Elbert County GaArchives Newspaper 13 April 1889 Reminiscenses Of a Once Beautiful farm and the Pedigree Of an Illustrious Family..OLIVER ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ 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.