Freestone County, Texas
Biographies 



Biography of John E. Oliver, Sr. 
(Jul 28, 1854-Jun. 27, 1900, buried Honest Ridge Cemetery in Limestone Co., TX.)

A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, 
  Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1893; pages 740

  John Oliver - Among the most enterprising and successful farmers and stockmen
of Limestone county, is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Freestone 
county, this State, July 28, 1854, moved to Limestone county with his parents 
when young, and here he received his education and training. He was brought up
to the stock business and has successfully followed it since. He remained under
his parents' roof until he married in 1874, and continued dealing extensively in
stock until 1886. At that time he bought his first tract of land, consisting of
157 acres, and opened up a small amount of farming land. From time to time he 
added to his original purchase, until he now owns about 3,800 acres. and has about
600 in cultivation, which he rents. He continues in the stock business, raising,
feeding and buying for the market, sometimes shipping and sometimes selling at
home, dealing only in cattle and horses. He is giving special attention to the
improvement of horses, owning a fine Percheron stallion, and his cattle are well
graded. Upon his land he raises cotton, corn, oats and millet, and makes his own
home supplies.  Mr. Oliver is a man full of enterprise and is always ready to 
assist in anything that will benefit the county. His home is fifteen miles west
of Mexia, a very comfortable one, with nice residence, good barn and all 
necessary out-buildings. He also has three excellent orchards in a fine condition
upon his farm.
   Our subject is the son of F[ranklin] C. Oliver, a native of Tennessee, who 
came to Texas at an early date, and settled in this county. He has lived in this 
and Freestone county ever since, and at the age of sixty years is hale and hearty, 
and is conducting a successful hardware business at Groesbeck.  Mr. Oliver, Sr., 
married at old Springfiled, this county, Miss Lucretia Miller. Her father was an
early settler of this State, and she is still living, and has been the mother of
six children, as follows: Thomas, who married Miss Travic, and died about 1884; 
our subject; D., now a banker of Groesbeck; Walter, a trader; Mollie and Merida,
who died at the age of eight years.
   Our subject married Miss Pauline Bennett, a daughter of Els. Bennett, a native
of Missouri, but now a farmer of this county, who served through the late war,
coming to Texas some time in the '50s [1850s].  Nine children have been born to
our subject, but three of them died in infancy, those living being as follows:
Ida, Dick, Minnie, Wallace, Walton and an infant.  Mr. and Mrs. Oliver are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they are very much esteemed. In 
politics, he is a staunch supporter of Democratic principles.