THOMAS OLIVER, b 17 Sep 1817

OLIVER, WARRINER, ELLIOTT, MITCHELL, BUDD, PRYOR, ROBBINS

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 8/19/2004 at 07:07:11

Thomas Oliver, a pioneer of 1843, was one of the first settlers in the neighborhood where he now resides, and at a time when the nearest trading point and market was at the embryo town of Dubuque. His property is pleasantly located on section 9, in Brandon Township, and the farm is operated by his son-in-law, Mr. Levi Warriner, Mr. Oliver having wisely retired from active labor. This farm embraces 145 acres of fertile and well-cultivated land, and upon it stands a set of first-class buildings - a substantial stone house, good barns, and other structures for the storage of grain and the shelter of stock. Although probably not the hero of any very thrilling event, Mr. Oliver has distinguished himself as an honest man and a good citizen, just such an one as was most needed during the development of his township.

A native of the County of Sussex, England, our subject was born Sept. 17, 1817, and is the son of Joseph and Abigail (Elliott) Oliver, the former of whom spent his entire life in his native England. The mother, in 1840, setting sail from Catherine Dock, London, came to the United States with her little family, and settled in Brandon Township, this county, where she spent the remainder of her life. Of the nine children born to the parents of our subject only three lived to mature years, and of these Thomas was the eldest. His brother William died in England. Caroline came to America, married Mr. James Mitchell, and is now a resident of Brandon Township.

Our subject was reared to manhood in his native shire, and in 1838, about the time of reaching his majority, was married to Miss Mary Budd, a native of his own county. They accompanied the mother of our subject to this country, and first took up their abode on Long Island. Five months later they removed to Stark County, Ohio, where they lived two years, then returned to Long Island, and resided there eighteen months. Their next removal was back to Ohio, where they lived until 1845, and then, accompanied by William Pryor, an uncle of Mrs. Oliver, they set out overland with teams for Iowa. They spent the first winter at Cascade, and the following spring our subject, coming to this county, entered eighty acres of land in Brandon Township, and which is now included in his present farm. His first business was to put up a log cabin for the shelter of his little family, and next he proceeded to construct a homestead from the wilderness. Mrs. Oliver not long afterward was stricken with consumption, and died in January, 1853, leaving no children.

In 1854 Mr. Oliver returned to Ohio, and contracted a second marriage with Miss Mary Budd, a cousin of his first wife, and also a native of England. Of this union there were born two children, the eldest of whom, May, is the wife of Levi Warriner, already spoken of, and the mother of two children - Charles and Owen. Emma married Mr. John Robbins, of Ozark. Mrs. Mary (Budd) Oliver departed this life of heart disease in 1879. She was a lady possessing all the Christian virtues, and an active member of the Presbyterian Church, officiating as Superintendent of the Sunday-school for a period of seventeen years.

Mr. Oliver, although not identified with any religious organization, is a regular attendant upon divine service, and contributes to the support of the Gospel. He cast his first Presidential vote for Taylor, and is a stanch supporter of Republican principles, but has uniformly declined to be a candidate for any office. He is fond of his home and his family, and finds his chief happiness amid the quiet pursuits of rural life.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)