Elijah Oliver was born in 1824 to John and Lucretia Oliver. Although he spent most of his life living in the cove, he did leave during the Civil War, relocating to Tuckaleechee Cove to escape attacks from Confederate supporters and rebel groups out of North Carolina. Attacks were devastating for the Cades Cove community. In 1850, Cades Cove had over 600 settlers, but the population plummeted to under 300 in the war era. Many settlers returned, but it took time for Cades Cove to recover to pre-war population levels.

Elijah and his family did return to Cades Cove after the war and bought property in 1865 for a farmstead. The cabin that Elijah Oliver’s family lived in was a dog trot style cabin which consists of two cabins that were connected by a breezeway and shared a common roof. Along with the dog trot style cabin, Elijah Oliver’s homestead would eventually include a corn crib, smokehouse, springhouse, and barn. The springhouse was built over a trickling spring to ensure clean water for the family. The spring’s cool temperature was also harnessed to extend the life of perishables such as eggs, milk, and butter. The springhouse is a unique feature since it is the only one remaining in the cove.

Another unique feature of the Elijah Oliver place is the stranger room. This room is located off the front porch and was built to house overnight visitors. The room allowed the family to accommodate visitors, but in an area separate from the family’s space. Stranger rooms were fairly common in the cove. The hospitable spirit that inspired their existence endures into modern times as visitors come to enjoy the stories and the legacies of the settlers that once lived here.