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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lafayette County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Hilliard H. Olive is too well known to the citizens of Lafayette County to need a formal introduction, and it is only proper to assume that this volume would be incomplete without a short sketch of his life. He was born in Troup County, Ga., June 17, 1832. His father, Guilford H. Olive, was born in Wake County, N. C, January 1, 1801, of Irish descent. He was a farmer by occupation, and in the fall of 1831 moved to Georgia, remaining there until 1847, when he removed to Russell County, Ala. He died in Macon in 1863. He was a member of the Masonic order, and he and wife were both members of the Missionary Baptist Church. In 1827 he was married to Miss Margaret Jones, a native of Virginia, born in 1807, of English descent. Her father, Allen Jones, died in 1843 at the ripe old age of seventy years. Her mother was of German descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Olive were born eight children, six still living, namely: Mariah J. (now Mrs. Adams, of Russell County, in Lee County, Ala.), Elenor E. (of Tallapoosa, Ala.), Caleb R. (killed at the battle of Gettysburg), Hilliard H. (the subject of this sketch), Kitty Ann Fiances Tucher (now Mrs. Adams, of Tallapoosa, Ala.), Orren D. W. (a farmer of Tallapoosa, Ala.), Erasmus H. (deceased), Guilford Posy (a farmer and minister of the gospel, of Tallapoosa, Ala.). Mrs. Olive died in 1852, and in 1853 Mr. Olive was again married. The subject of this sketch was reared in Georgia and Alabama. At the age of twenty years he started in life for himself as a carpenter. In 1853 he commenced farming on one of his father’s farms. He came to Arkansas in 1858, locating in this county, and for the first three years he was employed as overseer on a plantation. In the spring of 1862 he engaged as an overseer on a large plantation on Red River, where he remained until 1865, when he moved onto a farm which he had purchased a few years previously. In 1882 he purchased his present farm, and was then the owner of 560 acres of land, but has since sold a part, and sold some to his sons, and is now the owner of 240 acres, about seventy-five acres of which are under cultivation. Mr. Olive has been twice married; first, in September, 1855, to Miss Sarah Sharman, a native of Alabama, who died in 1879, leaving four children, but three of whom are living. They are Boyette Fleming (a farmer of this township, owning 440 acres of good land—see sketch), James G. (a merchant of New Lewisville), Orin E. (a farmer of this township), and Robert H. (deceased). May 27, 1879, Miss Mattie A. Everett, daughter of Wilson B. Everett, of Alabama, became Mrs. Olive, and has since become the mother of six children, viz.: Sarah E. (deceased), Lilly A., Wilson H., Exah Jane, Alma and Beula D. Mr. and Mrs. Olive are both members of the Baptist Church. Socially, Mr. Olive is a member of the Masonic fraternity, K. of H. (lodge now disbanded), and the County Wheel. He is one of the best known citizens of Lafayette County, votes with the Union Labor party, and takes an active part in politics. In 1878 he was elected justice of the peace, and served two years in that capacity, filling the office with credit to himself and satisfaction to all citizens.

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This family biography is one of 44 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lafayette County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Lafayette County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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