A. K. OLIVER. Eminently worthy of mention in this work is A. K. Oliver who has devoted his life to farming, and now has a comfortable home and a fine estate in Pike Creek Valley. He is a native of Smith County, Tennessee, and there first opened his eyes on the light of day in 1825.
A son of Bluford and Polly (Link) Oliver, natives of Virginia, who were born in 1782 and 1784 respectively, and were reared and married in the State of their birth. They eventually removed to Smith County, Tennessee, and in that section they resided until their respective deaths in 1841 and in 1870. Mr. Oliver was a successful farmer and was a soldier in the War of 1812. The maternal grandfather, John Link, spent his entire life in the Old Dominion. To the union of Bluford and Polly Oliver eight children were born: Narcissa, the widow of John Denney, of Oregon County, Missouri; Banks, who died in Smith County, Tennessee, in 1876; Warner, who died in Oregon County, Missouri, in 1859; Susan is the wife of L. B. Cheak, of Smith County, Tennessee; Letha, died in early childhood; A. K., the subject of this sketch; Martha, of Tennessee; Elizabeth, also of that State.
The early life of our subject was spent on the old home farm in Tennessee, but he unfortunately received very little schooling. At the age of twenty-eight, or in 1853, he was married in Smith County, Tennessee, to Mary Jane, daughter of John Greer, who came to that section from the Old North State, and who later removed to Oregon County, Missouri, where he eventually passed “over the river,” his wife’s death having taken place in North Carolina. Mrs. Oliver was born in North Carolina, was reared principally in Tennessee, and in 1876 was called from this life in Oregon County, Missouri, after having borne her husband three daughters and five sons. who were named as follows: John, deceased; William, a resident of Oregon County; Seminas is the wife of George W. Locke, of Arkansas; Narcissa is the wife of Joseph Biffle, of Oregon County; Warner, is the county judge of the Western District of Carter County; Banks; and Samuel Theodore, who died in infancy, and another child that died unnamed.
For his second wife Mr. Oliver took Mrs. Malinda (Reed) Ellis, who died about three years after their marriage, and he then espoused Mrs. Margaret E. Turley, by whom he had two children: James Calvin and Letta Josephine. Mr. Oliver is now living with his fourth wife, who was Perlina Wines. Mr. Oliver became a resident of Oregon County, Missouri, in 1871, and seven years later came to Carter County, and has since resided on his present farm of 120 acres near McDonald. He has cleared and under cultivation about forty-five acres, and as this land is exceptionally fertile it yields larger crops annually than many more pretentious places. He is one of the best known men in Pike Creek Valley and is widely known for his honesty, fair dealing and for his support of all that is just and right. The respect which is accorded him is universal and in every respect well merited. Formerly a Whig in politics he has supported the men and measures of the Democrat party since the war, and in his religious views is a Missionary Baptist. Socially he is a member of Van Buren Lodge No. 509, of the A. F. & A. M.