Page 32 - Copshaholm Curriculum Book_2015

Oliver Family History 6

They carried no insurance. James Oliver later branded this event his “second great
discouragement.”

By March 1861, Oliver, Little & Co., had succeeded in erecting a building on the
East Race where operations were resumed. That year they produced, in addition to
plows, six “fluted columns” weighing 4,902 pounds for Saint Mary’s college, two “iron
columns” for Schuyler Colfax, “brackets and vestibule cornice” for the city jail and
“sewer crates,” also for the city. Window weights, more than four tons of columns,
cornices and stairs were produced for a contractor. The plows sold for $6.50 each.
Business was improving and additional buildings were acquired on both sides of the
race.

In 1863 Harvey Little retired from the firm. Thelus Martin Bussell acquired half
interest in the company, now renamed “Oliver and Bussell,” and James Oliver acquired
the rest. That summer approximately 20 men were on the payroll, and demand for the
plows was such that the price was increased to $7.50 and the business continued to
expand.

Oliver and Bussell realized they needed more capital. George Milburn, a wealthy
wagon manufacturer in Mishawaka, purchased a third interest in the company, with
Oliver and Bussell retaining one third each. The company was, once again, renamed
“Oliver, Bussell & Co.” and the work force increased to 25. Wages ranged from $1 to
$3.50 per day.

Approximately 1,000 plows were produced and sold in 1864. Of these 100 were
the patented steel share plows that sold for $17.50 each. They also made hundreds of
“double shovels” and some 25-road scrapers for which they received $8 each. Castings
were sold for 10 cents a pound. The Civil War was in progress and prices continued to
rise as demands for production increased. The company that year made 70 iron
columns for the Main Building at Notre Dame, after a disastrous fire consumed the old
one. Some of these columns may be seen today.

From this period of the Oliver company history the expansion was phenomenal.
By mid-1865 the staff again had been increased to plant capacity and all on the payroll
were working overtime. Meanwhile, Joseph (J.D.) Oliver, James’ son, was getting in on
the company’s ground floor.

The J.D. Oliver Era

J.D. Oliver was eight years old when the Oliver family moved to South Bend. He
first attended the ungraded four-room Madison school while his sister, Josephine, four
years older, attended County Seminary at the “end” of Washington Street. Later,
Joseph was sent to boy’s school at Notre Dame that owed money to the Oliver firm for
cast iron columns. James Oliver, fearful the money might not be collected, credited
Joseph’s tuition against the account. Notre Dame enrollment was 230.

In February, 1865, Joseph, who was 14 years old, began working part time, six
days a week, cutting threads on nuts in his father’s plant. He disliked it intensely, and
was relieved when his father sent him back to Notre Dame in September. He had
earned $100 in the six-month part time job.