OLIVER, Dr. Henry 'Hillary' L., 8 Dec 1828 - 27 Jan 1900.' (Son Hezekiah & Mahala Oliver; Col. C.S.A.)
and
OLIVER, Valderia A., 1 Oct 1850 - 30 May 1891. (Wife of Dr. H. L.; nee Valdaria Ann Dillehay.)
He was Tom Cooper's Great Grandfather. He is buried at Pleasant Mount Cumberland Presbyterian Church next to his wife Valdaria Dillehay. Hillary�s parents were Hezekiah Oliver & Mahala Lewis. Hezekiah�s father, Levin Oliver, was born around 1745 in Maryland and his father Leonard Oliver was also from Maryland and born about 1725. One of Hillary�s sons was Herbert L. Oliver who was my grandfather. Herbert had two daughters, Alice and Mary. Alice Oliver married Thomas W. Cooper who are my parents.
Here are some other bits of information I have on Hillary Oliver: 1st. Tenn Inf. Col. M.R. Hill, Col. George Maney, Maj. Hume Field. Second Division. Maj. Gen. Benjiman Cheatham. When the war between the states began, he was appointed colonel of the 1st. Tennessee Infantry on May 8 1861. In July he was sent to Staunton, Va. He served in Cheat Mt. campaign and joined Stonewall Jackson's command at Winchester, Va. in Dec. 1861. In 1862 he was sent to Tennessee and was placed in command of the 2nd. Brigade, Cheatham Division of Polks Corps. He led the brigade in the battle of Shiloh with such single success that on April 16, 1862 he was commissioned brigadier general (note: this came from Mary Oliver (Dixon) who copied it from a book at the Library of Congress. I have never found the promotion to General in any documentation and have doubts if it is correct). He took part in the battles of Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge. Went to Tulane and became a doctor. The following was taken from THE DAILY HERALD Saturday - January 27, 1900 Prominent Physician passes away at Groveland Dr. H. L. Oliver died this afternoon at his home in Groveland neighborhood after an illness of several days of pneumonia. Dr. Oliver was one of the best known citizens of the county, having represented Maury at the last legislature. He had a large number of friends, and his death will be deeply regretted. At our hour of going to press, the arrangements for the funeral services had not been made. THE DAILY Herald Monday - January 29, 1900 "Death's Harvest" Dr. Hilary Lucien Oliver Dr. Hilary L. Oliver departed this life last Saturday afternoon at 12:30 o'clock at his home in the Groveland neighborhood, after an illness of pneumonia. Deceased had passed his three score years and ten, having attained the ripe old age of seventy-two. The funeral services were conducted at Pleasant Mount Cumberland Presbyterian Church; Sunday afternoon at 1 o'clock. A large crowd gathering to pay their last tribute to one whom they knew so well and esteemed so highly. Services were conducted by Rev. J.W. Brown, and the remains were tenderly placed to rest in the church yard of Pleasant Mount, the following acting as pall bearers: Messrs. John W. Edmonson, W.R. Gresham, B.S. Thomas, N.E. Cheirs, R.W. Thomas, and Will McGregor. Dr. Oliver was one of the best known citizens of the county, having done an extensive practice here for a number of years, and having been called to represent Maury at the last session of the State Legislature. In his immediate neighborhood he was held in the highest respect by everyone, and his advice on all questions of public or private interest was prized on all occasions. He leaves surviving him the following children, who have the deepest sympathy of everyone - viz. Ethel Oliver Park (Mrs. T.H. Park), Misses Edith and Virginia Oliver, Messrs. Dalton, Weldon, Carl, Herbert, and Jake Oliver, Emma Oliver Smith (Mrs. S.W. Smith). Note: corrected errors in this account include change of name to "Hillary" Lucien Oliver, from "Henry"; and addition of the name of a surviving daughter, Emma Oliver Smith ((Mrs. S.W. Smith), accidentally omitted. From "History of Maury County Tennessee by William Bruce Turner Dr. Hilary Lucien Oliver was born in Maury County December 8, 1828, the son of Hezekiah and Mahala Lewis Oliver. they were both Virginians (Culpepper) and came to the 4th District of Maury County in 1825, farmed and taught school. Hezekiah was a soldier in the War of 1812, a Methodist and Democrat. Hilary L. began the study of medicine in 1855 and graduated in New Orleans in 1860. He married Miss Valderia A. Dillehay (December 19, 1867) and they lived for many years at Groveland on Fountain Creek. they were the parents of George Weldon, Emma Love, Dalton A., Edith, Milton L., Ethel, Hilary G., Carl L., Herbert L., Virginia E. and Wendell H. (Jake). He was Lt. Colonel in the Confederate Army; and was in the Tennessee Legislature. He practiced medicine in the vicinity many years. His children were active in the affairs of Maury county. (Buried in Pleasant Mount cemetery.)
Information and photo by Tom Cooper. Sent on by Mary Bob McClain Richardson, 12/14/2005.
