OLIVER 864 IRDRONAUX Oliver, James (1836-1918) James Oliver, biographer of the Oliver family, one of the honored and well-known citizens of Athol, Massachusetts, his native town, died February 8, 1918, at his home in Athol Highlands, at the age of 81 years. Dr. Oliver had for many years been a leader in Athol affairs and was for well over half a century a practising physician in that town. Some years before his death he retired to enjoy his later years in the political field. He represented the district in which he lived for four years in the House of Representatives of the General Court. In both military and health affairs he took an active part, serving as chair- man of military and health committees. Dr. OUver was the third of the same name to be born in Athol, and was the only son of James Oliver. He was born June 28, 1836. When he was seventeen he taught school at a salary of $14 a month. Later he taught in North Orange and Phillipston and at intervals attended the local high school. He also taught in both the Athol grammar and high schools. In 1860 he began the study of medicine with Dr. J. P. Lynde, finally becoming a prac- tising physician in 1862. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was commissioned an assistant surgeon in the 21st Regiment. At the second battle of Bull Run he was left in charge of the sick and wounded, was taken prisoner, but later managed to escape. He participated in the great battles of South Mountain and Antietam, and was later pro- moted to be surgeon of the 21st Regiment, on May 26, 1864. He went through many bat- tles and was finally mustered out on July 30, 1865. . After a residence of a few years in South Carolina, where he engaged in planting and cotton raising. Dr. Oliver returned to Athol, where he resumed his medical practice. He was much interested in the social affairs of his town, the G. A. R., the Grange, the schools and town business generally. He was a promi- nent figure in town meetings, where he shovved much strong common sense. In debate he was an able speaker and could hold his own with the best speakers in Athol and in the State Legislature. He was a member of the Athol Lodge of Masons and a leader in the old First Unitarian Church. During his life he held several town offices, being for a long period of time a member of the school board, and for many years medical examiner of his district. For about twenty years he was chairman of the Cemetery Com- mission of Athol, and rendered most valuable service. In 1876 he married Miss Kate Johnson, daughter of the late George T. Johnson. Mrs. Oliver died some years before him. They had two children. In 1916 Dr. Oliver published his autobiog- raphy, a book of ISO pages, in which he gives the history of the Oliver family from the date of the first settlement in Athol of the four brothers, John, James, Robert and William Oliver, who came to Athol from Hatfield in 1735. This autobiography is a most interesting and entertaining work, full of sketches of the life in Athol, anecdotes, stories, and accounts of events occurring before and during the Doctor's life. The book gives an account of the author's own life, his early trials amid straitened circumstances, his schooling, teach- ing, medical training. His story of his experiences in the Civil War is full- of inter- est. Many of the Doctor's addresses before the Legislature are also comprised in this book, including those on health and military matters. Personally, Dr. Oliver, often called "Athol's grand old man," was delightful to meet and know. He was a great favorite in the Legis- lature. Boston Med. and Surg. Jour., 1918, vol. cbtxviii, 378. Oppenheim, Nathan (1865-1916) Nahan Oppenheim, pediatrist and eminent authority in the psychology of childhood, was born in Albany, New York, October 17, 1865, son of Gerson Oppenheim and Theresa Stein. He graduated at Harvard University in 1888, then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, to study medicine, grad- uating in 1891. He was attending physician to the Chil- dren's Department of the New York Red Cross Hospital; the New York Children's Hospital and Schools ; and the Children's Department of Sydenham Hospital. He wrote : "The Development of the Child" (1899) ; "The Medical Diseases of Childhood" (1900); "The Care of the Child in Health" (1901) ; "Mental Growth and Control" (1902). In 1897 Dr. Oppenheim married Bertha Els- berg, of New York. He died at the Hotel Belmont, New York, April 5, 1916. Jour. Amer. Med. Assc, 1916, vol. Ixvi, 1321. Who's Who in America, 1914-1915, vol. vii. Ordronaux, John (1830-1908) John Ordronaux, medico-legal expert, only son of John and Elizabeth Charreton Ordro-
