For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 743
ARTHUR J. OLIVER, M. D.....Arthur J. Oliver, M. D., whose time and talents are devoted to the practice of medicine and surgery in Muscatine, has always been a resident of the middle west and seems to possess the spirit of energy and enterprise which has been the dominent factor in the upbuilding and progress of this section of the country. His birth occurred in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, August 18, 1870, his parents being James and Emily ( Scott ) Oliver.The family is of Irish lineage. The paternal grandfather, Stephen Oliver, was a native of County Cork, Ireland, but when fifteen years of age he left that country to become a resident of America, settling first in New York city, while later he removed to Batavia, New York, and subsequently became a resident of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he followed blacksmithing and wagon-making. He was thus closely connected with the industrial activity of the place to the time of his death, which occurred when he was seventy-one years of age. He married a Miss Kendall and they had four children : William, Mary, Louisa and James K. The maternal grandfather of Dr. Oliver was Horace Scott, a native of New York, who devoted his attention in early life to merchandising and subsequently took up the occupation of farming. In 1871 he established his home in Palo Alto county, Iowa, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits and also engaged in preaching as a minister of the Christian church. His noble, upright life had marked influence in the community in which he lived, and when he passed away, at the age of sixty-nine years, his death was the occasion of deep regret to many who knew him. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Moore and they had a large family, namely : Emily E., Jeanette, Ida, Horace, Walter, Benjamin and Matilda.
James K. Oliver, the father of Dr. Oliver, was born in the Empire state and in early manhood followed the profession of school teaching. Following his removal to Iowa he turned his attention to the lumber business in Dubuque but later became identified with agricultural pursuits, settling on a farm in Clay county, Iowa. His remaining days were devoted to the tilling of the soil. At the time of the Civil war, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations to aid in the defense of the Union, enlisting in Company K, Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry, of which he was made first sergeant. He continued with the command through the four years of strife and made a most creditable military record, participating in many hotly contested engagements and taking his place on the picket line when occasion demanded or marching with the troops as they made their way after the retreating enemy. He married Emily Scott, a native of Ohio, and they became the parents of three children : Arthur J., Edna M., who is living in Ruthven, Iowa ; and lola M., also a resident of Ruthven. The death of the father occurred in 1908 when he was sixty-eight years of age, and the mother passed away in 1898 at the age of fifty years. She was a consistent member of the Christian church, and both were held in high esteem by a large circle of friends.
Dr. Oliver was reared upon the home farm in Clay county, early becoming familiar with the tasks of plowing, planting and harvesting. In his early youth he attended the district schools but, ambitious to enjoy broader educational opportunities, afterward entered Drake University and thus in a comprehensive literary education laid the foundation upon which to build the superstructure of his professional knowledge. In preparation for the practice of medicine he entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1896. He then opened an office in Muscatine, where he has since practiced and the growth of his patronage indicates the recognition of his ability on the part of the public. He belongs to the Muscatine County Medical Society, the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and enjoys the respect of his fellow practitioners because of his close conformity to a high standard of professional ethics.
On the 21st of February, 1898, Dr. Oliver married Miss Nellie Fitzgerald, a native of Muscatine, where her parents, James and Nanno ( Kennefick ) Fitzgerald, settled at an early day. They were natives of Ireland. Dr. and Mrs. Oliver have one child, Nanno R., who is with her parents in the family residence at No. 316 Walnut street, which property is owned by Dr. Oliver.
Mrs. Oliver is a member of the Catholic church. The Doctor belongs to Iowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M.; Washington Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M.; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Improved Order of Red Men. His political support is given to the republican party, and in all matters relative to the general welfare he is deeply interested. He is respected by the community at large and honored by his professional associates.
Back to Biographical Index Page