Dr.Absalom Carter Oliver

Dr. Oliver was a pioneer physician of Texas. He was born 23 June 1839 in Butler County, Alabama. In the later part of 1854, he moved with his parents Samuel and Eliza Oliver to Douglassville, Cass County, Texas. His early education was obtained in the private schools of that time. His medical education at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. His first practice was in Shelby County, Texas, in 1859-1860. He left there and entered the Medical University at Augusta, GA where he received a degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1861.

Dr. Oliver returned to his home in Douglassville. He enlisted in the Confederate Army 27 May 1861 at Linden, Texas as a Private in Co. D 1st Regiment with Hood’s Texas Brigade 27 June 1862, he was detailed as assistant surgeon and was promoted to Lieutenant 8 November 1862.

He signed Muster Roll 31 October 1863 as Commander of Co. D. 1st Texas Brigade. He was with General Lee when he surrendered at Appomattox Court House, 9 April 1865. He fought all through the Civil War. Was in all the major battles engaged in by Hood’s Texas Brigade.

Dr. Oliver returned to his home in Douglassville in 1865 to devote his life to the service of his Community as a physician and to his State of Texas as a Legislator.

He was married to Miss Frances Berkeley Ringgold of Batesville, Ark. in 1866. To this marriage six children were born, Lucretia (Lutie), Laura (Chick), Harry, Dorothy (Dollie) Absalom (Ab) and Louie. A daughter Frances died at the age of four. This wife died 4 June 1890. He married (2) Miss Mary Elizabeth Brooks in 1892. To this marriage one son was born, William Brooks Oliver.

Dr. Oliver was a member of the Cass County Medical Society, the State Medical Association, and the American Medical Association.

For a period of over forty-eight years, he served Douglassville and its vicinity as a physician.

During this period, he took graduate work at various times in the school of Medicine at Tulane University in New Orleans, where he received his first medical training.

In addition to his interest in medicine, he took an active part in political affairs, serving as representative of the Seventeenth Legislature in 1880, the twenty fifth Legislature in 1896 and the Twenty sixth Legislature in 1898. In 1913 he was elected to the State Senate, succeeding the Honorable Horace Vaughan.

While serving in the Legislature he was chairman of the Education Committee and served on the Board of Regents for Texas A and M, also served on the Revenue and Taxation, Public Health, Vital Statistics and State Asylums Committees.

Dr. Oliver was appointed Superintendent of the Confederate Home in Austin, Texas in 1913 and continued in this capacity until 1917, he resigned and returned to his home in Douglassville.

The funeral service of Dr. Oliver was held on the front porch of his home, a large old-fashioned house in Douglassville, where he had lived from the time of his marriage in 1865 until the time of his death, March 1929 with the exception of his three years spent in Austin.