Born January 4, 1893 in Cardston, Alberta, Canada
Died October 15, 1974 in Belle Fourche, South Dakota
Married Edna Sylvia Rice on December 5, 1917 in Parker, Idaho
Children: Rawl, Dean, Norma and June
Research at ancestry.com revealed that Oliver was the grandson of Lot Smith, one of the original Mormon pioneers who were forced to leave Navoo, Illinois because of their commitment to
practicing poligamy. As a young child, Oliver was part of the migration to Salt Lake City, Utah. He was a true pioneer in every sense of the word. His father Lot had 9 wives and he
was one of nearly 50 children, all fathered by Lot Smith. While he was not a practicing Mormon, or a follower of LDS Church, his early years were embedded in the original history of the religion.
No wonder he was so comfortable working for the US government as a trapper for the US Parks and Game Department.
Norma's Memories of her Father Recorded December, 1999
I must have been about 12 when we came back from the mountains and it seems outside of Ranchester a train came along and of course Dad had to race it. I remember Rawl and I
hooping for him to beat it.
Another time we were going along Main Street in Sheridan Wyoming. It was bitterly cold and icy--there was a car ahead of us that Dad thought was going too slow. So he rammed the
bumper and pushed it all the way up Courthouse Hill! I think George and I in the back seat were convulsed with terror and laughter!
My dad drove a stage coach in Yellowstone Park before he married Edna Rice. When he worked for my Grandfather Rice, Mother said he would drive a horse and wagon down Main Street
in St. Anthony hell bent for leather---whipping and hollering all the way. After they were married he had to go into the Army into World War I. When he came back (safe and sound!) they homesteaded in
Hoback Canyon. The nearest store was in Bondurant Wyoming and the big town was called Jackson's Hole for many years--they finally did take the "S" off Jackson. He made his living helping other
ranchers with haying and ranch work but mainly he trapped beaver, fox, badger and bear---both Brown and Grizzly!