Thomas OLIVER

OLIVER, PIERCE, DUNLAP

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/14/2008 at 14:25:29

Memorial and Biographical Record of Turner, Lincoln, Union, & Clay Counties, 1897, page 369

Bruce Oliver, an intelligent and industrious farmer, residing on section 20 of Canton Township, is well and favorably known throughout Lincoln county. He was born in LaPorte county, Indiana, March 19, 1843, and shortly afterwards removed with his parents to Lake county of the same state, where he grew to be a lad of ten years, at which time he accompanied his parents to Wright county, Iowa. In the Hawkeye state he grew to manhood, being twenty-five years old when he left Wright county and went to the southern part of Missouri, and in the latter region he remained about a year. His appearance in Lincoln county, Dakota Territory, was made about June, 1869, when he took up 160 acres as a homestead, and on this land he has since continued to reside. He has improved his original claim and as he prospered added thereto, and his present landed possessions aggregate 480 acres of some of the finest property in the county. His energy has all been expended in the betterment of his condition, and he has succeeded admirably, being held in high esteem and looked upon as one of the prominent and leading agriculturist of the locality. He has held some of the township offices, and takes quite an interest in all local matters, using his influence wherever possible in favor of good and business-like government of township, county, and state. All in all he is a true citizen, honorable as a man whose character is irreproachable, and popular among his fellow men. Socially he is a member of the F. & A, M. order at Canton. The efficient and faithful helpmate, who has been our subject's life companion, was formerly Miss Emily Almeda Dunlap, and became the bride of Mr. Oliver in Belmond, Wright county, Iowa, the ceremony occurring on the first day of the year 1867. Her parents, William and Cordelia (Pierce) Dunlap, were both natives of New York from where they removed to Iowa. They are now residents of Lane County, Ore. They were the parents of seven children, five sons and two daughters, and Mrs. Oliver was the eldest of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver have been blessed by the following children: William Ernest, who is employed in the government weather bureau at Galveston, Texas; Ralph who is following farming in Canton township; Clarence; Fred; Lewis, and Bernice.

Mr. Oliver's parents were Thomas and Deborah Oliver, and our subject was one of a family of eight children, which consisted of five sons and three daughters. The father, while on a visit to Dade county, Missouri, died in 1870, and the mother passed beyond the dark river in Harper county, Kansas, January 2, 1894.