John Milton Oliver and Mary Springer Hewes were the parents of a large family born in Washington(Prosperity), Pennsylvania. Many of the sons left the area and settled in Chicago, Arkansas, and Iowa. His father had fled from the New Jersey area to Pennsylvania at the time of the Revolutionary War. As Tories, the family was not popular in the area. I have included family stories here from my research. I hope the pictures further enhance the details.
pp 508 509 A visit from some of the 'cowboys' of Staten Island is thus described in the journal of 5th December (1782): last Saturday night (1st) seven Refugees from Staten Island landed at Halstead's Point, with the expectation (as their leader told them) of meeting some of their quondam friends with fat cattle; but Captain Jonathan Dayton having notice of their intention collected a party of men, and knowing the route they were to take, laid in ambush for them, though unfortunately a muddy place in the road had turned them a little out, and obliged his party to fire through tow fences, otherwise, in all probability, they would have killed everyone. The first fire, however, they killed one, mortally wounded another, and took three prisoners; the other two, favored by the shade of night and good pair of heels, made their escape. Three of the party were left in the gunboat, but hearing a boat of ours coming out of the creek, pushed over to Staten Island shore, nevertheless she fell into the hands of the Lieutenant Randall. It seems their leader, Swain Parsel, was a deserter from our army. On his information David Oliver, a villain who has long been the supporter of the illicit trade, and dread to the inhabitants on the lines, was taken the same night concealed in a house at Rahway.
Mary Springer Hewes came the city of Philadelphia before the Rev War and was a small child at the time. When the British raided Philadelphia (1776) one of the officers took from the wall a painting of a lay holding a pet rabbit in her arms. This picture she claimed as hers and demanded that he give it up. Grabbing him around the limbs and kicking him on the shins, she was so persistent that he finally said "Take it you damned little rebel!!"
This picture she always kept and she brought it to Western Pennsylvania when she married John Milton Oliver.. It adorned the wall in her parlor. It was still there during the reign of the second Mrs. Oliver (Mary Ann Towne) who gave it to Ellen Oliver, first born of David Oliver John Milton Oliver's oldest son.
Who sat for the painting? Jim believes it is Mary Springer's mother. Primitive portrait painters traversed the colonies plying their art, and this is evidently a primitive. One notes the out of focus enlargement of the fingers that clutch the rabbit. The smile on the girl's face is rather simperish.
The "S" Bridge on National Turnpike. When American pioneers began crossing the mountains to settle in Northwest Territory, the Federal government assisted in the settling of the area by building a toll road through Maryland,Western PA, Virginia to the Ohio River at Wheeling. The pike ran across Washington Co and John Milton Oliver , an expert stone mason was awarded the contract to build the bridge in 1819-20, the year he married Mary Springer Hewes. Topography forced him to build it 'S' shaped a style
that required mastery of stone construction. His bridge became famous to Turnpike travelers as the 'S' bridge, halfway between Washington and Claysville. The bridge still stands at the side of Highway 40 from Wheeling to Washington and has been made into a roadside park. The western approach impinged on the Highway and has been removed. A marker identifies the bridge but no mention is made of John Milton as the builder. When the Erie Canal was projected,
John Milton had contracts for building several of the locks. He had acquired over 1000 acres of land and hired a Scotch shepherd to look after his flocks.
Graduated with honors Washington college now W&J Class of 1850 Age
17 years. Taught school Pickens Arkansas 1851-52. Read law in office of William Montgomery 1853. Moved to Iowa 1857, Admitted to the Bar 1858 IOWA H.R.1863, Senate 1865-1868, Judge 1st District Court 1868-1873 M.C. 9th IOWA Dist 1874. 44th and 45th Congressional Delegate Baltimore Convention that nominated Lincoln 2nd term.
Annie Agnes Oliver, married Clifford E. Willis
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