Orville Orvan Oliver

Narrative:

     Orville Orvan Oliver was born on 9 Feb 1895 in Chatsworth, Illinois, in the home his father had built on land settled by his parents in the 1830's.^9,10,11
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Chatsworth Twp., Livingston Co., Illinois, in the household of his parents, John L. Oliver and Mary Elizabeth Sealock.⁵
     Orville moved to Oklahoma with his parents between 1900 and 1910. He appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Tuttle, Grandy Co., Oklahoma, in the household of his parents.⁶
     Orville registered for the draft for World War I on 5 Jun 1917, while living at Tuttle, Grandy Co., Oklahoma, reporting he was employed as a farmer, working for J. L. Campbell in Tuttle. He claimed exemption for a "bad side." He also claimed his mother was solely dependent on him, but the registrar added a note "not the case she takes care of him."¹
     Orville enlisted in the U.S. Army in World War II, 1 Jun 1918. He served in the 57th Infanty Supply Co., with a rank of wagoner. He was discharged 31 Mar 1919.^2,19
     He tried alfalfa farming after the war, but suffered a series of crop failures.¹⁸
     Orville married Luella Christina Glabe, daughter of Sebastian Glabe and Anna Katherine Ruppel, on 30 Mar 1921 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., Oklahoma, with Rev. Adolph Walton, pastor of Zions Evanglical Church, officiating.^12,13
     Orville and Luella returned to Chatsworth, Illinois, after their marriage. In Mar 1922 he started farming on the place where he had been born.¹⁸
     Orville and Luella appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Chatsworth Twp., Livingston Co., Illinois, enumerated 1 May 1930, reporting that they owned their home, and did not own a radio.²⁰
     When his grandmother died she had left a large amount of property to be divided between her three children, including Orville's father. Revilo, another son, had produced another will in which he was the primary beneficiary. The Livingston circuit court found this will invalid, and Revilo appealed. With the death of his father, Orville pursued the case to the Illinois Supreme Court, which on 15 Oct 1930 rejected the appeal, thus upholding the equal division of the property.²¹
     Title to his grandfather's 4,000 acres had passed out of the family after his death in 1881. In 1934 Orville bought 80 acres of that land from the company that had taken title to in during the depression Nine years later he bought an additional 440 acres of his grandfather's original holding and built a new home on it.¹⁸
     In 1930 he reported his occupation as a salesman selling retail feed, but apparently his primary interest was his farm.²² He developed a farm known for raising Aberdeen-Angus cattle and Belgian horses. He sold most of that livestock in Feb 1946.^23,18
     Orville and Luella appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Chatsworth Twp., Livingston Co., Illinois, enumerated 15 Apr 1940, reporting they owned a home valued at $1,500, and had lived in the same house in 1935. Also listed in the household was Charles Crem, a 26-year-old hired hand.²⁴
     Orville registered for the draft for World War II on 27 Apr 1942, while living at Chatsworth Twp., Livingston Co., Illinois, reporting he was self-employed.²⁵
     Orville and Luella appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Chatsworth, Livingston Co., Illinois, enumerated 15 Apr 1950, reporting they lived on a farm.²⁶
     Orville died on 15 Mar 1959 in Fairbury, Illinois, at age 64.^14,15 He was buried on 17 Mar 1959 in Chatsworth Cemetery, Chatsworth, Livingston Co., Illinois.^16,17