Elbert County GaArchives Newspaper 13 April 1889
Reminiscenses
Of a Once Beautiful farm and the Pedigree
Of an Illustrious Family..OLIVER

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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Troy Colquitt
telles@elberton.net

Elberton Star, April 13th, 1889
Reminiscenses
Of a Once Beautiful farm and the Pedigree
Of an Illustrious Family
The plantation of which we write is the property of 
Dr. A. S. Oliver, situated on Broad river about nine 
miles southwest of Elberton, the homestead of the 
late Judge Alfred Oliver.  In antebellum days it was 
in the zenith of its glory.  Judge Oliver owned and 
worked over one hundred slaves on this mammoth farm, 
containing over five thousand acres of the choicest 
lands in Georgia.  The land is somewhat uneven and 
hilly, but is very rich, and produces from one thousand 
to twelve hundred pounds of cotton per acre.  There is 
over three hundred acres of the best bottom lands we 
have ever seen, about fifty acres of which is being 
prepared for bermuda grass, and fifty is already well 
set, that yields an enormous amount of hay.
The scenery equals that of North Georgia- the broad 
and productive fields gently sloping from the farm 
house to the turbulent waters of Broad river-its vast 
amount of forest lands with trees of every description 
and a great variety of fruits, such as pears, apricots, 
plums, peaches, and apples of every kind, and others 
too numerous to mention.  There are seven or eight 
burying grounds, both ancient and modern, some of 
the tombs dating far back as 1704.  On one of these 
is engraved a peculiar epitaph which reads as follows:
Elizabeth Davies
Died at Age of 49 years
Death’s mystic wand no one can tell-
Her soul is either in heaven or hell.

This tomb has decayed and fallen and was almost 
covered with leaves and earth when found.
There are remains of a solid rock house situated 
close to the present dwelling.  It is 20x25 feet, 
and 20 feet high, supposed to have been a 
two-story structure.  It is built of rough rock 
and plaster with lime and marble.  This house was 
built and occupied as a dwelling by James Oliver, 
father of Judge Alfred Oliver.  James Oliver 
emigrated from Virginia when a young man.  Though 
poor, yet with energy and perseverance he 
accumulated a large fortune.  He was twice  
married.  His first wife died at the age of 
nineteen.  She was the mother of Shelton Oliver, 
one of the most illustrious men ever raised in 
Elbert county.  When last heard from he was living 
in Mississippi, where he filled positions of honor.  
The dwelling is a commodious frame structure, the 
sitting room richly papered and frescoed, and bears 
marks of the best skill and taste of modern plans.  
The dwelling contains seven large rooms on the lower 
floor and four above.