Harriet (Wirt) Oler (1840-1910) Biography

HARRIET OLER, widow of Joseph Oler, an old settler of this county and former resident on Section 10, Eagle Point Township, was born on the farm on which she now resides, January 9, 1840. Her maiden name was Harriet Wirt, her parents being Nicholas and Lydia (Clarke) Wirt, natives of New York and Ohio respectively. The parents of Mrs. Oler came to this county in 1835, at a time when transportation hither had to be made otherwise than in a Pullman Palace car. On his arrival here, her father took up a claim on Yellow Creek, Stephenson Co., but soon thereafter traded it for a claim in what is now Eagle Point Township, on which he moved and lived until his death , May 11, 1850. His wife died on October 1, 1862. Their family of children were 10 in number, namely: HARRIET, SARAH A., deceased, EMARETTA, JOHN A., JULIA, FRANK M., AUGUST L., JAMES M., JUDSON O., and MILLARD, deceased.

Mrs. Oler was married July 3, 1857, to Joseph Oler. He was born in Tippecanoe Co., Indiana, October 2, 1832, and grew to manhood in his native State, having passed his years prior to that age on his father's farm in the active labors of an agriculturist. He came to this county in 1855, and engaged in farming at Elkhorn Grove. In 1861, Mr. Oler removed to Johnson Co., Kas., where he remained one year, and then removed to Clinton Co., Iowa. In the latter county he was engaged two years in his chosen vmocation. After Mr. Oler's return to this county from Clinton Co., Iowa, and after the death of the father of Mrs. Oler, Mr. Oler purchased the interest of the heirs to the old Wirt homestead, on which he moved and was there activlely engaged in farming until his death, January 3, 1879. He and his wife became the parents of 11 children: JOHN, deceased, JAMES, ANNA, CARRIE, GRANT, WILLIAM JOSEPH, MAY, EMILY, CLARENCE, and HATTIE. Mrs. Oler is the proprietor of 160 acres of land lying in Eagle Point and Pine Creek Townships. She has lived to see the wonderful developement of Ogle County, and has passed through many trials, but surmounted all obstacles and is to-day enabled to live in the enjoyment of a competency. John Oler, their eldest son, was accidentally shot on September 15, 1873, dying five days later. He was a promising young man, 16 years of age and his death brought great sorrow to the household.

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