The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-05-16

We present our readers this week with
the portrait. of a gentleman whose name
has now become with the people of Mis-
sissippi a household word; not only in
his connection with the Mississippi Mills
as general manager, but as President Of
the Society Of the Red Cross Of the County
Of Copiah, Capt. VIM. Oliver, Of Wes-
son. Among the rich, the various pro-
fessions, and the "bcau mond," the name
Of Capt. Oliver may possess no special
attraction; but to the poor widow with
helpless family, the orphan child with
out friend, home or means of support,
hundreds of these speak his name with
gratitude, and look to him as their friend
and benefactor.
1t is not our purpose to go into an OK
tended eulogy of Capt. Oliver, or to
laud his merits beyond his deserts; but
having recently been called upon to
visit the towns Of Beaurcgard and Wes-
son, to gather facts connected with the
terrible cyclone, which has recently de-
vastated so many homes, sweeping death
and desolation in its path, and there saw
so much in connection with the opera
ton of the Mills, and his efforts to oassuage
the suffering of the dying and wounded,
that we cannot forog0 the pleasure OF
| presenting somo points III his history,
| that the young men of our State may
take heart, and feel that there is future
for them, beside the drudgery of clerk.
life and listless wandering about in idle
ness; that our citizens may SEQ in tbs
diversity of labor, and departure from
the continued role Of agricultural life
and the eternal planting of cotton, thai
the progress of State is enhanced BY
the establishment Of factories of various
kinds, whether they be cotton or wool
wooden ware, boots and shoes or broom
factories; and that as rapidly as thes'
spring UP in our midst, skilled labor vii
pour in upon us, our young men vii
soon acquire remunerative trades, anC
avenues opened for the employment 0
all the labor the State can furnish.
VIM. Oliver, the Secretary and Treas
urer of the Mississippi Cotton and Wool
en- Mills, located at Wesson, Copial
county, forty miles south of Jackson, ol
the Illinois Central Railroad, was borl
in the year 1929, in the State of Georgia
| but during the winter of 1884 move,
with his parents to Barbour county, Ala
near Eufaula, where he resided unit
1916, when, after receiving fair Englisl
education, he accepted position a
: clerk in a store in Eufaula, Ala, at Gt
dollars per month and board. His activity
business qualifications and strict atten
ton to the business of his employer, SC
7 cured him, before the expiration of
. years service, an advancement of salar
/ to fifty dollars per month, then consic
!. cred good salary. At the age of ninC
, teen, he married Mary d. Galloway,
! daughter of Rev. Joshua Galloway,
' BAPTIST clergyman residing in Henr
4 county, Georgia. A short time afte
his marriage, he entered into busine'
f his own account, in Eufaula, and wit
: some means given him by his father, t
pether with his saved salary, he did
, handsome and lucrative business, unit
the spring Of 1853, when, with his fam
ly. he moved to Minden, La. Here b
! again engaged in commercial busines
6 upon his own account, which he condu
: ted with success, until 1855, when |
n formed CO-pdTbntISulP hlth W.
!. Drake, of Minden, to open a business
Trenton, La, on the Ouachita rive
= which was but a continuation of succes
L until the breaking out of the civil WI
/ Of 1861, when he entered the service
!. the Confederate States government wi
The appointment of quartermaster,
which capacity he served until the clio
of the war in in 1860.
AT the commencement of the war; t
firm of Drake & Oliver owed to m'
chants of New York, principally, !
re tween twenty and thirty thousand d.
lars and feeling that the cause of t
.. war was no Just cause for them to
hack on their New York friends, 20
crery dollar they o1Ced.
of In July, 1865, he formed a co-partnt
ship with Jno. 7. Hardie, Of New
!. leans. under the firm name Of Jno
Hardic q Co., and entered into o g
i. eral cotton and commission busine
2 which partnership existed for six yen
during which time the firm became
. nurchasers Of what was known as
sn mississippi Manufacturing Compan.
a cotton and woolen mill, located