Orris & Martha met in Champlain, NY and were married in 1817. The Forbes, also of Scotch-Irish descent, came to Champlain in 1803 from Montreal and were said to be great military leaders and fur traders. Martha was born April 5, 1823, Montreal to William Forbes and Mary Cuppage, her middle name was "Hallowell" which I assume was her grandmother's maiden name. In 1858, Orris sold his 80 acres in Champlain and traveled by wagon to Minnesota, which had just become a state. Leaving family and an infant son who had died in NY, they came to Minnesota to a rugged land, inhabitated by Indians, who were often at war with each other and against the white settlers. Traveling with them to Minnesota were 8 children; 2 more would be born after their arrival here. Orris found land in Wabasha County and settled in a little town called Guilford where they farmed for many years. He describes the home he built on his Homestead Certificate Application No. 141, filed at St. Peter, Mn., 1863; "I have built a house thereon 16 by 20 feet and 10 feet high, two board floors, shakes for the roof and 4 doors, 4 windows and is a comfortable house to live in; I have 100 acres fenced, barn 36 by 36 feet, corn crib and wagon house."

Children of Orris & Martha
James Ashley, born September 22, 1840, married Eva Marie Welch from Wabasha County .
William Forbes, born April 7, 1842, married Margaret Whaley and (2) Clarissa McCain, both of Guilford Township.
Margaret Ann, born December 9, 1844, married Franklin Warren of Wabasha County.
Elizabetta Amelia, born November 18, 1946, married Samuel D. Welch of Guilford Township.
Mary Frances , born September 1, 1848, married Charles D. Bryant of Guilford Township.
Hannibal Orris, born December 8, 1953, married Edith Estelle Morse of Wabasha County.
Emily Charlotte , born August 20, 1856, married Edmond J. Lamb of Guilford Township.
Martha Marie, born January 21, 1858, married John Harboldt of Guilford Township.
Minnesota, born August 5, 1860 -- the first child born after they arrived in Minnesota, so wanted to give her an appropriate name --, married Robson C. Atkinson of Wabasha County.
George Loyal, born June 17, 1864 -- the baby of the family and my great grandfather -- married Emma Dickmann of Wabasha County.
Loyal Orris was born in Clinton County and died in infancy.

Lake City Sentinel, August 1885, Old man Oliver of Hyde Park Corners is low with dropsy and his demise is hourly expected. He is about 65 years of age and is an old settler here.

Orris L. Oliver died October 30 of dropsy of the heart, aged 67 years. He was an old resident and highly esteemed by all who knew him, November 7, 1885.

Mrs. O.L. Oliver of Guilford died at her home on Sunday evening at 9 o'clock at the age of 74 years, 7 months and 21 days. The deceased was born at Albany, NY and in an early day settled on the homestead farm in Gillford, where they have resided ever since . She was the mother of ten children -- eight of whom still survive her, and are : James of Reed's Landing, William of Oronoco, Han and George Oliver of Gillford , Mrs. Margaret Warren of Hyde Park, Mrs. Elizabeth Welch of Zumbro Falls, Mrs. Emma Lamb of Rochester and Mrs. Minnesota Atkinson of Henning, MN; all but two of whom were at the funeral. The funeral services will be held at the late residence tomorrow, Wednesday, at 11 o'clock, Reverend Mr. Ingham of Mazeppa officiating, and the remains laid at rest in the Lincoln Cemetery. The deceased was a tender, loving mother, a kind neighbor and the friends of the family mourn her death.

*It is assumed that Han Oliver, who resided in Onamia, MN and Minnesota Atkinson who resided in Henning, MN were unable to attend the funeral due to the distance. *The baptismal record for Martha states that she was born in 1823, Monteal -- this obituary indicates she was born in Albany, NY. Interestinly enough, Franklin "Doc" Warren was the informant on his wife Margaret's death record. In the blank where it says Mother's name and birth place, Frank Warren put Martha Forbes, born April 5, 1823, Montreal." Thank goodness, "Doc" had the forsight to put this down on a document -- that should settle where and when Martha Forbes was born.

State of MN, County of Wabasha, Town of Guilford, 1885.

First, I order and direct that my Executor hereinafter named pay all my just debts and funeral expenses as soon after my demise as conveniently may be. Second, after the payment of such funeral expenses and debts, I give and bequeath to my wife Martha H. Oliver the south half of the SW quarter of Section 34,Town 110, Range 13 West.
I also give and bequeath to my wife Martha H. Oliver all my personal property.
I give and bequeath to my son George L. Oliver, the north half of the soutwest quarter of section 34, town 110, range 13 west providing: He, George L. Oliver pay all my just debts and funeral expenses. Should he, George L. Oliver fail to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses, then the said property shall be sold to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses.
I give and bequeath to my son James A. Oliver, five dollars.
I give and bequeath to my son William F. Oliver, five dollars.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret A. Warren, five dollars.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth A. Welch, five dollars.
I give and bequeath to my son Hannibal O. Oliver five dollars.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Emma Lamb five dollars.
I give and bequeath to daughter Martha Harboldt five dollars.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Minnesota Atkinson, five dollars.
I give and bequeath to my grandson Charles Bryant, five dollars and to my grandson George Bryant, five dollars and to my granddaughter Carrie Bryant, five dollars.
Lastly, I make, constitute and appoint George L. Oliver to be Executor of this my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this 13th day of September, 1885, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty five.
His signature: Orris L. Oliver, Witnesses: John Price, Robert Disney, John Disney, all residing at Zumrbo Falls.

*Mary Oliver Bryant died in childbirth shortly before Orris died, therefore he left her children her portion of the estate.

The following is a separate and distinct inventory and appraisment of all the household furniture and other personal property of Orris. L. Oliver, deceased; December 17, 1885, Wabasha, MN. Probate Court.

Signed: Martha H. Oliver, Widow of Orris L. Oliver, and George L. Oliver, Executor.
Appraisers: Robert Disney and John C. Disney, Guilford Township, Wabasha County.

Friend Cousin.
Received your letter and pictures and say I don't know any of them only two I marked. Can you send them to me. They all passed away now. I'm the last of our family. 92 years old. Yes, I know an uncle you don't mention Hanable Oliver & Stella (wife). They had 2 boys & 2 girls, boys Stuart & Glen. Who got killed in War I in Europe. girls Edna & Ruth. they lived near Braynerd or Minn. Edna has a son Glen Johnson. Near them was a large family you may get in touch there . There is over 100 descendants in Fortuna, Calif. Write to Mrs. Clara Anderson there. They are descendent of my sister Nellie Oliver. Well cousin, I knew George Oliver and family. Now my family is me Ida Oliver Hanson, sons Ferris Hanson, dead, Maynard and June Hanson. Ferris & Virginia have two sons & have families. They live in New Richmond, WI. Maynard Hanson lives here at Melvin Iowa. I live with them. They have 5 children all grown people. I got such a lame hand it is hard to write. Write again. Ida M. Hanson. The name Forbes is our grandma Oliver's maiden name.

(Second letter - 1989). I will try to write some information. if I wrote all I know about these people it would be a big book. As my memory is still pretty good. Margaret Ann Warren lived near Zumrbo Falls to Frank "Doc" Warren. They had some children. Elizabeth Emely married Samuel D. Welch, storekeeper in Zumbro Falls, had 1 daughter Eva. She married & moved to California. Mary Frances married Curits (sic) Bryant had 2 sons George; don't know the other. Lived in Stockholm, Wis. I think. I never see these people. George Bryant came to see my folks when I was very young. Emily Caroline married Ed Lamb. They had 1 daughter. They lived at Rochester, Minn. Daughter's name was Martha Lamb. Married Harve Gates. They had 3 sons Clifford, Howard & Leonard, who was only one who had children and moved away. Martha Marie married Harboldt. I don't know them. Minnesota, married Robson Atkinson. They had a big family. This Aunt came to visit once. They lived at a town New York Mills. But I guess it is renamed to Henning, Minn. About pictures. Mother went to California with Martha Fulton and took her pictures with them. I'll see if I can get them from Vernon's wife. She lives at Hayward, CA. Her name is Raphala Fulton. My mother was Clara McCain. These McCains are her brothers, John, single. He always lived with his mother. William McCain, brother and Peter Dilce McCain. Brother William had 2 children, Ferdinand married with children. Lettie McCain married Charles O'Connor, lived at Rock Elm, Wis., 1 boy Peter Dilce McCain lived in Minn. The Father Samial McCain and mother Eliza Knapp McCain. These McCains are my mother's family that are buried in that cemetery. My father's parents. My grandfather & grandma Orris and Martha Forbes Oliver. My grandma had a stroke and lived her last days with May (means Elizabetta) Welch at Zumbro Falls. I went with my folks to see her then. My dad had me get on the bed and kiss her. I never forgot that. All of these people buried in that old cemetery are related to me. Now, this son from father's first marriage, William Henry Oliver always lived with us after he was 12 years old. We loved him so. He married to Mildred Gaskel of Rochester. They had 3 boys, Earl, Kenneth and Clyde. All got married. Earl has 2 girls in Red Wing when I knew him. You met Clyde, who lives in Lake City. Father's first wife was Whaley or something like that. Married again to St. Clair. Well cousin, I got such a bad hand. I don't write very good now. Gets numb and aches. So excuse scribbling. Best wishes. Excuse misspelled words. Your cousin, Ida May Hanson.

Want to find out more and see pictures of the children of Orris & Martha? Go to next page. . . . . . . .