small trading post. Mr. OLDS was the first settler of Elgin, and took up Government land, hauling his produce to Chicago. He finally moved twelve miles west of Elgin, where he remained several years; then moved to a farm in Kankakee County, Illinois, where he died. He was a typical American Pioneer, and was one of the men who helped to subdue the wilderness of Illinois. His two brothers, James and Daniel, were soldiers in the war of 1812.⁷ "
     Ransom Olds had a cabin on the site of Elgin, Kane County, Illinois in 1835 and voted there in the presidential election of 1840, apparently not voting for the Whig ticket.¹⁰
Ransom Olds appeared on the census of 1840 at Kane County, Illinois, as follows: Ranshom Olds, 2 males under 5, 1 male 5-10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 30-40, 1 female under 5, 1 female 5-10, 1 female 30-40. Thus the family appears to have included the children George, John, Arthur, Mary and Lucy, all of whom are shown in the 1850 census. However, an extra male under 5 appears here.¹¹
Ransom Olds appeared on the census of 24 Jun 1850 at Burlington, Kane County, Illinois, as follows:

     Ransom Edward Olds was born on 19 Sep 1890 at Momence, Illinois.¹ He was the son of Abe Olds and Mary Fedde.¹

     Ransom Eli Olds was born on 3 Jun 1864 at Geneva, Ohio.¹ He was the son of Pliny Fisk Olds and Sarah Whipple.¹ Ransom Eli Olds married Metta Ursula Woodward on 5 Jun 1889 at Lansing, Michigan.^2,3 Ransom Eli Olds died on 26 Aug 1950 at Lansing, Michigan, at age 86⁴ and was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.⁵
     "In 1887 he built the first horseless carriage and on account of frightening horses did his driving between 3 and 4 A. M; in 1890 put the first stationary gasolene engine on the market, and organized the Olds Gas Engine Co., pioneering the gasolene engine which is today so extensively used for general purposes. In 1892 he brought out a successful motor vehicle, and in 1896 organized the Olds Motor Vehicle Co., manufacturing the first gasolene automobile; in 1899 formed the Olds Motor Works, with a capital stock of $350,000, which company manufactured Oldsmobiles on an extensive scale and grew to large proportions. In January, 1904, he sold out his interests in that company, and later in the year organized the REO MOTOR CAR CO., with a capital of $500,000; this company, of which he is the President and principal stockholder, in ten years earned assets and dividends to the amount of about $15,000,000. He is a man of big and original ideas, and is widely known as a large manufacturer and a pioneer in the gasolene engine and automobile business. He is President of the Capital National Bank, Lansing, Mich., and is president or director in many industrial as well as financial instutions; is interested in educational matters and has recently organzed Ransom Fidelity Co. for philanthropic work; is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kalamazoo College. He lives in Lansing, Mich., having a summer home at Elbamar, Grosse Island, Mich. and a winter one at Daytona Beach, Fla."⁶
     American inventor and automotive pioneer, best known as the founder of the car company that became Oldsmobile Motor Division of General Motors Corporation (GM). He was born Ransom Eli Olds on June 3, 1864, in Geneva, Ohio, the younger of two sons of Pliny Fisk Olds and Sarah Whipple Olds. His father was a blacksmith and later became a store owner. For the first 22 years of Ransom's life, the family remained in Geneva, Ohio, then moved to Lansing, Michigan, where his father opened a forge and store 'P.F. Olds and Son'. His older brother Wallace was half owner of the family business until Ransom bought him out for $1000.00. In 1886, Ransom began experimenting with a steam-powered engine. By 1887, he had built his first car, a 3-wheeled, steam-powered vehicle that could travel up to 18 miles on level ground. In 1893, P.F. Olds and Son sold a 4-wheeled steam car to a firm in India. This was the first car to be sold abroad in the United States. However, on the way to India, the ship delivering the car sank, and so the customer never received the purchase. In 1886, he received his first patent for a gasoline-powered car, and started considering opening his own business to manufacture it. He founded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in Lansing, Michigan on August 21, 1897. Olds sold his company to copper and lumber magnate Samuel L. Smith in 1899. The company was relocated from Lansing to Detroit and renamed Olds Motor Works. Smith became President while Ransom became Vice President and General Manager. In 1901 Ransom designed the legendary Curved Dash Oldsmobile which was the first commercially successful car mass-produced on an assembly line in the U.S., which sold for $650. Although the factory was destroyed by fire that year, they still sold over 600 models of the Curved Dash. In 1904 sales were up to 5000 units. Ransom and Smith clashed frequently until Smith removed Ransom from the position of Vice President and General Manager in 1904. Ransom E. Olds then left the company he had founded. The Olds Motor Works was purchased, as part of the formation of GM, by William Crapo Durant in 1908 and formed the basis of the Oldsmobile Motor Division of GM. The Oldsmobile brand, after a successful production run of 99 years, was discontinued by GM in 2004, but it is still fondly remembered with a well-deserved reputation for high quality cars noted for their leadership in technology and design. After leaving Olds Motor works, Ransom went on to form the R.E. Olds Motor Car Company which was quickly changed to Reo Motor Company to avoid a lawsuit f! rom the Olds Motor Works. The name Reo came from his initials (R.E.O.) used as an acronym. By 1907 he had built Reo into one of the automotive industry's leaders, but after declining to participate in the formation of GM in 1908, the company steadily lost ground to its competitors. Ransom Olds resigned as general manager of Reo in 1915, but he retained his seat on the board of directors. When Reo went out of the car business in 1936, Olds resigned from the board and sold his remaining stock. The firm was reorganized in 1938 as Reo Motors, Inc. a bus and truck company, with the aid of a $2 million loan from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC). In 1954, Reo merged with Diamond T. (Diamond T made excellent cabs while the Reo Gold Cornet Engine was the best available at the time.) Diamond Reo Trucks, Inc. was always known for high-quality trucks, but steadily lost market share to lower-cost competition, and went bankrupt in 1975. After 1915 Olds turned most of his attention from the automobile business to other activities, including the marketing of the world's first gasoline-powered lawn mower, which he had invented, and land development in Florida. Olds purchased 37,541 acres of land by the northern part of Tampa Bay in Florida and developed the area into what is now the city of Oldsmar, Florida, just West of Tampa. It was originally intended to be a pleasant and affordable place for ministers of all denominations to retire. Ransom E. Olds died on August 26, 1950, in Lansing, Michigan, at the age of 86. (bio by: Edward Parsons)."⁷

     Ray Benton Olds was born on 2 Feb 1880 at Ohio.³ He was the son of Albert Olds and Mary Louisa Thurston.²

     Ray C. Olds was born c 1908 at Minnesota.¹ He was the son of Frank Edward Olds and Bessie M. Pfremmer.¹
     The 1910 and 1920 census records seem to name him as RAY C. Olds and the cemetery listing for Pequot Lakes Village Cemetery shows a Ray Olds who died 3 Feb 1927 and is buried in the same lot with Bessie Olds (1883 - 1908) and an infant Clement Olds who died 6 May 1912². Neither Ray nor Clement has a stone. This agrees well with a listing of ROY C. Olds who died in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, on 2 Feb 1927 with no birth date and no mother's maiden name listed.³ However, I have no other evidence of whether it should be Roy or Ray but I choose RAY.

     Ray Eugene Olds was born on 9 May 1927 at Minnesota.^1,2 He was the son of Franklin Ellis "Frank" Olds and Ella A. Edgington.¹ Ray Eugene Olds died on 7 Mar 1985 at Dakota County, Minnesota, at age 57.³

     Ray Howard Olds was born on 22 Feb 1889.¹ He was the son of Walter Howard Olds and Carrie Estella Howard.¹ Ray Howard Olds married Adah B. Parker on 14 Aug 1912.¹ Ray Howard Olds died on 17 Dec 1966 at age 77.² He was buried at Boxwood Cemetery, Medina, Orleans County, New York.³

     Raymond Edwin Olds was born on 29 Sep 1919.¹ He was the son of Adelbert Hezekiah Olds and Matilda A. Hartley.¹

     Raymond Fenton Olds was born c 1901 at Connecticut.¹ He was the son of Anson Jonathan Olds and Sarah Swift Fenton. Raymond Fenton Olds married Abbie Olive Storrs on 23 Nov 1921.^2,3 Raymond Fenton Olds died on 10 Mar 1983 at Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
     "A quiet wedding took place Wednesday at 11 o'clock in Mansfield when Raymond Fenton Olds, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anson J. Olds of this city, and Miss Abbie Olive Storrs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter F. Storrs of Mansfield, were married by Rev. Harry S. McCready, pastor of the local Congregational church. Only immediate members of the family attended the wedding and reception which followed. The groom is employed by the father of the bride. The bride is prominent in social and church affairs in Mansfield. After a honeymoon to be spent in Massachusetts, they will reside at the home of the bride's parents."³
Raymond Fenton Olds and Abbie Olive Olds appeared on the census of 22 Apr 1940 at Mansfield, Tolland County, Connecticut, as follows:
     197 Olds, Raymond F., head, 39, 4 years h. s., b. Connecticut, Janitor at University
      , Abbie Storrs, wife, 49, 4 yrs. h. s., b. Connecticut
      , Anson, son, 16, 1 yr h. s., b. Connecticut
      , Raymond, son, 15, 8 yrs school, b. Connecticut
      , Storrs, son, 10, 3 yrs school, b. Connecticut
[The entire family had lived in the same place as of 1 Apr 1935.].⁴

     Raymond Lawson Olds was born on 27 Sep 1875 at Mendota, La Salle County, Illinois.¹ He was the son of Rinaldo Lawson Olds and Martha Jane Erskine.² Raymond Lawson Olds married May/Mary J. McDonald on 21 Oct 1896 at Burke Center, Vermont.^3,4 Raymond Lawson Olds died on 24 Mar 1900 at Wells River, Vermont, at age 24.⁵ He was buried at Howland Cemetery, Burke, Caledonia County, Vermont.⁶

     Raymond Shaw Olds married Mildred (?).² Raymond Shaw Olds was born on 7 Oct 1898.¹ He was the son of Willis Jerome Olds and Lauretta Shaw.¹ Raymond Shaw Olds died in 1958.³ He was buried.⁴

     Raymond Storrs Olds was born on 10 Apr 1925.¹ He was the son of Raymond Fenton Olds and Abbie Olive Storrs.¹ Raymond Storrs Olds married (1) Jean Carr in 1945.¹ Raymond Storrs Olds and Jean were divorced on 10 Feb 1967 at Greene County, Ohio.³ Raymond Storrs Olds died on 10 Feb 2012 at age 86.¹
     His obituary states:
     Raymond Olds
By YS News Staff Published: February 23, 2012
"Raymond Olds died Feb. 10 at Friends Care Center. He was 86.
"Ray was born on April 10, 1925, the second of four sons born to Raymond Fenton and Abbie Storrs Olds of Mansfield, Conn. Ray married Jean Carr in 1945 and they later moved to Yellow Springs where their daughter, Shawn Paige, was born.
"Ray built or substantially remodeled many homes in Yellow Springs over a four-decade span. He was in many ways ahead of his time as an advocate of simple design, ecologically-friendly weatherization and small houses. Ray strongly advocated for low-cost housing. He was a jack of all trades and a master as well. His apprentices appreciated his tutelage and clients and friends kept him busy through word of mouth advertising.
"Ray was a lifelong humanist and peace activist. He drove the Hiroshima maidens, atomic bomb survivors undergoing reconstructive surgery, during a 1956 tour of the United States. He was active in the local peacemakers group. He and his second wife, Patricia, led a bus of local protesters to the first large Washington, D.C. protest of the Iraq war. Ray was an early member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Yellow Springs and was instrumental in designing and constructing the renovation of their space in Goes.
"Although divorced in 1988, Ray and Patricia remained dear friends. He built and maintained the harpsichord used by Pat’s Early Music Group. They traveled to New England and London and cruised Alaska, Hawaii and, perhaps most memorably, the Norwegian fjords aboard the Hurtigruten, or mail boat.
"Ray is survived by Shawn and her husband, Jay Abbey, of Springfield, and his grandchildren Sonja, Adrien and Brent. He is also survived by Patricia Olds of Yellow Springs and her daughters, Claire Winold of Yellow Springs and Erika Werdal of Blaine, Wash. He was preceded in death by brothers Anson and Stedman Olds and is survived by his brother and sister-in-law Storrs and Shirley Olds.
"At his request, there will be no service."¹

     Rebecca Olds was born on 16 Sep 1756 at Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts.^1,2 She was the daughter of Reuben Olds and Mary Rice.¹

     Rebekah Olds was born on 25 Dec 1814 at Ludlow, Massachusetts.¹ She was the daughter of Nathan Olds and Hannah Wright.¹ Marriage banns for her and William Hubbard Beebe were published on 26 Feb 1835.² Rebekah Olds married William Hubbard Beebe on 1 Apr 1835.^3,4 Rebekah Olds died on 22 Jun 1878 at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, at age 63.⁵
     They went to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in 1845.³

     Reed Olds died aged 25.² He was born c 1867 at Oregon.¹ He was the son of Eli P. Olds and Minerva Hess.¹

     Reeva Gertrude Olds was born on 1 Jan 1914 at Wyanet, Bureau County, Illinois.^2,3 She was the daughter of Eugene Olds and Alice Gertrude Martin.¹ Reeva Gertrude Olds married Lawrence E. Stephenson on 13 Aug 1932 at Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois.^2,4 Reeva Gertrude Olds died on 28 Sep 2010 at Walnut Manor, Walnut, Illinois, at age 96.³
     Her obituary states:
     "Reeva Gertrude Stephenson, 96, of Wyanet died at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010, at Walnut Manor in Walnut.
"Born Jan. 1, 1914, in Wyanet to Eugene and Alice Gertrude (Martin) Olds, she married Lawrence "Steve" Stephenson Aug. 13, 1932, in Princeton. He died May 16, 1993.
She worked for Magic Chef in Harvey, Ill., making bombs, at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey in the kitchen, and drove a bus for the Wyanet School District. She was also a caregiver for many people in her community.
"She was a member of VFW Auxiliary 6634, Eastern Star, Community Bible Church of Wyanet, Wyanet Community Club, Wyanet Historical Society and the Perry Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
"Surviving are two daughters, Sue Sonin of Itasca and Pamela (William) Wroblewski of Wyanet; 11 grandchildren, Mark Wentz of Las Vegas, Nev., Michael (Jean) Wentz of St. Peters, Mo., Murray (Yvone) Wentz of Claremont, Calif., Darci (Jim) Vorisek of Hebron, Susan (George) Ralph III of Rockford, John Sonin of Juneau, Alaska, Patrick (Sara) Sonin of St. Charles, Michael Sonin of Schaumberg, Jim (Sharon) Sonin of St. Charles, Jennifer (Matt) Gerdes of Western Springs and Scott Hamrick of Bloomington; 11 great-grandchildren; two great-great-granddaughters; one sister-in-law, Marilyn Olds of Wyanet; several nieces and nephews; and a special friend and neighbor, Sharon Dale of Wyanet.
"She was also preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Elvin, Ronald and Victor Olds; and one daughter, Marilyn Jean Wentz.
"Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Grant-Johnson Funeral Home, Princeton, with Pastor Steve Scott officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Wyanet.
"Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home."
Memorials may be directed to the Wyanet Rescue Squad, Community Bible Church of Wyanet, Wyanet Historical Society or Wyanet VFW Auxiliary."^5,6

     Rena V. Olds was born in Jan 1884 at Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.^1,2 She was the daughter of Frederick G. Olds and Mary M. Hondheim.¹ Rena V. Olds died on 1 May 1903 at age 19.³ She was buried at Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.³

     Rene M. Olds was the daughter of James Van Ransler Olds and Huldah Johnson.¹

     Reuben Olds was the son of William Old and Elizabeth Walker.^2,1 Marriage banns for him and Mary Olds were published in Oct 1754 at Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts.³ Reuben Olds died b 1761.⁴
     On 9 Aug 1757, Capt. Jabez Upham's Company of militia marched out to help with the defense of Fort William Henry at the lower end of Lake George in New York. The roster included Sergt. William Old, Corp. Ezekiel Old, Comfort Old, and Reuben Old. These four were probably sons of the deceased Capt. William Old. The company arrived after the fall of Ft. Henry and were only out 17 days.⁵ In 1759, Reuben Old was on the muster roll of men in Capt. Sylvanus Walker's Brookfield Company that were out from May 15 to December 27.⁶

     Reuben Olds was born on 12 Feb 1763 at Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts.² He was the son of Ezekiel Old and Elizabeth (?).¹ Reuben Olds died on 14 Feb 1763 at Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts.³

     Reuben Olds was born in 1786 at Ludlow, Massachusetts.¹ He was the son of Samuel Olds and Annie Daniels.¹ Marriage banns for him and Polly Hayden were published on 3 Feb 1814 at Belchertown, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.² Reuben Olds married Polly Hayden on 3 Mar 1814.^3,4 Reuben Olds married (2) Mrs. Charlotte Parsons on 14 Jan 1834.⁵ Reuben Olds married (3) Polly Brown on 5 Nov 1840.^5,6 Reuben Olds married Betsy (Polly?) Lamb.⁷ Reuben Olds died on 21 Nov 1862 at Ludlow, Massachusetts,^1,8 and was buried at Liberty Cemetery, Belchertown, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.⁹
     Reuben Olds appeared on the census of 13 Aug 1850 at Ludlow, Hampden County, Massachusetts, as follows:

     Reuben Olds outlived all four of his wives, then buried two housekeepers and lived several years alone.¹¹
Reuben Olds appeared on the census of 6 Aug 1860 at Ludlow, Hampden County, Massachusetts, as follows:

     Reuben Olds was born on 5 Sep 1815 at Middlefield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.^2,3 He was the son of Levi Old and Lucintha (?).¹ Reuben Olds married Elmira Ferguson c 1837.^4,5 Marriage banns for him and Elmira Ferguson were published on 11 Mar 1837; she was of Cummington, Massachusetts.^6,7,5
     "He was living in Mid. [Middlefield] in 1840. He had a son Granville, who d. in Dalton [Massachusetts] leaving a son Silas who was living there in 1918."⁴
Reuben Olds appeared on the census of 15 Oct 1850 at Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, as follows:
     Reuben Olds, 35, farmer, b. Mass.
     Almira " , 34, b. Mass.
     Louisa L. " , 11, b. Mass.
     Madison R. " , 8, b. Mass.
     Levi F. " , 6, b. Mass.⁸

     Reuben Olds was born on 20 Oct 1759 at Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts.^1,2 He was the son of Joseph Olds and Hannah Billings.¹ Reuben Olds married Elisabeth (?) b 1781.² Reuben Olds married Azubah Walker on 17 Mar 1785 at Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts.³ Reuben Olds died on 9 Aug 1840 at Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts. This gives his calculated age as 80 years, 9 months and 20 days.^4,5
     Miss Effie May Wilcox (National Number 11068) joined the DAR on the service of Reuben Olds and her descent is listed as:
"Descendant of Reuben Olds, of Massachusetts.
"Daughter of J. Hiler Wilcox and Josephine Maria Allen, his wife.
"Granddaughter of Alanson Charles Allen and Martha Louise Badger, his wife.
"Gr.-granddaughter of Andrew Hatch Badger and Experience Paulina Olds, his wife.
"Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of Reuben Olds and Azubah Walker, his wife.
"Reuben Olds, 1776, served at the siege of Boston in Capt. Barnabas Sear's company. In 1778 he enlisted from Brookfield under Capt. John Cutler, Col. Nathaniel Wade's regiment for service in Rhode Island."⁶
     In Aug 1832 at age 71, Reuben Olds appeared before Nathaniel Paine, Probate Judge of Worcester County, Massachusetts and made an application for a pension based on his Revolutionary War service. He said, in part:
"I was born in the town of Brookfield in the county of Worcester aforesaid on the 20th day of October 1760 and my name was recorded in the records of Brookfield and I have an old bible that belonged to my father in which it is also recorded.
"At the time I first went into the service I was a resident in the town of Brookfield aforesaid and have been a resident of the same town from that time to the present except while in service.
"After the eight months service of the Minute men was out I enlisted at Brookfield aforesaid about February 1776 for two months. I went down to Dorchester, the British were there in Boston, I staid and did duty until they left Boston, I was waiter to Lieut. Nathan Hamillton, I helped fill barrels of salt to roll down the hill, I was on Dorchester heights, where the fort was built, and helped to fill up app--?-- to put around the foot of the hill ..."
He served two months, was dismissed, then came home and served eight months in the Massachusetts militia guarding military supplies at the school in Brookfield. In May 1778, he enlisted again, this time for nine months in the militia. He was discharged at East Greenwich in Rhode Island. "I was 19 months in the service of the U. S."
On 20 Sep 1897, (Miss) Effie M. Wilcox, of 148 Carew Street, Springfield, Mass., wrote the Pension Department to inquire about records of the Revolutionary Pensioner Reuben Olds. She wanted to know his birth place, date of birth, date of death and the names of his parents.
The file does not reveal the names of his parents. I am relying on the closely matching birth record at Brookfield for that.⁷

     Reuben D. Olds was born c 1854 at Wisconsin.¹ He was the son of Elijah C. Olds and Mrs. Mary Ann Poole.¹
     Reuben D. Olds appeared on the census of 5 Jun 1900 at North Pullman Precinct, Whitman County, Washington, as follows:

     Reuben H. P. Olds was born c 1819 at Ohio.¹ He was the son of Marcus Dela Fayette Olds and Jane Campbell. Reuben H. P. Olds married (1) Philena Buckingham on 4 Jul 1843 at Pittsburg, Carroll County, Indiana.^3,4 Reuben H. P. Olds married (3) Chloe Buckingham on 30 Sep 1868 at Carroll County, Indiana.^5,6 Reuben H. P. Olds died on 20 Oct 1874 at Waitsburgh, Washington,^7,8 and was buried at IOOF Cemetery, Waitsburg, Walla Walla County, Washington.^9,10
     "Reuben H. P. Olds, born on October 1, 1819 in Ohio was a farmer in the Waitsburg area. He married Philena Buckingham, daughter of Sarah Ravenscroft and Garrett Buckingham, in 1843 in Pittsburgh, Indiana. She was born in 1824 in Coshocton, Ohio and died in 1850 in Pittsburgh, Indiana. They had three children: Mary F. Olds, born on April 11 1844; William W. Olds, born on October 22, 1848 and Julia A. Olds, born on March 10, 1849.
"Reuben married second, Elizabeth Mays. They had three children: Sarah Jane Olds, born in 1854; Charlotte Mays Olds, born in 1856; and Laura Ella Olds, born in 1856 [sic]. In 1860 Reuben was employed as a broom maker in Walkers Mill, Josephine, Oregon.
"In 1865 Reuben married a third wife, Chloe Buckingham, the younger sister of his first wife. Reuben died on October 20, 1874 and is buried in Waitsburg."
Reuben H. P. Olds appeared on the census of 31 Jul 1850 at District No. 9, Carroll County, Indiana, as follows:
     76/76 Rubin P. Olds, 31, limeburner, $1200 real estate, b. Ohio
      Thelina Olds, 35, b. ditto
      Mary F. Olds, 6, b. Ind.
      William W. Olds, 3, b. ditto
      Juliet Olds, 1, b. ditto.¹¹
     Ruben P. Olds, born in Ohio in 1819, arrived in Oregon 8 Aug 1852, settled claim 15 Dec 1854, married Elizabeth 1 Sep 1853 in Jackson County, Oregon Territory. His claim for 320 acres was in T39S, R7W, sections 19, 20 and 30 in Illinois Valley, Josephine County. This claim was cancelled.¹
     On 18 Jan 1859, "H B. 55, An Act to Divorce Reuben P. Olds" received its third reading and was passed. Although some men's entries for divorce bills named the wife, this one does not.¹²
Reuben H. P. Olds appeared on the census of 11 Jun 1860 at Leland Post Office, Walkers Mill Precinct, Josephine County, Oregon, as follows:
     167/155 Reuben P. Olds, 40, broommaker, $200 real, $500 personal, b. Ind.
      John Donnelly, 30, laborer, $200 real, $100 personal, b. unknown
      A. McDonnell, 30, farm laborer, b. unknown.¹³
     For a while, Reuben Olds ran a profitable ferry business across the Snake River between Idaho and Oregon.
"OLDS FERRY T11N, R7W, Section 7 Number 758 1982
"Reuben P. Olds and associates established the ferry in 1863. On January 22, 1864, the first session of the Idaho territorial legislature granted Reuben Olds, Rideout and Company a six-year charter for their already established ferry. They also authorized the following toll rates:
One team with wagon, $3.00
Each extra team, $1.00
Each pack animal, loaded.75¢
Pack animals returning, each.50¢
Horse and rider.75¢
Footman.25¢
Loose animals, each.25¢
(Idaho Session Laws, 1863-64, pp. 669-670.)
"In the spring of 1864, David Rideout placed his 1/3 interest up for sale. He asked $8,000 for his share in the ferry and claimed the purchaser could recover the investment in six months. (Boise News, May 7, 1864, p. 4, c. 3.)
"In 1865, Olds joined forces with William Packwood and John Parton to form the Oregon Road, Bridge and Ferry Company. Between August 1865 and April 1866, the company reported gross ferry receipts of $25,411.11. (IRAL, Microcopy 763.)
"When the company dissolved its holdings in 1868, William Green became the proprietor of Olds ferry. On April 2, 1878, the Ada County Commissioners granted T. J. Carter a one-year license to run the ferry. (Ada County Commissioners’ Records, Book A, p. 32.)"¹⁴
     "Olds' Ferry near Farewell Bend. The automobile on the ferry dates the photo around 1915.
James L. Huntley in his book "Ferry Boats in Idaho,"1979 (R386.6/H954/973) says the ferry was located 12 miles west of Weiser where Snake River turns north, about a quarter mile and later a half mile east of Farewell Bend. In 1862 Abernathy had a store on the Idaho side. In 1863 Reuben P. Olds, former employee of Hudson Bay Co., bought the store and got a franchise from Idaho Territory Legislature to operate the ferry. Partner was David Rideout."¹⁵
     "In early manhood the father [Reuben] engaged in speculating and went to California about 1850. He was with the party who discovered Boise Basin in Idaho and afterward located Olds' Ferry on the Snake river. That point was a busy and important one, as all freight bound to Boise, Idaho, and Umatilla, Oregon, was transported over the river there. Upon selling his property there about 1868 Mr. Olds located at Walla Walla Washington, where he purchased land and turned his attention to farming. While a resident of Josephine county, Oregon he was elected to various county and town offices which he filled acceptably. He passed away in 1873 [sic] and his wife [Philena] died when our subject [Wm. W. Olds] was a child."¹⁶
     In 1867, Reuben applied for custody of his children: "HABEUS CORPUS. -- A writ of habeus corpus was sued out yesterday before Judge Shattuck, by Reuben Olds, to procure the custody of several children, the issue of the said Olds and Mrs. E. M. Bath, a saloon keeper on Front street. Olds and Mrs. Bath were formerly husband and wife, but are since divorced. Mrs. Bath has heretofore had the children with her; but as she has gone into the saloon business and employs the children, girls, as waiters and dancers, Olds is not willing that she shall keep them. The divorce of the parties was procured by Olds of the Legislature, and no award of the custody of the children has ever been made. Hence this suit. The cause will be heard by Judge Shattuck to-day."¹⁷
Reuben H. P. Olds and Chloe Olds appeared on the census of 28 Jul 1870 at Waitsburg, Walla Walla County, Washington Territory, as follows:
     24/25 Olds, R. P., 51, farmer, $600 real, $2000 personal, b. Ohio
      , Chloe, 37, keeping house, b. Ind.
      Wilson, Geo., 5, b. Ind.
      Cronin, David, 24, farm hand, b. Conn.¹⁸
     Reuben H. P. Olds left a will on 20 Oct 1874 at Walla Walla County, Washington.
     "The Last Will and Testament of R. P. Olds, made on Tuesday 20th day of October, 1874.
"I want my property to go to my wife first, she is sole proprietor. At my wife's death I want out of the proceeds of the land to educate her son, George M. Wilson.
"I will to my son Wm. to have my gold pen.
"I leave to my daughter Sarah Jane $100 one hundred dollars
"Also will my daughter Charlotte the sum of $100.00 one hundred dollars
"This Will shall not go into effect until the death of my wife.
"I will Frank and Julia $400.00 each four hundred dollars
"My daughter Laura Ella Olds $50.00 fifty dollars
"I want my debts paid off.
"I leave my son William $400.00 four hundred dollars.
"The balance to be divided equally between my brothers and sisters.
                    Reuben P. Olds
Witnesses:
W. W. Day [He was Reuben's doctor who later billed the estate for care.]
William Fudge
"I wish W. N. Smith to be the exeutor of this Will, this my request.
(Filed February 10th, 1875)
(Recorded Vol. "1" of Wills, page 96).¹⁹
     On 3 Feb 1875 at the request of Chloe Olds, R. Guichard, Probate Judge, issued a citation for W. N. Smith to appear on 10 Feb 1875 and begin the probate process. Attached to the copy of this order is a list of the heirs at law of the estate of R. P. Olds, deceased:
"Chloe Olds, surviving wife of Reuben P. Olds, deceased.
by 2nd wf Sarah J. Gilbert, daughter, McMinnville, Oregon, 21 years 10/9/1875
" 1st " Mrs. Frank Coyt, daughter, Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, 31 years
" 1st " Julia Clark, daughter, Waitsburg, Washington, Terr, 26 years
" 2nd " Charlotte Wilson, daughter, 19 years 14/6/75 residence Sacramento City 18 years
" 2nd " Laura Ella Olds, daughter, 14 years, 4/10/75 Adin Big Valley, Siskiou Co., California, now married to Laird and lives now in Susanville, Lassen County, California
" 1st " William Olds, son, Porterville, California, 28 years"
[This record appears to be giving age at next birthday, with date, for most of the daughters.].²⁰
     On 9 March 1876, William N. Smith filed with the Probate Court of Walla Walla County, Washington Territory, a petition to sell some of the real estate of Reuben P. Olds, deceased, in order to pay the debts of the estate. This petition provides the following facts:
William N. Smith was executor of the last will and testament of Reuben P. Olds who had died 20 Oct 1874 as a resident of Walla Walla County. He had left a will which had been submitted for probate and letters testamentary were issued to William N. Smith. The personal property, exclusive of the family allowance, had been sold and the proceeds used but there were still many debts of the estate. Some of the real estate (listed) would need to be sold.
Chloe Olds Babcock, age 41, widow of the deceased, is the only devisee under the said will and has only a life estate in said property. The other heirs of said deceased are:
Sarah J. Gilbert, daughter, age 21
Mrs. Frank Coyt, daughter, age 31
Julia Clark, daughter, age 26
Charlotte Wilson, daughter, age 19
Laura Ella Laird, daughter, age 14
William Olds, son of deceased, age 28
Marquis DeLafayette Olds, brother of deceased, 55
Alfred A. Olds and Albert (N?) Olds, twin brothers of deceased, age 42
A.[sic] H. P. Olds, age 48
Charlotte Jones, sister of deceased, age 46.²¹
     A petition for an order to sell real estate filed by Joel C. Baker, administrator de bonis non [Administrator of goods not distributed, in place of a former administrator] included the following information:

     On 25 Nov 1913, the court ordered that the following were the only heirs and were entitled to the remaining estate in the following amounts or proportions:

When this was done, Joel C. Baker was to be discharged from his duties and bond.²⁴
     Reuben's estate records mention only two wives and Chloe is called the second wife. Howver, Chloe and Reuben had no children and, in one list, children are assigned to first and second wives.

     Reva Olds was born c 1905 at Michigan.² She was the daughter of Arthur E. Olds and Phebe Gates.¹ Reva Olds married Jacob A. Wortz on 20 Mar 1922 at Alba, Antrim County, Michigan.^1,3