William T. Oliver
taken from the Montgomery County History 1903
William T. Oliver, a respected and worthy representative of that occupation dignified by such men as Washington farming, resides on a well cultivated farm, three miles from the stirring market town of Elk City. He is approaching the evening of life, and has reached a point in his career where he can lay aside, to some extent, the implements of industry and, thereby, lighten the burdens of life. He came of patriotic stock, his grandfather having been one of the “immortals” who bravely took up arms against English tyranny, in the days of the war for American Independence.
Mr. Oliver was born in East Tennessee, in the year 1828 and is a son of Walter and Frances (Riddle) Oliver. It was grandfather James Riddle who participated in the Revolutionary struggle and who, after that even, immigrated with his family, to the Blue Ridge Slopes of Tennessee. He settled in MacMinn county, where he continued to reside during the remainder of his life. As his father died before our subject reached mature years, the latter is not familiar with the family history on that side. However, the Olivers are known to be of Welch descent and this branch of the family settled in East Tennessee in a very early day. Mother Oliver lived to a very great age, dying in 1893, in her ninety-third year. She was a woman of strong character and kept her facilities almost up to the last. She reared five children: Elizabeth, Sarah Jane, William T., James and Lucinda.
Mr. Oliver, of this review was reared in East Tennessee, and in 1852 moved to Marion county, Illinois. Here he continued to reside until 1855, when he joined the Free State men, who were coming into Kansas for the purpose of securing the state to the cause of liberty. He settled at Lawrence, having driven through from Marion county, in the primitive prairie schooner of that day. He rented land in the vicinity of Lawrence and, until 1861 was a participant in the exciting incidents which have made Lawrence the center of interests since that day. In the latter year, he moved down into Woodson County, where he remained during the period of the war, and from whence, in 1868 he came down into Montgomery county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres, a part or the farm on which his present home is situated.
At a later day, as prosperity came to him, he added one hundred and thirty acres to his domain, and now possesses a tract of as fine farming land as could be found in the county. Mr. Oliver is one of the old pioneers who went through all the hardships and trials incident to the “early times” in the “Sunflower State,” and his success in life is all the more gratifying because it is so well earned.
The domestic life of Mr. Oliver was begun, in 1866 by his union with Mrs. Sarah C. (Swayford) Murray as a partner for life. To them have been born twelve children,as follows: Rebecca who married Charles Wieninger and resides at Independence, with four children; Eva, Nellie Pearl, Henry and Thomas, James who died June 1901; Mary, Mrs. Jasper Wolf, of Chautauqua county, Kansas: her children being: William, John, Albert Ollie and Edna; Eldorn, Thomas who died in infancy; William Albert, who died at thirteen years; Martha, who resides in Inndependence, is the wife of George Page; Sherman is still at the old home and is married to Amanda Wheeler; Joseph, who married Carrie Newton, is a farmer of Sycamore township and has a daughter, Florin L.; Emery married Myrtle Farris and resides on the home farm; John and Henry Arthur are young men residing at the old home; and Robert Leonard who died at the age of Thirteen years.
No more respected family has residence in Louisburg township then that of Mr. Oliver. Their connection with the social life of the neighborhood, in which they have so long resided, has been such as to elevate the moral tone of the community, they being active workers in the Friends’ church, during this period. In matters of public import, Mr. Oliver has taken a good citizen’s part, and has always exerted his influence in securing the best in matters of education and local government. His political belief is in the principles, as laid down in the Republican plat form, he having been a supporter of that party from the very beginning of its existence. He has voted for every Republican president since Fremont and is proud of the fact that the entire Oliver connection casts its ballot in sympathy with the views. Mr. Oliver is a citizen of whom Montgomery county may well be proud.
Southeast Kansas Tribune dated May 10, 1917
W. T. Oliver of Elk City celebrated birthday
About 50 children and grandchildren of W. T. Oliver celebrated his eighty-ninth anniversary of the birth of Mrs. Page’s father, William T. Oliver. Mr. and Mrs. George Page and little daughter went to Elk City today to assist in celebrating. William T. Oliver, one of the old-time settlers of the Elk City district. Theodore Oliver and family and Emory Oliver and family of this city and Sherman Oliver and family of Tulsa were also present along with a lot of grandchildren. It was expected that at least fifty relatives would participate in the big dinner given in honor of the day