OLIVER, Walter: Died 1921

OLIVER

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri (email)
Date: 9/12/2013 at 07:42:56

SELMA YOUTH FASTS 50 DAYS
**Handwritten: May 21 1921

WALTER OLIVER, CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR DURING WAR, WAITS FOR BLESSINGS.

Walter Oliver, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Oliver who lives two miles east of Selma, has been fasting for over fifty days and is now in a very serious condition.

He says that he will not eaat until he receives a blessing from the Lord which he maintains he deserves because of a life of sacrifice.

Young Oliver was drafted into the army during the world war and was sent to Camp Dodge with a contingent from his community. When he arrived there he refused to don the uniform because he claimed his religious scruples would not permit it. After considerable investigation of his case he was sent to the federal prison at Leavenworth, Kan., and spent the period of the war and some additional months there. He has been at home now for some time.

When he first began refusing food he would sit down to the family table taking his Bible with him and reading it while the other members ate their food. His only sustenance was a glass of water.

Later he refused all nourishment in spite of the entreaties of his family. His family physician was called and he tried to persuade Oliver from his fasting. It was of no avail and he is now in bed in a very weak condition.
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SELMA YOUTH DIES AFTER 60 DAYS' FASTING

Walter Oliver Who Refused to Wear U.S. Uniform Waited Revelation.

RELIGIOUS SCRUPLES BASIS FOR ACTION
**Handwritten: 1921

BY GENEVIEVE G. DAGGETT

Selma, May 24.-Walter Oliver, died late yesterday on the sixtieth day of his self imposed fast, without so far as his family know, ever having received the message from his God, for which he waited. During the two months of his fast he has taken nothing but water, and would accept that from no one but his younger brother, Abraham, for fear that others would attempt to give him some form of nourishment in the water.

His family will say little of his death, or of the long anxious days which preceded it, when he could not be persuaded to partake of food. "The Lord has ordered me to fast, and at the proper time a message will come from the Lord to relieve me" was the burden of his repeated protestations when his family, ministers and doctors urged him to eat.

"I am sure my son died with his faith unshaken" was the only thing the father, Harrison Oliver, stern in his grief, would say, beyond the fact that Walter Oliver, when he commenced his fast, had no idea that his faith would be tested until death relieved him.

The family are of the Dunkard faith, and the sisters of the self imposed martyr come and go, in the plain blue chambray frocks and bonnets, which are favored by those of that belief. The big, substantial white farmhouse, two miles east of Selma shelters a real grief, although it is a silent one, Monday night, after the son's death the house in utter darkness.

DOCTOR CALLED AFTER MONTH

It was not until Walter Oliver had gone without food for thirty-five days, that Dr. J.B. Gray of Selma was called to see him. The physician said that there was nothing to do for him unless he could be persuaded to eat. At this time, and subsequently, Dr. Gray's urgings were unavailing. Young Oliver, he was 26 years of age, expected each day to receive the message that would release him. Each day, his family expected him to eat, and this is thte(sp) reason they give for not having called in a doctor earlier.

Sunday, Dr. T.G. McClure of Douds visited the Oliver home through the urging of neighbors. He found Oliver to be very thin and weak, though not so emaciated as might have been expected under the circumstances and his pulse fairly strong when his long fast was considered.

The physician realized that the youth was very ill and would undoubtedly die within a short time unless something was done, and that in all probability it was too late to save him, by any means.

STARTED TO HOSPITAL

He told the father that it was a forlorn hope and a desperate chance, but persuaded him to try to take the boy to the psychopathic hospital at Iowa City, where artificial nourishment could be administered. Yesterday morning the attempt was made. Young Oliver was carried as far as the doctor's car, which was to take him to Iowa City. Dr. McClure found him to be too weak, after even that slight effort, to make it feasible to attempt the journey. He was taken back to the home, where he died a few hours later, apparently without regaining consciousness. It is probable that he never knew of the final effort which was made to save his life. On the day before, Sunday, the physician tried to administer a little nourishment, the white of an egg in a glass of water, but was successful in feeding Oliver but a few sips of the liquid. At that time, he was apparently asleep, but had been conscious earlier in the day.

Although it is impossible to find out the details of Walter Oliver's long penance from his family, rumors are many in the community. It is said that he read his Bible often during the weary hours, and later members of his family read it aloud to him. During the first few weeks of his fast, he went to the table at meal time, but could not be persuaded to ear. Later he became too weak to rise from his bed, but his determination to wait for the blessing of the Lord which he maintained was due him because of his life of sacrifice never faltered.

SCOFFED U.S. UNIFORM

Young Oliver went to Camp Dodge with one of the draft contingents from this community. It is said by some of the residents of Selma that he was "rarin' to go," as were many of the other boys of his age in the town, when the United States first entered the war. For some reason he did not volunteer, and before the draft had claimed him he experienced a change of heart. The reading of religious literature is said by some to be the reason. Others say it was radical and socialistic literature that influenced him against serving.

It is known, however, that one at Camp Dodge, he refused to wear the uniform, and gave as his reason religious scruples against military service. One informant says the boy was painted yellow at Camp Dodge.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 246, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA