Pgs 412-686 - Illinois Ancestors

OF ELMIRA TOWNSHIP. 455
in the first National Bank of Kewanee ancl in the Erastun steam heater
conlpany. EIe has been ever iclentified with religions matters, and is
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nunecl among the founders of the American Presbyterian Church of
Elmim. The several parts talien by members of this family in the settlement
an4 progress of this county are tolcl in detail in tliese 11,zg.s.
Hebry 1$ciZl Oliver., horn in 12osshire, Scotland, in January, 1833, is
the son of Thol~~as ancl Margaret (Fife) Oliver, whose f;tlnily 1listor-y
is given above ancl ~vhose settlement here is noted in the general as
~vell as in the township history. In 1837 he came to this coantv with
them, but after warcls resided n7it.h his brotlller-in-la\\-, John ~;mbull
for fifteen years. During this time he stodiecl in the tlistIrict scl~ools
labored on the farm. In 1851 Ileenteretl t81~ePresb\rterianCollege
of Macomb, studied engineering, and for two years fol~bwec~ this
fession in the einplo,y of a, railroad company. In IS56 lie enteretl the
Moninouth College ancl tool< 2% scientific course. Also fillet1 the position
of tutor there, as he hntl previously (lone nliile attentling the college
at Mitconlb. IIis health failing, he was forcecl to forego the
pleasures of college life, antl the IY ide field of success in his -profession,
whicll appeared open to him, and SO returned to Ehnira and resunietl
fi%'arming or mther enteretl upon the agricultnr~~list's life in earnest. In
IS57 11e married Miss Mary, daughter of Finley and Catherine
(Mc1,ean) Murcbison, whose history is given in that! of Donald Mc-
Donaltl's family. Of nine children born to this marriage. six are living,
namely : ijavicl W., engaged in f;~rming on the Ilolnestead ; Margaret
E., a, teacher in the Toulon Acadeilly ; Katie E., attencling the
Northwestern University ; William 11. and Cl~arlotte J., students of
the Toulon Acxde~ny, ancl Agnes I3., residing at home. Mrs. Ol~ver is
a, member of the Highland or Canadinn Presbyterinn Church, antl of
this slsoller husbancl.is,zn~eml)er and ofici:tl. Since 1862 &Ir. Oliver
has been extensively engaged in i~uvino. a.nd shipping stocli as well as
in stoclr-growing and farm~ng. Tile %,I,,, failln, u711 ich he inherited
from his father: he ilas increased to four i~untlred acres. on ~~rl~icl~
sti~ncls his fine residence. This Parill is aluolic the richest in tlhis clisu
trict of fertile lands, is fully improuetl and equipped in builtlings,
nlachinerv ancl ini~le~~ients. In noli tics he is clecicledlv re~~~lblicnn :
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zealous, ykt. tolerani in religion, un'ostentatious and refined in mannel*.
IIis horne is a synonyln for .genuine hospit;ility. In official llfe, the
testi~nonv to his cliaracter is lndeed substantial, ;is he it7aIs for txentv
yeals be& a school director ; superr isor of ~11;ir.a fol* several tenng,
and also surveyor of the county.
Thomas Oli~er's residence was clestroyetl 1)y fire on the morning of
September 15, 1886. Iris fi~ther-in-law, W. 11. Turnl)ull, was l~ul*ned
so badly that he died the afternoon of t11:lt tla~~r. Builtling, fnrniture,
records, etc., were a total loss. The origin of the tire is a 111ystery.
The flmnes nTere first cliscove~ed i)r 311.. Olirer's tli~ogl~ter. Mr. Timbull,
~vllo wits about seven ty-five iears old, mas sleeping in an ~~pstairs
chamber, and succeeded in' getti& tlon-n stairs to the kitchen. 1v11e1.e
he became overpo\veretl by 'the %eat, and was tlraggetl out batlly
burned. This prominent old settler has resolvecl to re-enact the pioneer
drama in the west.