- Born
- c. 1821
- Died
- 1901-02
- Eras
- Irish eraModern era
- Concepts
- fishingsettlementtoponymyindigenous-history
- Within
- Hog Island · Beaver Island
- Media
- Beaver Island History Map, 1978 revision
Summary
John Joseph Oliver was a Scottish-born fisherman associated with Hog Island and later Beaver Island. Helen Collar’s 1880 census transcription places John, Mary/Marian, and their children on Hog Isle; the 1900 census places the household in St. James Township. His grandson Jay Oliver told Collar in 1975 that the family knew him as John but that his full name was John Joseph.
Oliver’s Point and the island-name correction
The 1978 Historical Map says Oliver’s Point was named for J. J. Oliver, “who moved here from High Island.” Collar also recorded the point as supposedly named for him, but the census source says Hog Isle, not High Island. Unless a separate High Island residence is found, the map’s island name should be treated as an error or conflation.
Marian was not Angeline
Some early local notes wondered whether Oliver’s wife was Angeline. In the 1975 interview, Jay Oliver identified his grandmother as Marian, gave her Native name as Chawon (Collar’s approximation) and maiden name as Chanoodin, and explicitly said the Angeline identification was incorrect. The Oliver household must not be conflated with Angeline Wab-nin-kee and her husband John.
Evidence limits
Collar’s files are transcriptions and interview notes rather than the original census and civil images. They support the identity and Hog Island correction, but the exact day of Oliver’s February 1901 death differs within the compiled files. The earliest written use and formal origin of Oliver’s Point remain open.
See also
Sources
- Places John, Mary/Marian, and their children on Hog Isle in 1880 and John, Mary, and Jenette in St. James Township in 1900. The 1880 location directly contradicts the Historical Map’s “High Island” wording.web · collar_census_o_p2
- Preserves Collar’s July 1975 interview with grandson Jay Oliver: his grandfather was John Joseph Oliver; wife Marian’s Native name was transcribed as Chawon and maiden name as Chanoodin; the earlier Angeline identification was incorrect. The entry says Oliver’s Point was “supposed” to be named for him and transcribes a February 1901 death record.web · collar_biographical_biographical-papers-n-s
- Described in this archive: Beaver Island History Map, 1978 revision.Says Oliver’s Point was named for J. J. Oliver, who moved there from High Island. Census evidence supports the identity but records Hog Isle, making High Island a likely map error.
Added 7 August 2026. Recent changes
Cite this article
Beaver Island Archive, “John Joseph Oliver”, https://beaverislandarchive.org/people/john-joseph-oliver/, accessed [date], citing Helen Collar Papers, 1880 and 1900 census transcriptions, John Oliver entry, Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, retrieved 2026. (and 2 further sources listed on the page).
Last revised 2026-08-07. Fill in [date] with the date you read it — this page is static and cannot know that.