My Genealogy Hound

R. G. Oliver, merchant, Wynne, Ark. By his excellent business qualifications, and by his social and polite treatment of the public, Mr. Oliver, although a young man, has become one of the leading business men in his particular line in Eastern Arkansas. He owes his nativity to St. Francis County, Ark., where his birth occurred in 1864, and is the fifth of eight children born to the union of R. G. and Luginia R. (Palmer) Oliver. The parents are natives of Georgia and South Carolina, respectively. The father came to Arkansas at an early day and followed farming and stock raising in St. Francis County, until his death in 1876. The mother’s death occurred in 1879. R. G. Oliver was early taught the duties on the farm, and attended the public schools of Forrest City, until about fourteen years of age, when he went to Memphis, and engaged as a clerk for Zellner & Co., shoe dealers. He remained with this firm for about seven years, and then went to Crawfordsville, Crittenden County, where he engaged with Buck & Trexler, continuing with them for about two years. He then began business for himself in the same place, opening a store of general merchandise and plantation supplies, but continued in business but a short time, when he sold out to his partner, and in 1888 came to Wynne. He here established a store of clothing, boots and shoes and gents’ furnishing goods. He carries a stock of goods valued at about $10,000. Last January (1889) he moved into a line brick store, which he has fitted up, and this is now one of the largest stores in Eastern Arkansas. Mr. Oliver was married January 2, 1889, to Miss May Kelley, a native of Arkansas, and daughter of John Kelley, an old settler of Lee County. Mr. Oliver has recently purchased a lot in Wynne, on which he expects to erect a residence ere long. In his political views, he has always affiliated with the Democratic party. Socially he is a member of the K. of P., Levesque Lodge No. 52, at Wynne, and is also a K. of H. at that place.