The Olivers

Oliver ancestry in Scotland traces back to Roxburghshire, a stronghold for the clan since the 12th century. Oliver tradition asserts Norman roots and early links with Clan Fraser. Oliver, son of Gilbert de Fraser, built Oliver Castle in Tweeddale about 1230 as the Clan Seat. The Castle was held in 1266 by Sir Simon Fraser. Sir Fraser fought with Wallace and Robert Bruce but was captured and executed by Edward I in 1306 in a manner similar to that suffered by William Wallace. Sir Simon Fraser’s son fought for Robert Bruce at Bannockburn in 1314. A cousin of Simon Fraser, Alexander Fraser, married Robert Bruce’s sister. As a border land clan the Oliver and Fraser lines faced constant deprivations and battles. Many cross border raids and counterraids devastated the region and left many families little choice but to survive by plunder.

According to Ian Lawson (fourth cousin from Australia), our known Oliver ancestry begins with Thomas Oliver who came to Ayrshire from Roxburghshire to build roads. Thomas’s son Hugh Oliver was born about 1710. Assuming Hugh was born in Ayrshire Tom Oliver came to the west of Scotland in the early 1700s, around the time of the Union Treaty with England in 1707. This was preceded by an era of drought, poor harvest, famine and economic recession. In 1689 the French stopped buying salt from Scotland because of war with England. In the 1690s Scottish coal was getting underpriced from cheaper coal elsewhere. Then in 1698 England imposed a tariff on Scottish linen, undermining one of the last strong Scottish industries at the time. Poor harvests throughout the 1690s led to a population loss of about 10% leading up to the debates on union with England in 1705 and 06.

The economic troubles in the Lowlands were steep. It would be attractive to accept a job, even it takes you from your families ancestral land. And it appears the English Lords of Ayrshire were trying to invest in mercantile and manufacturing in the Shire to give the economy a boost, in part as a retribution of the terrible treatment of the citizens associated in any way with the Covenanters of the 17th century. With the Union Treaty of 1707 international trade opened for Scotland after years of being squelched by the merchant class of England. Better roads were needed to get goods and products to the sea from the farms of villages of Ayr. So it is that Thomas Oliver most likely was attracted to Ayrshire around 1700 by an early economic stimulus program.

Hugh Oliver married Marie Fulton (b. 26 Mar 1702 in Dunlop, Ayrshire, Scotland) on 13 March 1735 or ‘36 in Kilmaurs, Ayrshire, Scotland. Fultons were rooted in northern Ayrshire since the 12th century. Early Fultons were granted land in the 12th century and were identified in the Ragman’s Roll pledging allegiance to the King in 1296.

Hugh and Marie Oliver had at least four children: Marie, born on 21 Nov. 1736 in Kilmaurs, Ayr, Scotland; WILLIAM, born 23 November 1738 in Kilmarnock; Thomas , born abt 1739 (m. Janet Craig and had at least one child, Hugh Oliver (b. 10 January

1772 in Kilmarnock) who married Barbara Struthers in 1799. They had a son Thomas born in Kilmarnock in 1800); Andrew, b. abt 1740, a weaving agent in Kilmarnock, who married Janet Willock (Their daughter Elizabeth married William Aiton, a schoolmaster in Hurlford, and they had three children); and Jean.

Sometime in the 1730s or early 1740s Hugh and Marie worked the “Yardside” farm at Riccarton, Ayrshire. Yarside is located adjacent to the location of the former Riccarton Castle. This is where Sir Richard Wallace, uncle of the patriot William, lived. William was said to have come live with his uncle at this castle for about nine months early in his life and time as an outlaw and the patriot hero. In fact, an early Wallace legend has him fishing along the River Irvine near the Castle, without his sword – a mistake it is said he never made again, when English soldiers came and demanded that Wallace give them the fish he caught. William Wallace offered a portion but the soldiers demanded all of the fish. William rebelled and in the ensuing fight he killed a couple of the soldiers. Riccarton Castle is where William Wallace fled and hid while the soldiers went looking for him. He disguised himself as a woman working a spinning wheel…or so they say…and he started his life of running and battling the English. .

A local landmark is now Riccarton Parish. The current church was built in 1821 on the top of Moot Hill, or the “Hill of Judgement”. This is the site were the citizens went to see justice served. It is at the corner of Old and New Street in Kilmarnock.

Fig. 1 -- Contemporary photo of Riccarton Parish Church

William Oliver also lived at “Yardside”, Riccarton, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire: born 23 November 1738: married Agnes Wallace (b 01 Mar 1741/1742), of “Fencedyke”, Tarbolton, Ayrshire. The marriage was on 19 Oct. 1764 in Dreghorn, Ayshire, Scotland. Agnes was the daughter of Robert Wallace and Elizabeth Ferguson. Agnes had at least three sisters, according to the parish records of Riccarton: Elizabeth (b. 7 Dec. 1746); Mary (b.5 Feb. 1751); and Jean (b. 23 March 1760). A descendant of the Robert Wallace family, Ann Wallace, and her husband, Hugh Strathairn (or Strachorn) farmed “Mossberg” or “Fencedyke” while Robert Burns farmed “Lochlea”.

Fig. 2 -- Yardside (Parish Church in the distance?)

Robert Burns farmed Lochlea with his father and brother from 1777 to 1784. After his father died with large debts in 1784, Robert and his brother started to farm at Mossgiel. During the summer of 1784 he came to know a group of girls known as the “Belles of Mauchline”, including Jean Armour, the daughter of a stonemason from Mauchline.

The stories of the Oliver cousins are maintained by Ian Lawson who currently lives in Queensland, Australia. A few of the cousins emigrated around the British Commonwealth and found mining jobs throughout the world. Ian Lawson is descended from Hugh Bushe Oliver, who emigrated to Australia as Seaman on the maiden voyage of the “Mourilyan” from Glasgow to Queensland in 1908.1

It appears that Agnes and Elizabeth Wallace were born in Riccarton but then the family may have moved to be tenant farmers outside of Tarbolton. That may explain why the wedding of William and Agnes was in Dreghorn. William and Agnes had six children: ROBERT (born on 17 August 1766) in Dundonald, Ayrshire; Hugh (b. on 5 Oct 1768); Elizabeth (b. 25 Feb 1771); Agnes (b. 8 June 1774); Mary (b. 2 Feb 1777); and John (b. 20 Nov. 1779). All but Robert were born in Riccarton, while William and Agnes were living and working back at “Yardside”. It is possible that William Oliver and Agnes Wallace knew each other as children in Riccarton and the “Yardside” Farm. So, after the Wallace family moved south to work other farms closer to Mauchline the families may have remained in touch through fairs and events. After they were married at Dreghorn, William and Agnes may have tried other work or other farms, hence living near Dundonald when Robert was born, before returning to Riccarton and “Yardside”.

1 Another cousin I contacted is Craig Perkins of Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia, he is descended from Catherine Oliver’s brother John Oliver. That makes him my third cousin.

Our ancestor Robert Oliver reportedly introduced Robert Burns to Highland Mary while she was a dairymaid at “Coilsfield” Tarbolton, Ayrshire. They were all of the same generation, Burns born in 1759, the Highland Mary, actually Mary or Margaret Campbell, born in 1766, and Robert Oliver also in 1766. Mary Campbell was certainly working for the family of Robert Burn’s friend Gavin Hamilton (who lived in the Mauchline area in 1785 and 1786 when Burns and Campbell met and hatched a plan to travel to Jamaica.). We also know Robert Oliver had family connections near Tarbolton and that all of these towns and farms are within ten miles of each other. There is little known about the relationship of Burns and Highland Mary. Nonetheless, knowing that the young of the Ayr countryside would often gather at fairs and celebrations for parties, it is certainly possible that Robert Oliver introduced the couple memorialized in verse.

Robert Oliver would remain single for five more years until he married Isobel Findlay (b. 23 October 1763 in Riccarton) on 26 October 1792 in

The family history of the Olivers was prepared in 1915 by the Rev. John Oliver, M.A., V.D. of Maryhill Parish, Glasgow (Great-grandson of Hugh – Robert’s brother) and revised in 1940 and 1967 by his son Athole Gordon Oliver. The most prominent cousin is Sir Thomas Oliver was a physician and industrial hygienist. He died in 1942 at Newcastle at the age of 89. He was also made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in Paris (where he had studied) in 1929. He was a scientific leader in the effort for hygeniec reforms in dangerous trades. He was for a time Medical Expert on the Home Office’s Dangerous Trades Committee. He was an advocate of work as a cure for illness and he often urged people “not to seek entirely the shelter of a do-nothing existence, but to take an active interest in life. The biggest death-rate is among the idle.”

Sir Thomas was instrumental in raising the Tyneside Scottish Brigade in 1914. An enthusiastic Burnsian, he took a great interest in the Burns Home in Mauchline and in 1934 he proposed “The Immortal Memory” at Ayr Burns Club celebration. Sir Thomas Oliver was granted Armorial Bearings by the College of Arms, Queen Victoria Street, London, on 2nd March 1909. The Crest used by Sir Thomas was a blend with that of his wife, Emma Octavia Woods although it did include a heart (the heart of Robert the Bruce was entrusted to an Oliver to bring from Palestine home).

Another anecdote is that one cousin, (actually Sir Thomas Oliver’s father) married the grand-daughter of Charles Hood, a descendant of a brother of Robin Hood! The Hood brothers had an ancestor Gilbert de Gaunt, nephew of Queen Mathilda, wife of William the Conqueror, whom Gilbert joined in the invasion of England in 1066.

Robert Burns on a wall in Tarbolton. The Stephen crew outside of the Bachelor’s Club in Tarbolton.

Riccarton. Isobel Findlay’s ancestors lived in the Riccarton/Kilmarnock area for generations prior to her birth. Thanks to the family research of John Henderson Wallace Stewart, the ancestors of Isobel Findlay are known as follows:

Parents:George Findlay (b. 20 August 1735, Kilmarnock, m. 9 March 1735, Kilmarnock)Jean Hunter (b. 5 July 1743, Kilmarnock, parents unknown)George Findlay and Jean Hunter had eight children and Isobel was the second oldest

Grandparents:George Findlay (b. 8 April 1702, Kilmarnock, m. 31 January 1735, Kilmarnock)Isobell Lockhart (b. 3 Feb. 1712 in Riccarton)George Findlay and Isobell Lockhart had nine children and George was the oldest

Great-Grandparents:Georg Findlay (b. 27 April 1673, Kilmarnock, m. 3 June 1702, Kilmarnock, d. 28 May 1759 in Kilmarnock)Sara Howie (unknown…d. in 1706)Three or four children of which George was the oldest.

Alexander Lockhart (b. in 1685 in Kilmarnock)Janet Smith (b. 11 May 1684 in Kilmarnock)Isobell is the only child of record

It is interesting to note that the Howie family were tenant farmers of Lochgoin in Fenwick Parish since before the time of the patriot Wallace. The last Howie farmed Lochgoin in 1964. The Lochgoin homestead was a frequented hideout of the Covenanters. In fact, that is where the English finally chased down Captain John Paton in 1685.

While I have a copy of the marriage record of Georg Findlay and Sara Howie from 1702, it does not provide adequate legibility to learn more about the family of Sara Howie. The residents of Lochgoin in 1685 were John Howie and his wife Isobell. I have not found any record of the rest of the family. The Grandson of John Howie was the author of the famous book the Scots Worthies.

Great Great Grandparents (parents of George Findlay) were, according to Mr. Stewart, Georg Findlay (b. abt 1650) and Janet Hunter (b. in 1650 in Kilmarnock).

While the Oliver men appear to have descended from a line of heritage in Roxburghshire, they repeatedly married into families with long histories in Ayrshire. The History of Kilmarnock concludes that one of the oldest record of the citizens of Kilmarnock Parish were the voting results for Kirk leadership in 1547. Of course, only the heads of families were able to vote but the voting record revealed that there were 4 Findlay households and 4 Fulton households in the Parish at that time.

Robert and Isobel Oliver apparently lived their lives in Riccarton. They had the following children:

1. Agnes (b. 26 May 1793); 2. Jean (b. 5 April 1795, m. James Muir on 24 September 1814, three children); 3. William (b. 18 February 1797, m. Agnes Blair 12 August 1818, seven children); 4. JOHN (b. 3 April 1799); 5. Hugh (b. abt 1800, m. Mary Lindsay on 17 March 1826 in Kilmarnock, 4

children); and, 6. Robert (b. abt 1801, m. Elizabeth Glassford on 29 November 1824, seven

children).

John married Mary Borland (b. abt 1800 in Kilmarnock), daughter of John Borland and Mary Crawford, on 29 June 1821 in Kilmarnock. John Borland was a shoemaker with a shop on Portland Street.2 The 1819 map of Kilmarnock identifies a house near the Riccarton Bridge as Borland. The Borland name is also in the Stephen family tree as Borland girls married John Paton, son of the Covenanter, Captain John Paton, and John’s

2 This conjecture is supported by memoirs by an artist who worked for six weeks with a John Borland in Kilmarnock. The Memoirs were A RETROSPECT OF AN ARTIST'S LIFE, by John Kelso Hunter. Mr. Hunter lived from 1802 to 1873. He was born in Ayrshire and was a shoemaker before teaching himself painting. He became a moderately successful portrait painter and his self-portait as a cobbler was shown at the Royal Academy in London in 1847. He exhibited regularly at the Royal Scottish Academy from 1849 to 1872. The following is excerpted from Chapter 12:

On the fourth day I was on the canvass as usual, and had reached the shop of Mr John Borland, in Portland Street. I had always fancied him more of a gentleman than any I had called on; his answer was always civil. He was singing a psalm tune for his own gratification when I entered. I stood and listened till he had finished, then popped the question, " Do you need a man the day ?" " How often have you been here now, sir ?" " Four times." "And when will you be break again ?" " The morn, if I dinna get wark the day !" " Would you work if you had it, sir ?" " Yes, sir," was the quick response. " I think, sir, that you deserve a trial." Joyful sound ! He next asked if I knew any place where I would get seatroom;

I mentioned his brother's garret, where Jamie Sellars wrought. Lodging was next looked after, which was easily got, and near the place, with an earnest old couple, in whose house were already other three strangers My bedfellow was said by the old woman to be a sedate, auldish man, uncommonly religious, and I was warned to be very sober and quiet before him, as he didna like noise, but just daunered out and in like an auld cat. I thought that it was a queer compound of character my new bedfellow possessed, and, as necessity makes strange bedfellows, no objections were offered. …The first job I got was two pair of men's shop shoes. I put them together in such original style as really took my employer by surprise. He looked at them from every point of view, and, like the ghost of Hamlet's father, " with a countenance more in sorrow than in anger." He shook his head often, then looked at me and the shoes time about. I guessed that something was wrong, yet he was speechless. After a while he asked if I would make a pair of kechs for him. I asked what sort of a job that was. I had never heard the term before. He said that it was a pair of shoes for his own girl I said, " O yes ;" proud to oblige him. I made a better hand of the small ones.

Jamie Sellars and Jamie Borland now began to take an interest in my well-being. I was always willing, and never lazy. I got great praise from Mr Borland for the progress I had made. I was willing to do any given thing. One day when I came into the shop, the master was singing. He looked at me and said, " Man, I'm in a great hurry to get a pair of backstrap boots made; do you think you could make them for me ?" " Oh," said I, "if ye like to risk them, I'll try them. " This is the highest class of bootmaking. Mr Borland looked at me, and took a hearty laugh. " Man," quo he, " you are a kind-hearted soul; it's a pity but you could. However, I'll give you a pair of children's boots; you'll maybe manage them better."

son Alexander. Mary had a brother, John Borland, who was a trustee and witness of John Oliver’s will. He was identified as a Druggist in Kilmarnock.

At some point John Oliver started working the mines and became a manager. He was listed as a Colliery Overseer and, on his daughter’s death certificate, Underground manager of the Caprington Colliery.

Contemporary photo of the Caprington mine site, with the River Irvine in the valley to the right…and Rugby Stadium (home of the Kilmarnock fc) in the distance

John and Mary lived on Caprington Row and later on Campbell Street in Riccarton. Caprington Row houses were built for the workers of the Caprington Estate and mine. They had twelve children, all born in Riccarton (those in caps moved to Chicago, with the exception of Robert, who was Catherine’s father and our direct ancestor):

1. Mary (b. abt 1821??) m. George Wallace, gas fitter, Woolwich (as identified in John Oliver’s will)

2. JEAN (b. abt 1823);3. ROBERT (b. abt 1825);4. Isabella (b. abt 1827);

Isabella married George Ross, son of George (He was a Blacksmith) and Janet (Jack) Ross (b. 1819 in Bothwell, Lanarkshire) on 9 June 1848 in Kilmarnock. George was the owner of the Bible that has been passed down through to Mom. The Bible is dated 1846 and identifies George as an Engine Driver. George and Isabella had 10 children:

1. Mary Borland Ross (b. 22 May 1849 in Auchinleck)2. John Ross (b. 1851 in Auchinleck)3. Janet Jack Ross (b. 20 August 1852 in Auchinleck)4. Robert Ross (b. 23 June 1854 in Riccarton)5. Isabella Ross (b. 31 March 1856 in Riccarton)6. Margaret Livingston Ross (b. 11 February 1860 in Kilmarnock)7. George Oliver Ross (b. 20 Aug. 1861, d. before 1867)8. Alexander Ross (b. 28 September 1863 in Riccarton)9. William Oliver Ross (b. 28 September 1865 in Riccarton)10. George Oliver Ross (b. 28 July 1867 in Riccarton)

In 1851 George was an Engine Driver in Auchinleck (He was identified as an Engine Driver in the family bible). In 1861, the family was living at 2 St. Marnock Street in Kilmarnock and he was a spirit dealer. In 1871 the family was living on Findlay Road in Riccarton and George had returned to the mines, this time as a miner.

Isabella died on 7 October 1869 in Hurlford. George died on 6 March 1877, 10:30 am, in Pit No. 10 at the Auchinleck Colliery. It appears to have been of natural causes…the death certificate states ‘not act.’. The death certificate was signed by his son, John, a coal miner living in Hurlford.3

5. Agnes (b. abt 1828 in Kilmarnock, m. James Smith on 31 December 1859 in Riccarton)

6. JANET (b. 24 Nov. 1831)7. Margaret (b. 23 October 1833); m. Thomas Livingston, they were identified in

John Oliver’s will as living in Christ Church, New Zealand and Thomas occupation was an asphalt layer.

8. JOHN (b. 30 September 1835)9. ELIZABETH (b. 18 November 1837)10. Jemima (b. 3 May 1840)11. WILLIAM (b. 13 November 1842)12. GEORGE (b. 15 June 1845)

Jean Oliver married George Black on 10 June 1842 in Riccarton. Four years later Robert married Sarah Hart on 28 November 1846, also in Riccarton. Sarah was born in 1826 in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, the daughter of John Hart, a quarryman, and Catherine Dick

The children of Robert and Sarah were:

1. CATHERINE, b. 9 June 1847 in Riccarton.

3 Since George Ross gave Kate Oliver his family bible (which Mom still has) I tried to trace the Ross descendants. In 1871 the first daughter, Mary, was a servant to siblings James and Agnes Eaglestrom (he was a coal master) at 15 Rose Bank in Kilmarnock. George’s son John continued the mining tradition. In 1871 he lived at Ebenezer Mitchell’s land with the Gallachers. He was a boarder and working in the mines. In 1881 the family was living on Academy Street in Riccarton. John’s younger brother William was living with them. At some point in the next few years the family moved to the mining town of Muirkirk where they lived for many years. In the 1891 census he was identified as living on Tor Hill Row with at least five children: George (b. 1872), Alex (b. 1874), Thomas (b. 1878), Isabella (b. 1881)and John (b. 1883) . The second daughter, Janet, married Thomas McAlpine in the 1870s. In 1881 they were living at 23 Gilmour Street in Kilmarnock. Thomas was born about 1848 in Kilmarnock and was a Tailor’s cutter. In 1881 George Ross, the youngest son of George and Isabella, was an apprentice to Thomas McAlpine. I was unable to trace the family any further.

2. Mary Borland Oliver, b. 3 September 1849 in Riccarton, m. Thomas Wood (b. 11 March 1847, Riccarton) on 27 December 1872. Their son James Oliver Wood was born on 11 November 1873 in Riccarton

3. John, b. 4 November 1851, Riccarton4. Janet, b. 21 January 1854, Riccarton

They settled on Laputa Way. Laputa is the name of the paradise floating island in Gulliver’s Travels…obviously someone has a sense of irony.

John Oliver, Catherine’s younger brother by Sarah, remained in Riccarton, marrying Agnes Wood (b. Sep 1851 in Riccarton, daughter of James Wood and Janet Muir).on 27 Mar 1874. He was a coal miner. John Oliver lived in Peace n Plenty at Riccarton where his daughters Janet and Sarah were born. A description of the area where this family lived (which was very close to Caprington Row where John’s grandfather John lived) is provided by the book, Rambles around Kilmarnock:

Passing the finely wooded entrance to Treesbank estate I came to Peace-and-Plenty--a place that derives its name from a roadside public house that once flourished under that title, it being the custom of the landlord to supply his customers with bread and cheese when they purchased a dram. Here are situated a row of neat cottages, with gardens behind and flower-plots in front,

tastefully laid out and decked with choice flowers. The dwellings are scrupulously clean, and to judge by their appearance and that of their occupants a commendable rivalry seems to exist as to who can have the neatest plot and most comfortable home. These cottages were built some years ago by the proprietor of Caprington for the accommodation of his workpeople, and the experiment

has been so successful that the gentleman has been induced to build another row of similar dwellings nearly opposite the entrance gate of his estate. Leaving Peace-and-Plenty behind I soon

passed Caprington gates, and after a brisk walk arrived at the village of Riccarton.

Agnes Wood, c. 1880 John Oliver, c. 1880

Sadly John and Agnes had two daughters who died before reaching eight years old. One died in 1882 and the other in 1883. This was probably part of the impetus for them to leave for Australia. They went with their three very young children aboard the Liguria in August 1886 to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They had a last child, John, born in Australia in 1887. John followed the mining jobs north and settled in New South Wales. John died in Cessnock, NSW, Australia in 1929.

Youngest sister Janet, married James Robson and died in Denholm, apparently. A gravestone in Denhom reads (according to Craig Perkins’ research) Denholm Cemetary: Red Granite: Sacred to the memory of JAMES ROBSON who died at Denholm

Robert Oliver, John Oliver (standing)

James, John, Agnes, Agnes (mother), c. 1892 in Australia

29.9.1923 in his 71st year also his wife JANET OLIVER who died 25.11.1932 in her 81st year also their eldest daughter MARY who died 16.11.1957 in her 71st year

Sarah died on 18 February 1855 when Catherine was eight years old. She is buried in the Riccarton cemetery. She apparently died of a pulmonary congestion/infection. She was sick for a couple weeks.

Riccarton Cemetary – no sign of Sarah Oliver’s gravestone

Robert’s younger brother, (again John) was already in Chicago by this time. John was educated in the Kilmarnock Academy, which is across the Kilmarnock Water from the area where the James Stephen family lived. John emigrated to Chicago in 1850 “wholly dependent on his own resources.” He began as a bookkeeper for Williams, Ryerson & Co., lumber men, until he joined his own partnership. In the early 1850s this lumber yard was located at the corner of Canal and Fulton Streets (Just west of the point where the two branches of the Chicago River join , west of the Loop. The business changed partners throughout the next decades but Martin Ryerson and his son were the constants.

It can be assumed that John had reported of his success and the opportunity of Chicago back to his family. The allure of the United States was strong compared to the toils of the colliery of Riccarton. Janet Oliver, four years older than John, married William Cuthbertson (b. 17 October 1826 in Ayrshire) on 25 October 1853 in Riccarton. William and Janet emigrated to Chicago shortly after their marriage as their first son, James, was

born in Chicago on 7 October 1855. Sadly he was to die before his eighth year. But the Cuthbertsons did have four children that lived long fruitful lives in Chicago.

With a younger brother and sister already in Chicago, Robert’s older sister Jean (who may have had three children…according to research by Craig Perkins…but perhaps they died) and her husband George Black were probably quite prepared to follow John’s lead. Robert and John’s younger sister, Elizabeth, was growing into a woman and also probably ready to follow her siblings to Chicago. With this background, Catherine was ‘adopted’ by George and Jean Black and brought over to Chicago.4 The census of 1860 has George and Jean Black, with Elizabeth and Catherine Oliver, living in Chicago’s Sixth Ward.

Robert remained in Riccarton and expanded his family. He married Grace McLean on 5 March 1857 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, the area where Grace was born about 1827. They had six children, all born in Riccarton:

1. George Black Oliver, b. 6 March 18592. Jean Oliver, b. 25 September 18603. Margaret Oliver, b. 1 June 18624. Isabel Oliver, b. 18 October 18645. Elizabeth Oliver, b. 26 May 18676. William Oliver, b. 17 January 1869

It is worth noting that their first two children were named after Catherine’s Aunt and Uncle who were by then in Chicago as Catherine’s guardians.

4 The handwritten notes included in the bible from George Ross:

The joke. the cat seronade drinking out of the glasses.Her & Willie in the vandettWillie & I on the chairWillie & the lemonade in Sat Willie & the book of comic songsSeeing Arch on SatBeing up at Waters on FriThe pres. visits to Albany

Isaiah Chapter 19-53Jeremiah Chapter 43Ezekial Chapter 30St John Chapter 14

Perhaps Willie is William Oliver, Catherine’s Uncle and John’s younger brother. William was living with John Oliver in the 1860 census so probably traveled from Kilmarnock with his older sister and niece. In the 1850s the most common way to the west was up the Hudson River to Albany then across the Erie Canal.

Grace died on 5 March 1871 and Robert married Elizabeth Crooks (b. 1835 in Riccarton) on 27 February 1874 in Riccarton. It may be that Robert and Elizabeth had known each other intimately for awhile as it appears that they had a daughter, Jane, in 1861 and a son, William in 1869. Robert’s last child was with Elizabeth and the baby, Margaret Borland Crooks Oliver, was born on 18 January 1875. The Chicago Story

In 1860 Catherine Oliver was 13 and living with George and Jane Black in the 6th Ward. Elizabeth Oliver (Catherine’s Aunt) was 21 and living there as well. George was a Baggage Master and the census listed him with real estate worth $800. Catherine’s Uncles John Oliver and William Oliver were also living in the 6th Ward. John was beginning to gather property as his real estate was worth $1200 and he had additional property listed as worth $1500. John was 24 at the time and he was listed as Wood Dealer. His younger brother William (18 years old) was living with and was a bookkeeper, probably with John in the lumber business. J.B. Hamilton was also living in the house. He was from Scotland and listed as a clerk. He probably was a friend of the family.

Fig. 3 – Robert Oliver (Catherine’s Father) as an older man. This family photo is only speculation:

The man is Robert Oliver; the eldest boy I assume is his son William (1869) from his second marriage.

The girls might be Janet (1875) his granddaughter, Margaret (1875) his daughter to his third wife and Sarah (1876) his granddaughter.

Robert died in 1879 so the photo must have been taken before then.Janet & Sarah died young so this might be the only photo that existed hence it lasting so long.

Provided by Craig Perkins

On December 3, 1860, John Oliver married Mary McLaren (b. Dec. 12, 1839 in Edinburgh, Scotland) in Dubuque, Iowa. Mary’s brother John McLaren had a distinguished career in Chicago and served on the Chicago Board of Education from 1887 to 1893, serving as President for part of that time.5

Elizabeth Oliver married William Smillie in 1861. William Smillie was a State Grain Inspector for Illinois. He was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland; son of Thomas and Sarah (Govan) Smillie; He was educated in the schools of Scotland and came to the United States in 1860 and was almost immediately engaged in the grain elevator business in Chicago. He was continuously identified with the grain business in Chicago for the balance of his career. He was appointed in 1882 to te the supervising inspector of the State Grain Dept of Illinois. He was a Republican and in 1905 his residence was 713 Maple Boulevard, Oak Park, and he worked at 218 LaSalle Street. In 1911, his residence was 3148 Warren Av.and his office was at 206 S. LaSalle St.

The last of the Oliver siblings to come to Chicago was George in 1865. He went into the lumber merchant partnership with his brother and maintained the successful tradition.

5 The McLaren family came to the United States in 1852 and settled in Dubuque, Iowa. They may have came first to Chicago as John was said to have apprenticed with carpenters in Chicago before moving to Dubuque with his family. John enlisted as a private and served throughout the Civil War and through various promotions held the rank of adjutant of his regiment when mustered out in December, 1864. He took part in many of the important engagements of the war and was with Gen. Sherman in his famous march to the sea. (with the Paton Brothers)

At the close of the war Mr. McLaren came to Chicago and secured a position with the firm of John Mason Loomis & Co., lumber commission merchants. He became a member of the firm in 1870 and continued in that capacity until the firm was dissolved in 1885. From then until 1894 Mr. McLaren was actively engaged in the lumber business, serving at various times as president of the Pere Marquette Lumber company, vice president of the A. R. Beck Lumber company, and as a partner of the firm of McLaren & Morris.

He was elected president of the Hide and leather National bank in 1894, becoming vice president of the Union National bank in 1897, when the two banks were merged. When the Union National bank was absorbed by the First National bank in 1900, Mr. McLaren retired, and gradually relinquished his various business connections.

He was a trustee of the Allen C. Lewis trust fund established for founding the Lewis Institute, and was a trustee of that institution at the time of his death in 1927. He also served for many years as a trustee of the Mary Thompson hospital. He was at various times president of the Chicago Relief and Aid society, the Citizens' association, treasurer of the Bankers' club, and also treasurer of the Union League club. He was a Mason and attained the thirtythird degree. He took a deep interest in the military order of the Loyal Legion and was formerly vice commander of the Illinois commandery. He was survived by his widow and three children, John Loomis, Mrs. Philip B. Hosmer, and Mrs. James Simpson.

A younger brother, William McLaren, was born in Dubuque in 1856 and in 1901 was made Superintendent of Public Service for Cook County with responsibility for construction contracts and purchases for the County.

William and Janet (Oliver) Cuthbertson were also established by the Civil War with three sons and more on the way. By the living in Chicago In 1870 George and Jane Black were living were living in the 12th Ward and his occupation was Department Master. In 1870 John Oliver, with Mary and two sons, …was a lumber dealer and was living in the Ninth Ward.

Catherine Oliver was finding her way in the world on her own in the years following the Civil War. A suitor, James Henry Miller, gave her a gold watch for Christmas 1869 inscribed with the words “Jimmie to Katie – Dec. 1869”. They were married by the time of the next census as she was living in the 12th Ward with the Miller family:

Henry Miller, b. 1813 in Derry, IrelandHarriett (Hood) Miller, b. 1817 in Ulster (Tyrone), IrelandHattie Miller, b. 1845Mathilda Miller, b. 1852Mary Miller, b. 1854Mary Johnson, b. 1857? (perhaps she was a servant or store help)

In the 1860 census the Miller’s were living in the 3rd Ward. At this time Henry was listed as a Master Mason and they had to additional children listed: Mary E Miller, who was listed as born in Pennsylvania, and Thomas, b. 1859. Thomas must have died young as he was not included in the census as an 11 year old.

Also living in the household was Harriett’s father Thomas Hood, who was born in Tyrone, Ireland in 1787. He was one of three sons of John Hood and Martha Moorhead. He had nine children in addition to Harriet and brought them all with him to Philadelphia in 1829 after his wife, Mathilda Ballentine (b. in 1794) died. His youngest child was Priscella who was born in 1827. The next youngest, Thomas Hood, was living next to the Millers in the 3rd Ward of Chicago in 1860. He was a grocer.

The Hood family store was on Fifth Avenue south of Madison. During the early 1860s one of the clerks was a very young man of German stock named Christian Vehmeyer. He went on to be an executive with DuPont for many years. The Third ward was farther south as its northern boundary was Harrison Street.

Jimmie Miller was following in his father’s path and was a builder. He and Katie had a daughter, Jemina Harriet Miller, in 1872. To support the family Jimmie want farther west to earn extra money. He was probably went to work on the railroads as this was the time there was a push to construct the northern rail route to the west. He died in the Dakotas while Katie was pregnant. It is told by the family that the Miller’s were not entirely pleased that Jimmie choose a Scottish immigrant as his bride. As the Millers were second generation American citizens in the booming town of Chicago that prejudice was not unique. As a result when Jimmie died the Millers were not willing to assume the responsibility of the new daughter and Katie returned to live with her Scottish family.

Katie Miller raised Jemina herself and remarried to William Gardner, of Geehr & Gardner, hide brokers, on Thursday evening, July 15, 1886. When Jemina was a teenager. The wedding was at the Black’s house at 357 Fulton Street. The Miller girls probably relied on the Black’s during the very difficult 1870s…when Chicago was rebuilding from the great fire of 1871

Geehr & Gardner was a successful hide brokerage business. William Gardner’s partner was Titus E. Geehr, formerly of Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Geehr left Kutztown shortly after the Civil War (where he had enlisted in the 74th Pennsylvania volunteers as a fourteen year old – 1864) for New York, where he was a bookkeeper for Keck & Mosser, for fourteen years. In 1880 he went to Chicago with William Gardner, as a partner. There they went into the hide and leather broker business. Mr. Geehr remained in Chicago two years, when he returned to New York to manage their office there. The office for Geehr & Gardner in Chicago was on Michigan Avenue according to the 1885 directory of Kelly’s Directory of the Leather Trade.

The firm was very successful in both places. Mr. Geehr died in 1901 in his hometown after being ill for a few years. He left the brokerage in 1897 due to ill health. He was unmarried and died well-to-do and with high esteem amongst many business colleagues in New York and Chicago.

After the Civil War John Oliver formed his own partnership, Cutler, Anderson & Oliver, which employed his brothers. By around 1890 John retired from the lumber business but continued to maintain an office downtown from which he ran a real estate business. His largest real estate purchase probably came in 1894 when he purchased property @ Roscoe Street, Addison Ave., Racine Ave. and Southport Ave for $192,500 ($5,000/acre) from the Mark Skinner estate. Mark Skinner was a legislator of local fame as a school still bears his name. He was also one of the original founders of the Republican Party and encouraged Abe Lincoln to renew his political career in the 1850s. Mr. Skinner purchased the area in North Chicago for $2.50 acre a number of years before John Oliver bought it from the estate..

John Oliver died on August 3, 1894 on a park bench in Garfield Park. He had taken great pride in the improvements to Garfield Park, where he enjoyed spending many a summer evening.6 There had been some major nearby fires in the lumberyards the days prior. He was an inveterate smoker and was seen by the park police enjoying his evening pipe at his favorite bench earlier in the evening. When he did not return home that evening family went looking for him and found him sitting bolt upright with his pipe laying at his feet. He was at his favorite bench near the main entrance of Washington Boulevard and Homan Avenue.

6 Garfield Park was one of the sites investigated for the 1893 World Exposition by Frederick Law Olmsted. In no uncertain terms Olmsted felt that Garfield Park, being “in the rear of the City [and}… utterly without natural landscape attraction”, was inappropriate. Had he known of Olmsted’s opinion John Oliver probably would have been relieved that his treasured Garfield Park would not be overrun. From “Devil in the White City”, by Erik Larson, page 56.

According to the Kilmarnock Standard of August 25, 1894, John Oliver was one of the energetic and enterprising men who found Chicago a swamp and made it a great city. He was very successful in business and was supposed to have left a considerable fortune. In addition to his wife, he left behind three sons and a daughter. His sons John and William constituted the firm of Oliver Brothers, lumber merchants, at Homan and 35th Street. When he died, his son Albert was in his 21st year and is in the office with his brothers and Mary Grace, the daughter, was a young lady in her 18th year.7

John Oliver was buried in Graceland Cemetary. His wife, Mary lived to be 100 years old and died on June 15, 1940. She is buried in the family plot in Graceland Cemetary with their two children who died as babies, Robert (d. Nov. 29, 1867 at 2 years old) and Ellen (d. April 10, 1870 at 1 ½). There apparently is a monument in the cemetery.

John Oliver’s younger brother died in 1912 and he too, according to the Kilmarnock Standard, “was highly respected in the City of his adoption.

Jemina Harriet Miller married George Peter Longwell (b. _________ 1873 in Chatham, Ontario and d. _____ 1925 in Chicago, Ill.) on April 9, 1895 at the residence of George Black, 1548 West Monroe Street. Bridesmaid was Miss Nellie Ameer and the groom was assisted by William Gardner, Jr.

Children of Jemina (Mimie) and George Peter (Pete) Longwell:

Jean, b. 1898 d. 1914Kathyrn b. 1902 (m. Grenville Davis in 1927 and lived in Chicago)John b. 1904 (married, had one son, moved to Malibu, CA, divorced) d. abt 1956Harriet b. 1907 d. 1930MARY GRACE b. 1909 (m Richard Henry (Dick) Morris on April 9, 1931 ~Interesting coincidence of dates~ in the Longwell home at 301 Scoville.)Miller b. 1912 (died in Tucson in 1937)

7 Interest Cousin Ancedote: John Oliver’s granddaughter, Joan Oliver (b. 21 May 1927 and daughter of John) married Edward Shore Jr., born on Jan. 7, 1926, to Joseph Cohen and Mary (Schore) Cohen in Chicago. He attended school there and graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology in that city. He served in the United States Army in the World War II stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

His graduate work in physics and chemistry was completed at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where he met and married Joan Oliver in 1949.Together they taught school in Pukekohe, New Zealand, and later in Nuku'alofa in the Tongan Islands.In 1954 they came to Vermont to teach at the Putney School.Their four children were born in Brattleboro and, in 1964, the family moved to their present home in Westminster West. Eddie and Joan Shore have lived the rest of their lives in Vermont. Sadly, Eddie died in 2001.

Nothing pleased Mr. Shore more than to share his love of science with his students. Other enthusiasms were film and still photography. Every Tuesday, for many years, he showed documentary films to the Putney School community at assembly.He taught photography as an evening activity. Mr. Shore loved owning his own home and he especially loved owning it in Vermont.He enjoyed living in the countryside and raising a garden and animals. He was enthusiastic about traveling to foreign countries and had wonderful experiences teaching in China and France, New Zealand and the Kingdom of Tonga. In 1961, at the time of the Iron Curtain, he led a 13-week trip to Russia with students from the Putney School who had studied Russian .

More about Dick Morris: b. Feb. 9, 1905 in Berwyn, Ill. The 6th child and third son of Charles William Morris and Jennie Henderson who were both from Newfoundland but migrated to Chicago in the 1890s.

Children of Dick and Mary Grace Morris:

1. MARY JEAN (b. July 9, 1932 in Chicago, Ill. and m John Stephen Aug. 22, 1953 in Chicago, Ill.)

2. Joan (m. Richard (Dick) Harmet, two children (Lynn and Andy) and now live in Galena, Illinois)

3. Ann Longwell (after school moved to Los Angeles, CA and was a teacher for many years. Now retired and still living in CA)

4. Catherine (Married Dave Olney and now living in Phoenix, AR., two children (Ann and Scott)