Olive was born the third of seven children to Royce Boise Oatman (1809-1851) and Mary Ann Sperry Oatman (1813-1851) in La Harpe, Hancock County, Illinois. In 1839, her parents left … See more

When Olive was 19 years old, Francisco, a Yuma Indian messenger, arrived at the village with a message from the authorities at Fort Yuma. Rumors suggested that a white girl was living … See more

The town of Oatman, Arizona, located near her release site, was named in her honor in 1915. It was part of the Oatman Gold District. The … See more

The Oatman family, traveling alone, was nearly annihilated in what became known as the "Oatman Massacre" on the banks of the Gila River 84 miles east of modern-day See more

After the attack, the Native Americans took some of the Oatman family's belongings, along with Olive and Mary Ann. Although Olive Oatman later … See more

In 1857, a pastor named Royal Byron Stratton sought out Olive and Lorenzo Oatman. He co-wrote a book about the Oatman Massacre and the girls' captivity titled Life among the … See more

Television and film
• The character of Eva Oates, portrayed by Robin McLeavy in the AMC television series See more