Toponymie | Canton de Potton | Place Names

This road name honors Carlton J. Oliver (1877-1931) who was one of six children born to William (1838-1894) and Mary Hunter Oliver.  William owned and operated a general store in Mansonville from 1870.  (See Plate # 92 in Potton d'antan, Yesterdays of Potton.)  Their home was immediately to the south of the CIBC.  Though it has since seen considerable renovation, it is thought that William Oliver built the house.

Two sons of this family were Members of the Legislative Assembly for Quebec: William R. Oliver, from 1917 to 1923 when he was felled by the typhoid epidemic in Potton; his brother, Carlton J. Oliver was elected to fill the seat and remained in office from 1923 – 1931.  Carlton J. died at age 52, stricken by a severe heart attack in office, predeceasing his wife, Elizabeth Manson Tolhurst (1890-1959).  Both are buried in the Protestant Cemetery in Mansonville.

Another of Carlton J.'s brothers was Alfred H. who became a dentist and practiced in Montreal.  His son, Donald B. Oliver (1915-1990), married Louise Destromp, who, in retirement after a career of nursing, founded the Legion Memorial Library in Mansonville and wrote children's books.  Don Oliver was a founding member of the Reilly House in Mansonville, and of the Townshippers' Foundation.  Mr. & Mrs. Oliver had three children, David, Charlotte and Jeffrey.  Only David still lives in Mansonville.  He is married to Barbara Lamothe and they have two children.

The Oliver family also owned homes on Lake Memphremagog.  One of these was located at the former Owl's Head Campground, now called Domaine Owl's Head.  This was Carlton's summer home and therefore explains the origins of the road name.  The Oliver family have owned property in Potton continuously since 1870.^[1]