William J. Oliver (industrialist)

William J. Oliver
Born(1867-01-13)January 13, 1867
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States[1]
DiedMarch 28, 1925(1925-03-28) (aged 58)
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States[2]
Resting placeGreenwood Cemetery
Knoxville, Tennessee[1]
Political partyRepublican
SpouseBlanche O'Brien[1]

William Jesse Oliver (January 13, 1867 – March 28, 1925) was an American industrialist who operated one of the nation's most successful contracting firms in the early 20th century. He built several hundred miles of railroad in the Southern Appalachian region during the 1890s and early 1900s, and opened the Southern United States' largest privately-owned manufacturing plant in 1905.[1] He submitted the initial winning bid for the construction of the Panama Canal in 1907, though the bid was eventually rejected.

Along with industrial endeavors, Oliver was engaged in civic and political affairs in his adopted hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. He made national headlines in 1908 when he seized control of the Tennessee Republican Party convention, and had himself and several supporters elected to various party positions. He served as president of Knoxville's Appalachian Exposition in 1910.

  1. ^ a b c d Alice Howell, Lucile Deaderick (ed.), Heart of the Valley: A History of Knoxville, Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.: East Tennessee Historical Society, 1976), p. 529.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference derby was invoked but never defined (see the help page).