By Edres Bryant Barney
Danville, Illinois, was the setting for the birth of William Temple on May 27, 1833, the first son of Hannah Martin and Harrison Oliver. The family crossed the plains and settled in Utah.
William married Nancy Frances Lovern in Ogden, Utah, on March 29, 1856. They became parents of 12 children: William, Lucindia, Mary, John Wesley, Nancy, Emma, Harrison, Louella, Adalade, Rilla, Hannah, and Effie. They also reared three foster sons, John Bilby (who was Justice of the Peace of Graham County for many years), Peter Larson, and Fred Finn.
In 1880, William moved his family to Holbrook, Arizona Territory, where he helped with the building of the railroad. In 1888, they relocated to Curtis, seeking a lower altitude due to his health. While living there, William was the first to develop a spring above Curtis for domestic water. He and his sons had cattle in the Gila Mountains north of Curtis, and “Oliver Knoll” is named after them.
On May 23, 1892, a United States Post Office was established in Curtis, with William Temple Oliver as postmaster. The U.S. government asked him to choose an alternative name for the post office. Due to the beauty of the place and its agricultural potential, he decided to name it Eden.
When returning to Eden, William died on May 27, 1909, and is buried at Showlow, Arizona. Nancy lived on, passing away on April 21, 1925, and is buried in the Eden Cemetery.
Through their children, they have a great posterity, many of whom reside in the Gila Valley. Visit the Eastern Arizona Museum in Pima for this and other historical exhibits and Lovern artifacts Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
