John A. Oliver (1733-1824) lived in Bordentown, New Jersey. He became friends with Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). John Oliver served as a quartermaster in the Revolutionary War.
Bordentown citizen Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791) was a patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Hopkinson had artistic talents and helped design the first U.S. flag, wrote music, wrote poetry, sketched, and painted. Hopkinson painted a portrait of Benjamin Franklin. Mr. Franklin then gave the picture to his friend, John Oliver. Eventually, Franklin Oliver (1797-1881) inherited the portrait from his father.
Franklin Oliver grew up in Bordentown and served as a Private in the War of 1812. He then worked for Joseph Bonaparte, older brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, when he built his estate in Bordentown. Franklin Oliver learned the craft of surveying.
In 1832, Franklin Oliver became one of the pioneer settlers of Livingston County, Illinois. He surveyed new towns and selected some of the best lands to purchase. As a result, he accumulated over 4,000 acres of land in Livingston and Ford Counties.
Franklin Oliver was married three times and had nine children. He lived a very colorful life in Illinois. This book documents the interesting pioneering life of Franklin Oliver. It is hoped this book will help people understand the critical role that Franklin Oliver played in early Illinois history.
