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George Welsh Olmsted was born May 18, 1874, in Ridgway, Pennsylvania to Frannie Frances and Samuel Ashbel Olmsted, the first sawmill owner in Elk County. In 1898, he worked as a salesman for the wholesale and produce dealer F.J. Schabacker in Erie. One of his clients, J.G. Curtis, convinced Olmsted to work for his general store in Ludlow, Pennsylvania. Subsequently, Curtis employed Mr. Olmsted to manage his tannery. In 1901, Mr. Olmsted was one of six people who bought the tannery from Curtis. George Olmsted served as secretary of J.G. curtis Leather company for the remainder of his life.
On June 17, 1904, he married Iva Catherine Groves, daughter of Mary Angeline Pendelton and the Reverend Anthony Groves. Miss Groves attended Clarion State teacher's college, receiving a teacher's certificate. Their first child, Robert, was born in 1908 and his sister, Elizabeth (Betty), in 1912.
Long Island Lighting Company
Mr. Olmsted's interest in the power industry began in 1908 when Ellis Phillips of New York installed an electric power plant for the leather tannery. Forming a partnership with Phillips, Mr. Olmsted bought three small electric companies in New York. In 1910, he organized the Long Island Lighting Company. through some 50 purchases and mergers, the company grew rapidly in the next twenty years and eventually furnished electricity and gas to almost all of Long Island east of the New York City line. Mr. Olmsted was the first president of the Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO). -Kelly C. Miller 1992
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2001 Olmsted Manor
photo credit: Janet DiBucci
