OLIVER, John VanNuys

LOCAL NEWS ITEMS

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Attorney John V. Oliver is critically ill with appendicitis. He had about recovered from a severely strained ankle and was able to be at his office, when on Tuesday he was suddenly taken ill with appendicitis, and grew worse so rapidly that the physicians in charge resorted to an operation as the only resort to afford relief. His father-in-law, Dr. Tom Noble, of Greenwood, was summoned and assisted the at­tending physician, Dr. Carl Payne, Wed­nesday evening in the operation. He rallied from the operation, but the physicians say he has but a slim chance for recovery.

The Franklin Democrat, Friday, Friday, May 4, 1900,
Volume XL, Number 44 page 1 column 2 & 3

LOCAL NEWS ITEMS

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Harry Bridges and wife of Columbus were here Monday to attend the funeral of John V. Oliver.

R. A. Brown, Charles Remy and Arch Young, of Indianapolis, were here Monday to attend the funeral of John V. Oliver.

John V. Oliver carried $1,000 life insurance in the Maccabee order, taken through the local lodge of this city. The lodge was instituted about four years ago and this is the first death to occur in the lodge.

The Franklin Democrat, Friday, May 4, 1900,
Volume XL Number 44, page 5 column 3

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CALLED HOME.

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John V. Oliver’s Sudden Illness Proves Fatal.

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The illness of John V. Oliver as mentioned last week proved fatal. The news of his death was received with deep sorrow in the entire community. While he rallied from the surgical operation, yet the physicians in charge took note of the fatal symptoms char­acteristic of the disease and held out no hope.

The resolutions passed by the Johnson county bar at their meeting Monday, cover so fully the life and character of Mr. Oliver that but little more could be added. Their memorial was as follows:

John VanNuys Oliver was born at Hopewell, in this county, on the 18th day of November, 1870, and died at Franklin on the 27th day of April, 1900. He was admitted to practice his chosen profession of the law in the Johnson circuit court on the 22nd day of April 1895, and passed the whole of his brief life in the county of his birth and knew no other professional career except such as he spent with us.

Therefore, it is especially fitting that we, the bar of Johnson county, meet and take action and express our regard for him on this occasion.

He was cut down in the very bloom and strength of his young manhood by the decree of that inscrutable provi­dence in whom he had an abiding faith, and we haltingly bend our stubborn necks in being thus bereft of our brother, who was one of the favorites of this bar, yet firmly realizing the eternal fitness of all things omnipotent, we remember in the language of the poet,

“Since every man who lives is born to die,
And none can boast sincere felicity,
With equal mind what happens let us bear,
Nor joy nor grieve too much for things beyond our care,
Like pilgrims to the appointed place we tend;
The world’s an inn, and death, the journey’s end.”

It is no reflection upon any member of this bar for us to say that none of us had a brighter prospect for the future than John Oliver. Blessed in life by a commanding mien and stature, a fine mind, a congenial temperament and a host of friends all over our state, life to him held out all of the most enticing and alluring prospects and ambitions that are of a manly and enviable character, and he profited by that which nature so generously gave him, and desired above all things earthly to be a factor and not a drone in the busy life of everyday life.

John Oliver was a lawyer, indus­trious, eloquent and of high standing among us. We deeply deplore his un­timely death, and our hearts have been saddened that his labors have ceased among us. By the force of his ability he, in his short professional life, rose step by step in the esteem of the people and bar to prominence. He was a man of the highest integrity and honor, and had already achieved a position as a lawyer and citizen that was worthy of the fulfillment of the ambition of one much older than he, and, in his career, it was his custom to take a practical rather than a theoretical view of all affairs that came before him for consideration or judgment.

The friendship and society of John Oliver was most highly prized by us all, whether we met with him as an associate or adversary in business, politics or at the forum. The meeting to him was a plain one of duty or prin­ciple, and we parted with an increased regard and respect for him. We shall miss him in our councils; and in the future contests at this bar, but we shall not forget to emulate his virtues of character that, the same may elevate our own lives.

We desire to extend to his stricken and bereaved wife and his parents and family, and to his venerable law partner, the Hon. G. M. Overstreet, our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their great loss and bereavement.

Resolved—That the secretary of this meeting present to and cause this memorial to be spread upon the records of the Johnson circuit court of Indiana, and that certified copies thereof be delivered to the wife, parents and law partner of the deceased.

Franklin, Ind., April 30, 1900.

The funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock in the Presbyterian church, conducted by Rev. L. P. Marshall. A large procession of Masons and Maccabees accompanied the remains to the church and thence to their resting place in Greenlawn.

Link to John VanNuys Oliver’s grave

Note: Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899–2011, Franklin, Franklin Township, Johnson County, Certificate and Record of Death, Health Officer’s Record Number 15, page 170 records that John VanNuys Oliver died at about 7 o’clock p. m. on 27 Apr 1900 at his residence on West Madison Street, Franklin from septicemia, caused by appendicitis, aged twenty-nine years, five months and nine days. He was male, white, married and a lawyer, born in Hopewell, Johnson County, Indiana. His father’s name was John Oliver, and his mother’s maiden name Mary F. B. McHall, both born in Ireland. The informant was W. G. Oliver. John was buried in Greenwood on 30 Apr 1900, E. G. Barnhizer, undertaker.

Submitted by Mark McCrady, Cathea Curry and Lois Johnson