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Sheriff
John T Olive |
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| Killed
in the line of Duty Sept 12 1892 |
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| John
T. Olive was born on February 28, 1850 in
Lafayette county, Arkansas, to Marville
Mattison (1812-91) and Zipporah Cullum
(1821-87) Olive. Sheriff Olive had six
brothers and sisters: William (1844-1925),
Elizabeth, Joseph (1852-1917), Jesse
(1855-1930), Nancy (1858-1924) and
Marvel (1861-1959). He came to Central
Texas in the early 1870s and married
Frances Gentry in Lee county on July
23, 1876. They had six children: Juanita,
Owen, Carrie, John, Bessie and Roy. |
John
T. Olive was elected sheriff of
Williamson county in November 1884 and
served until November 1888. He was
elected again in 1890 and was
assured of re-election in 1892 when he
was shot while standing on a railroad
platform at Echo, Bell county, Texas on
September 11, 1892. He is buried in
Taylor's City Cemetery next to his wife
and youngest son.
The
citizens of Williamson county recognized
Sheriff Olive in July 1892 for his
courageous dedication as a lawman by
presenting him with a nickel
plated, single action Colt 44-40 pistol
bearing the inscription, "To
our friend, John Olive."
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PHOTO
PROVIDED BY JIM DILLARD |
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PHOTO
PROVIDED BY Bob Shamburger. |
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Sheriff
Olive's Colt Single Action Revolver is a 44-40 caliber (44),
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June 7,.7-1/2" barrel,
nickel plated shipped from Colt's factory on |
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1892 to E. A. Sprague,
engraver |
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| PHOTO
PROVIDED BY JIM DILLARD |
| John T. Olive rests in
the Taylor City Cemetery.
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| A book about John Thomas Olive entitled "OUR
DEAD SHERIFF" |
| by Jim Dillard of Texas will be ready soon! |
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