OLIVER-David T. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

David T. OLIVER, a business man of wide experience and an influential and esteemed citizen of Yeddo is one of the leading merchants of this part of Fountain County. He comes of one of the earliest pioneer families of this section, and ws born on his father's old homestead in Richland Twp, Nov 22, 1837. He is a son of John L. Oliver who was a Quaker, who came to this country with William Penn. The father of John L, was Abijah Oliver. John Oliver grew to maturity in the state of his nativity and during the War of 1812 was a soldier under Gen. Jackson. He was a young man when he migrated to Clinton Co Oh and settled near Wilmington wher ehe engaged in farming until 1827 when he came to this staet and was one of the first to take up government land in Richland Twp. In the busy years that followed he reclaimed a goodly farm of 220 acres from the virgin soil and he and his wife died in the comfortalbe home which rewarded their united labors. They were laid to rest by loving hands in the Cemetery at Wingate. He was a devotedChristian and the Wesleyan Methodist Church had in him a consistent member from first to last. His wife bore the maiden name of Annie Smith. She was English by descent and Virginian by birth. Her parents were among the early settlers of Clinton Co Ohio going from Va to their destination on pack horses. John L. Oliver was the father of the following children: William M. who lives near Wingate; Ruth P; John F; Phoebe A. and Jacob R are deceased; Silas W. and D. T. The subject of this brief life-record was educated in the district schools of the county, acquiring sufficient learning to enable him to enter the teacher's profession. He made a most excellent teacher, engaging in that vocation winters and spending the summers in farm work. He finally abandoned teaching to adopt the mercantile business, establishing himself first at Wingate, whence he went two years later to Waynetown. He subsequently sold his stock of goods at that point that he might engage in the drug business at Hillsboro. Two years later he disposed of that and bought a general stock of goods in the same place, where he remained another year. THe year after that he spent in Knox County, Indiana. Returning to this county he took up his residence at Wallace and was apopinted Postmaster for that town he having held the same position at Wingate. He lived at Wallace 7 years, and his next move, which occurred in 1883 was to Yeddo where he has been stationed ever since. He was postamaster here from 1884 until September 1886 and during the whole of his residence here he has been actively engaged in business as before noted. he has a commodious, well-arranged store, which is completely stocked with all kinds of merchandise generally found in such an establishment and he enjoys an extensive and lucrative trade. Mr. Oliver was married in 1872 to mIss Kate Pevler, in whom he has found a true wife. She is a daughter of Leonard Pevler, a farmer residing near Hillsboro who is an honored veteran of two wars, the Mexican and the late revellion. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver have had the following children; Alpha and Carrie, who died in infancy; Mabel who is 12 and Arthur who is 5. Mr. Oliver is a thoughtful, intelligent, well-read man, with strong convictions of his own on all subjects with which he is conversant. He believes in the divine right of religious freedom and in the teachings of the Bible as a guide thereto and doe snot hold to creeds or sects. He is a strictly temperate man in his habits, and carries his principles into his politics, being an ardent advocate of the Prohibition party. He is now filling his first term as Justice of the Peace, and discharges the duties appertaining to his office with characteristic fidelity and with the wisdom and impartiality that win confidence in all who have dealings with him as a conservator of law and order.