Biography

A brother to Henry Oliphant and John Oliphant. Had one child with his first wife, Susannah Young, and six children with his second wife, Ann Holcomb Jones, including a son John Henry Oliphant (1831 – 1888), who is documented in Drupal. "John H. Oliphont was the eldest son of Richard Oliphant, that pioneer editor and printer, who was One of Oswego's foremost citizens in her primitive days, and one of the best known publishers of the State." Father was John Oliphant (1771 – 1831) and mother was Ruth Thompson (1770 – 1857). Lived in Auburn, removed to Oswego in 1828. Possibly mentioned in 18380824BJS_WHS1: "The Agent writes from N.Y. that if he can he will furnish a place for Oliphant."

The History of Cayuga County says: 
"The Free Press was the next paper issued in 
Auburn, in 1824, by Richard Oliphant. His 
brother Henry bought the paper five years later, 
and published it till its union with the Republican...

The Free Press was an influential, a well 
managed and successful journal. It was the 
largest newspaper in the State west of Albany, 
and a strong rival of the Cayuga Patriot, to 
which it was politically opposed."