Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers. "An Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties") Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1905. p. 549. EMMITT OLDS is one of the highly respected and worthy citizens of Sherman county and he and his estimable wife have labored together here for years in worthy effort to build up the country and to improve the morals of the people and better the conditions of every one. They have shown thrift and wisdom in their labors and are reaping the deserved success. Emmitt Olds was born in Yamhill county, Oregon, on September 13, 1846. His father, Ruel Olds, was a native of New York and crossed the plains with ox teams in 1844, settling on a donation claim in Yamhill county. There he remained until his death in 1883. He married Elmina Perkins, also a native of New York, the wedding occurring in Chicago. The father's parents died when he was a lad and he grew up to manhood in Illinois. He did farm work there and also learned to make brick and wrought at that trade in Chicago for some years. Later, he established a brick manufactory in Yamhill county and burned the only brick made there for years. Our subject remained under the parental roof until his father's death then came to Sherman county and engaged in sheep raising. He took the place where he now resides, a mile and one-half northeast from Grass Valley, as a homestead and since then has bought other land in various portions of the county. He owns four hundred and eighty acres of good land, has thirty head of horses and as many well bred cattle. His efforts principally, however, are confined to grain raising, in which he has made a good success. On November 23, 1873, in Yamhill county, near Lafayette, Mr. Olds married Miss Elizabeth Messinger, who was born in Guthrie county, Iowa, on October 22, 1857. Her father, Solomon Messinger died in 1862 at Burnt River, Idaho, while he was crossing the plains. His wife, Elizabeth (Brown) Messinger, was accompanying him and was forced to make the balance of the journey alone. The trip was a very severe one owing to trouble with the Indians, sickness in the family and the death of her husband. She bought land in Yamhill county and there remained, a widow, until her death in 1867. Mr. Olds has three brothers and three sisters, Elzina, widow of James L. Steward, at McMinnville, Oregon ; Burzilda, wife of John W. Messinger, at Moro, Oregon ; May, wife of Charles B. Taylor, who died in 1885 ; Eli, in Tillamook county ; Nelson, in Yamhill county ; D. J., South Bend, Washington. Mrs. Olds has the following named brothers and sisters : Michael, a farmer in Idaho ; Monroe, a miner , Annie, widow of Taylor Morris, in Phoenix, Arizona ; Phoebe, wife of George Cornwall ; and Mary, wife of John W. Dunn. The last two named are deceased. Our subject is a member of the A. O. U. W. and takes an active interest in political matters. He has been delegate to nearly every county convention since he was twenty-one and has held such offices as constable, school director and so forth. He was the second postmaster of Grass Valley and is now serving his fifth term as stock inspector of this county. In this capacity, Mr. Olds has shown a faithfulness and wisdom that commend him to his constituents. The children born to our subject and his wife are named as follows: Lewis, living three miles southeast of his father's place, a farmer ; Charles B., Willie R., Frank, Dell, A. Dean, Chester all at home ; Lela, wife of Brittam, Tygh Valley ; Bertie wife of George L. Brown, of Tygh Valley ; Myrtle I., at home. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2010 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.