OLIVIER, P. D., M. D.; Lafayette then St. Martin Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 

P. D. OLIVIER, M. D., ST. MARTINVILLE.--Dr. Olivier was born in Lafayette
parish November 26, 1840.  His father was a native of the same place and was
for many years recorder of the parish.  He filled with distinction the office
of parish judge for nearly six years.  He was also sent to the Legislature
from St. Martin parish.  His name is well and favorably known.  Our subject's
mother was Miss Amyntha Bérard, is a native of St. Martin parish, where she
now resides and has spent most of her useful life.

Dr. Olivier was one of a family of ten children.  He was educated at St.
Charles College, Grand Coteau.  At the age of nineteen years he determined to
study dentistry and went to the Philadelphia College of Dental Surgery, where
he graduated in 1861.  Soon after his return he enlisted in Company C, Eighth
Louisiana Regiment.  He was with the Hayes Brigade and under Stonewall
Jackson's command.  He was made lieutenant of his company and was in the most
hotly contested engagements of the war, viz:  Front Royal, first and second
battles of Winchester, Cross Keys, Port Republic, Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill,
both battles of Fredericksburg, second battle of Bristow Station, Manassas,
Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, Gettysburg.  He was captured at Rappahannock, and
consigned to Johnston Island and there endured all the hardships of prison
life.  In June, 1865, he was discharged, and, returning home, found all that
he had possessed lost.

In 1866 he married Miss Corinne Bossier, a native of St. Martin parish.  She
is the daughter of Diogene Bossier and Corralie Weber.  Her parents are dead. 
The Doctor and his wife are the parents of six children--four sons and two
daughters, viz:  Eugene,  George,  Henry,  Louise,  Andre,  Eliza.  He and
family are members of the Catholic church.  In 1878-79 Dr. Olivier was tax
collector of St. Martin parish.  He is now engaged in the improvement of the
public schools, and the people of the place are indebted to him for the
excellent condition in which they are now in.

Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical Section, pp.
343-344.  Edited by William Henry Perrin.  Published in 1891, by The Gulf
Publishing Company.