The Oliver Families of Monona County, Iowa

FRANKLIN G. OLIVER, a prominent citizen and leading farmer of the town of Franklin, living on section 25, is one of the county's earliest settlers. He came here with his father in July, 1857, and for some two months made his home in the old court house at Ashton. From there, in.September, he removed to Onawa, then just laid out, and being a carpenter by trade, assisted in the erection of the first buildings in that place. He followed his occupation until July, 1861, when he removed to the farm, which he owned in connection with his father, to which they have added from time to time, until they now possess upwards of a thousand acres.

Franklin ( Oliver was born in Franklin County, Me., Februar\' 19, 1835, and is the son of George W. and Hannah R. Adaras) Oliver, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, and while a boy removed with his father's family to Illinois. He received an education in the latter locality, and early in life adopted his father's trade, that of carpenter, as a vocation. He was married at Elgin, Kane County, In., November 29, 1855, to Miss Esther Connor, a native of Erie County, N. Y. The lady was born May 27, 1837, and is the daughter of Parker and Esther Connor, natives of Massachusetts and New York, respectively. The latter were married in the Empire State, and in 1 848 removed to Du Page County, Ill., where the father died in 1852, at the age of fifty-two years. The mother, who was born November 29, 1809, removed to Kane County, where she is still living. She was the mother of eleven children, Mrs. Oliver being the third girl, and the fifth chill. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Oliver are the parents of fourteen children, of which the following is a record: Martha D. was born July 2, 185G; Lurena D., January 29, 1858; Caroline E., October 28. 1859; Flora E., May 13, 1861; George W., April 5, 1863; Emma A., August 20, 1864; Parker C, February 25, 1866, and died November 28, 1875: Mary E. was born March 13, 1868. and died November 25, 1875; Fanny A. was born July 25, 1869, and died Marcli 17, 1870; Sylvia A. was born December 29, 1870, and died November 23, 1875; Eva C. was born December 9, 1872; Franklin Cr. was born March 19, 1875; Freddie L., May 21, 1877; and an infant unnamed, was born February 2, 1879, and died February 15, the same year.

In politics, Mr. Oliver affiliates with the Republican party, and has held several of the local township offices.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JHN F. OLIVER, attorney, a member of the law firm of Oliver Bros. & Tillson, of Onawa, was born in Wasliington County, / I'a., Juno 15, 1855, and is a son of Hon. Addison and Hannah (Towue) Oliver, mention of whom is made elsewhere jn this volume. He came with his parents to Monona County in 1858, and received his early education in the graded and High School of Onawa. Entering the Law Department of the Iowa State university, at Iowa City, he was graduated from that noble institution in 1879. ami engaged in the practice of law at Wapello County, this State, being a member of the bar of that county. In 1888 he returned to Onawa and the present partnership with his l)roller and Stephen Tillson Jr., was formed.

To him is due the credit of the organization of the K. P. Lodge at Onawa, of which he is still a member. He was married August 8, 1883, in Jefferson County, Iowa, to Miss Fannie Wilhernsdorfer, who was born at Monmouth, Ill., January 1,1862. They have a family of three children — Marcus, born January 6, 1885; Ralph A., born July 30, 1880, and an infant born June 15, 1889.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GEORGE A. OLIVER, a member of the Arm 11 s of Oliver Bros. & Tillson. attorney'S-at law, 51 in the city of Onawa, is a native of Woodbury County, Iowa, having been born at Sergeant's Bluff, January 17. 1858, and is the son of the Hon. Addison and Hannah (Towne) Oliver, mentioned elsewhere in this volume. While an infant in arms not 3'et a year old, he was brought to Monona County' b3' his parents, and has here grown to manhood, in the city of Onawa. He received his education in the schools of that community, and after graduating from its highest department, entered the academic branch of the Iowa State University', at Iowa City, where he pursued his studies during the terms of 1877-8. Entering the Law Department of the same institution, in the fall of the latter 3'ear, he was graduated therefrom in 1879. In 1881 he was appointed Railway Postal Clerk on the Illinois Central Railroad, on the route from Ft. Dodge to Sioux City. In 1883 his run was extended from Dubuque to Sioux City, and he remained in that position until March, 1866. In the latter month he was transferred to the Chicago,

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Oliver was united in marriage, October 9, 1884, with Jliss Cora A. Woodward, a native of Grant Township, this county, who was born October 9, 1861, and is a daughter of Joseph D. Woodward, who settled in that part of the county in 1857, and a history of whom appears elsewhere. By this union there have been born two children — George E., born Jaiuiary- 19, 1886, and Eva A., whose birth took place August 24, 1887.

In his political views Mr. Oliver is a stanch Republican, and is a fair representative of the rising young men of that party. He has served as Justice of the Peace in Onawa, and has talents that mark him out for high political preferment..Socially he is a member of Monona Lodge, No. 1 84, Knights of P3'this, of which body he w.as one of the organizers. Mrs. Oliver is a consistent member of the Congregational Church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.