Benjamin N. Oliver Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1561-1562 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	BENJAMIN N. OLIVER, postmaster of Viewfield, in Meade county, was 
born at Berkshire, Franklin county, Vermont, on June 16, 1840. When he 
was ten years old his parents moved thc family to Winnebago county, 
Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood and was educated. After lumbering in 
that region a few years, in the fall of 1870 he came to Dakota and 
settled in Clay county where he took up land and began farming. During 
the first five years of his residence in that county grasshoppers 
destroyed all the fruits of his labors; but with characteristic courage 
and determination he faced the adversity and continued his work, and in 
time was victorious over every pest and won a substantial success, 
remaining there twelve years. During the next two years he conducted a 
hotel at Lodi, but in 1884 he disposed of his interests in that part of 
the state and moved across the country to the Black Hills, taking with 
him horses and cattle. He took up a ranch on Elk creek, about twenty-six 
miles from Rapid City and twenty-eight from the mouth of the creek, on 
which he settled and again engaged in raising stock. The freight road 
between Pierre and Rapid City passed his ranch and the traffic over it 
was enormous. During the first few years after he located on the 
property he frequently saw as many as two hundred teams pass in a day, 
and could hear the snap of the bull-whacker's whip at all times of the 
night. In 1892 he took up a tree claim on the Divide, one mile north of 
his ranch, and before the year was ended built a dwelling on it which 
has since then been his home. The next year he erected a storehouse and 
opened a general store on the ranch which he has carried on ever since; 
and when a postoffice was established near by he was appointed 
postmaster, a position he is still holding. In politics he is an ardent 
Democrat, and was elected a member of the legislature in 1895 and was 
re-elected in 1897. 

	On October 29, 1861, Mr. Oliver was married at Fremont, Wisconsin, 
to Miss Deborah Hickman, a native of Ohio. They have eight children, 
John B., Lois (Mrs. Judson), Albert, Harlo, Willis, Arthur, Bert and 
Clarence.