Joseph Doty (J.D.) Oliver (August 2, 1850 – August 6, 1933) was an American businessman and President of the

Oliver Farm Equipment Company The Oliver Farm Equipment Company was an American farm equipment manufacturer from the 20th century. It was formed as a result of a 1929 merger of four companies: the American Seeding Machine Company of Richmond, Indiana; Oliver Chilled Plow Wor ...

South Bend, Indiana South Bend is a city in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. It lies along the St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan), St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. It is the List of cities in ...

Early life

Joseph Doty Oliver was born to Susan Catherine (née Doty) and James Oliver on August 2, 1850. His father was an inventor. Oliver attended public schools in South Bend. He took courses at

DePauw University DePauw University ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Greencastle, Indiana, United States. It was founded in 1837 as Indiana Asbury College and changed its name to DePauw University in 1884. The college has a Methodist heritage and was ...

and the

University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame du Lac (known simply as Notre Dame; ; ND) is a Private university, private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Cathol ...

Career

His first job was in his father's plant, then called Oliver, Bissel and Company, for 75 cents a day. He was elected Treasurer at the age of 16, Director at 20, and became President in 1908 after his father's death. His public works include funding (along with his father) the Oliver Opera House in 1884, Oliver Hotel in 1899, and City Hall, as well serving as the Indiana Director of War Savings during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Oliver served as a director of the

Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, commonly called the Pan Handle Route (Panhandle Route in later days), was a railroad that was part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system. Its common name came from its main line, whic ...

, the First National Bank of Chicago and the Chase National Bank of New York. He served as trustee of

Purdue University Purdue University is a Public university#United States, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded ...

for 18 years.

Personal life

Oliver married Anna Gertrude Wells of

Johnstown, New York Johnstown is a city in and the county seat of Fulton County in the U.S. state of New York. The city was named after its colonial founder, Sir William Johnson, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Britain in the Province of New York and a major ...

, on December 10, 1884. They had four children, James II, Gertrude, Joseph Jr. and Susan Catherine. Oliver was a member of the

Presbyterian church Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Christianity, Reformed Protestantism, Protestant tradition named for its form of ecclesiastical polity, church government by representative assemblies of Presbyterian polity#Elder, elders, known as ...

. The Oliver family built a house on West Washington Street in South Bend. It was named Copshaholm, in honor of the birthplace of Oliver's father. Oliver died on August 6, 1933, in

. Oliver was buried in the Oliver mausoleum at the Riverview Cemetery in South Bend.

References

External links

* 1850 births 1933 deaths Businesspeople in agriculture Businesspeople from Indiana

Joseph D. Oliver Joseph Doty (J.D.) Oliver (August 2, 1850 – August 6, 1933) was an American businessman and President of the Oliver Farm Equipment Company in South Bend, Indiana. Early life Joseph Doty Oliver was born to Susan Catherine (née Doty) and James ...

Presbyterians from Indiana American business executives {{US-business-bio-1850s-stub