David Olmsted (May 5, 1822 – February 2, 1861) was the fourth mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota and first president of the Minnesota Territorial Council. He was a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

Career

He was born in

Fairfax, Vermont Fairfax is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 5,014 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Geography The New England town of Fairfax is in southern Franklin County and is bordere ...

, and spent many years as a trader with the Winnebago Indians near

Fort Atkinson, Iowa Fort Atkinson is a city in Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 312 at the time of the 2020 census. It is home to the historic Fort Atkinson State Preserve and hosts a large annual fur-trapper rendezvous each September. F ...

, and at

Long Prairie, Minnesota Long Prairie is a town in Todd County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,458 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat. and the oldest town in the County. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a to ...

, in 1848 before settling in St. Paul in 1853. Olmsted served in the first Iowa Constitutional Convention of 1846; he then served in the Minnesota Territorial Legislature in the Minnesota Territorial Council in 1849 and 1851. He also edited the '' Minnesota Democrat'', a frontier newspaper. After the city's charter was written in 1854, he was elected the city's first mayor and served one term. He was replaced by

Alexander Ramsey Alexander Ramsey (September 8, 1815 April 22, 1903) was an American politician. He served as a Whig and Republican over a variety of offices between the 1840s and the 1880s. He was the first Minnesota Territorial Governor. Early years and fam ...

. His wife was named Stevens, they had two children. He left Minnesota because of failing health, dying at his mother's house in Vermont.

Minnesota Territorial Council

The

1st Minnesota Territorial Legislature The 1st Minnesota Territorial Legislature first convened on September 3, 1849. The 9 members of the Minnesota Territorial Council and the 18 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were elected during the General Election of August 1, 18 ...

convened on September 3, 1849. The first act of business for the Territorial Council was to select a president ''

pro tempore ''Pro tempore'' (), abbreviated ''pro tem'' or ''p.t.'', is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a ''locum tenens'' (placeholder) in the absence of ...

.'' Samuel Burkleo was elected on Olmsted's motion. The following day, Olmsted received 5 votes out of 9 to be elected the permanent president of the Council. He recited the first recorded address to the Minnesota Territorial Council: The following day, committees were appointed. Olmsted, as president, would serve on none during his first term.

Legacy

Olmsted County, Minnesota Olmsted County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population is 162,847. Its county seat and most populous city is Rochester. Olmsted County is part of the Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area. History ...

, is named in his honor.

References

External links

Biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olmsted, David 1822 births 1861 deaths People from Fairfax, Vermont Editors of Minnesota newspapers Members of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature Mayors of Saint Paul, Minnesota 19th-century American politicians Olmsted County, Minnesota