Charles Augustus Oliver

Charles Augustus Oliver

Charles Augustus Oliver was born on August 30, 1833 in Boston, Massachusettts. He was the son of John Oliver and Sarah Blany (Spear) Oliver. He settled in Lakeland, Minnesota with his father and siblings in 1847. He married Emily Newell on March 5, 1856, in Stillwater, Minnesota. They had two daughters, Alice and Mira. Emily died in 1859. Charles married Margaret Alberta Miller on February 4, 1864, in Stillwater, Minnesota. They had one daughter Jennie Adele Oliver, who was born on August 1, 1865 in Lakeland, Minnesota.

Charles Oliver enlisted as a Private in Captain Brackett's Battalion, 1st Minnesota Cavalry on November 1, 1861 at Fort Snelling. Brackett's Battalion later became Company K, 5th Iowa Cavalry. Due to a war-related disability, Charles Oliver was discharged on July 1, 1863 at Paducah, Kentucky.

In 1895, Charles Oliver moved to Fitzgerald, Georgia, to help in founding a Soldier's Colony in which he took much pride. He was an ardent and enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and at the time of his death, was Colonel of the staff having been appointed by then GAR Commander-in-Chief Samuel Rinnah Van Sant. Charles Augustus Oliver died on June 26, 1910 in Fitzgerald, Georgia and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Lakeland, Minnesota.

Photograph and information submitted by Charles Augustus Oliver's great great granddaughter, Marcia Kremer of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Charles Augustus Oliver