I was searching for some info on S H Olmsted and came across a post dating back to May 1 2005. The original poster was Steven G. Miller. The post went like this.

Steven G Miller " I'm trying identify the namesake for the UCV post in Sedalia, MO, post # 985. Who was S.H. Olmstead, the man for whom it was named?"

Reply by hrf " A real long shot, but all I find: History of Sedalia lists an S. H. Olmsted (no a) and wife as founding members and he as first clerk of the East Sedalia Baptist Church, established 1875. This church is still extant, website: http://www.esbchurch.com/ Maybe they still have records from that era. But, the 1860 and 1880 censuses do not show any Olmsted/Olmstead's in Pettis County, and no marriages for same 1865-85, so he may have been there only briefly. There also seems to be no matching Confederate vet listed on NPS website."

Reply by Steven G Miller "Thanks for the msg, hfr, about the mysterious Rev./Colonel Spencer H. Olmsted. By one newspaper account, he was from New York State and had a military education. He seems to have ties to Austerlitz, NY, but I�ve been unable to find any info on him there. A newspaper article said he was a graduate of the Hamilton Theological Seminary, but the school has no record of him at all.

Here is what I know about him:

He was elected pastor of First Baptist Church, Boonville, MO from July 14, 1858 to June 1, 1858. According to church records, he resigned on December 1, 1858, to assume job as pastor of another church.

He was listed as the pastor of Huntsville Baptist Church in Randolph County, Missouri, in 1859.

Missouri Baptist Church records list him as the pastor of the Parkville (MO) Baptist Church in 1860 and 1861.

On October 5, 1861 an article in the NEW YORK TIMES. The article, BAD STATE OF AFFAIRS IN MISSOURI, said that two weeks before, Rev. S.H. Olmstead had left Platte City after rebels under Col. Smith threatened pro-Union citizens. The pastor said that the Rebs had defeated a group of Jawhawkers and then shelled Platte City. Olmstead evacuated his family to the country, and returned to his home to find it riddled with cannonballs and ransacked. He left for the North immediately.

In September 1862 Spencer H. Olmstead became a member of Co. C, 3rd NY Cavalry.

On January 17, 1863, he was authorized to recruit the �Sprague Light Cavalry�, which became the 16th New York Cavalry. He was mustered in as Lieutenant-Colonel on August 21, 1863. Apparently he made someone mad because he was courtmartialed and dismissed, November 21, 1863. He was found guilty of �receiving both transportation in kind and traveling expenses for the same journey.�

In 1875 he and his wife were founding members of the East Sedalia Baptist Church. He was made clerk of the church, but not the pastor.

This material came from several sources, and I believe it�s all about the same man. I still don�t know what happened to him, but the biggest mystery may be: how did a Yankee cavalry colonel get a post of the UCV named in his honor!!!

Steve"

Here is the information I have on him:

I have this information on S H Olmsted from the Aug 15-16 1882 Ex-Confederates Reunion at Sedalia Mo.

Steven Henry Olmsted PO Address Sedalia Mo Place of Nativity Ill. When enlisted June 5 1861 Where Enlisted Memphis TN Company A. Reg 3 Ark Brigade Forrest Division Forrest Rank Capt of Cav

The Name of the UCV CAMP 985 was Sedalia located in Sedalia S H Olmsted was the Commander of the Camp. His is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.

GOD BLESS HIS SOLE

Keith Daleen