Born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1834, and received a classical education, graduating at Washington College in 1850. He taught two years in Arkansas, returning to Pennsylvania and studied law, was admitted to the bar and removed to Iowa in 1857, taking up his residence at Onawa, in Monona County, where he began practice. Mr. Oliver was elected to the House of the Tenth General Assembly in 1863 to represent the district composed of the counties of Carroll, Crawford, Monona and Sac. He became a prominent member and at the close of his term was elected to the Senate for the Forty-fifth District composed of fifteen counties in the northwestern part of the State and served four years. He was then chosen circuit judge and twice reflected. In 1874 he was elected to Congress from the Sixth District, serving four years. Mr. Oliver became one of the most extensive farmers in western Iowa after retiring from public life.

Born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1834, and received a classical education, graduating at Washington College in 1850. He taught two years in Arkansas, returning to Pennsylvania and studied law, was admitted to the bar and removed to Iowa in 1857, taking up his residence at Onawa, in Monona County, where he began practice. Mr. Oliver was elected to the House of the Tenth General Assembly in 1863 to represent the district composed of the counties of Carroll, Crawford, Monona and Sac. He became a prominent member and at the close of his term was elected to the Senate for the Forty-fifth District composed of fifteen counties in the northwestern part of the State and served four years. He was then chosen circuit judge and twice reflected. In 1874 he was elected to Congress from the Sixth District, serving four years. Mr. Oliver became one of the most extensive farmers in western Iowa after retiring from public life.

Born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1834, and received a classical education, graduating at Washington College in 1850. He taught two years in Arkansas, returning to Pennsylvania and studied law, was admitted to the bar and removed to Iowa in 1857, taking up his residence at Onawa, in Monona County, where he began practice. Mr. Oliver was elected to the House of the Tenth General Assembly in 1863 to represent the district composed of the counties of Carroll, Crawford, Monona and Sac. He became a prominent member and at the close of his term was elected to the Senate for the Forty-fifth District composed of fifteen counties in the northwestern part of the State and served four years. He was then chosen circuit judge and twice reflected. In 1874 he was elected to Congress from the Sixth District, serving four years. Mr. Oliver became one of the most extensive farmers in western Iowa after retiring from public life.