Edward Oliver Tilburn (aka N. T. Oliver, Ned Oliver, Nevada Ned, and Edward Tilburne): The Profile of a Con-Artist

What do you get when you combine “Buffalo Bill” Cody with Bernie Madoff, and for good measure throw in an actor, a cookbook author, a college founder, a faith-healer, an embezzler, and a bigamist?\nAnswer: Edward Oliver Tilburn\nE. O. Tilburn (aka N. T. Oliver, Ned Oliver, and Nevada Ned) was a late 19th/early 20th century con-artist that has somehow flown under the radar of both biographers and historians, but in this book Donald Hartman has revealed Tilburn to the world, and his life story should be of interest to folks that are fascinated by con men, as well as to those readers that enjoy getting a glimpse into the lives of scoundrels and frauds.\nA biographical profile of Tilburn first appeared in the book The Hypno-Ripper (the book contains a novella and a short story written by N. T. Oliver) and this is what some reviewers had to say about it: “However, the highlight of the book is Hartman’s 40-page biography of Oliver. The editor’s meticulous research enables him to engross readers with the true story of this part-time author, snake-oil salesman, minister, faith healer, medicine show barker, sharp shooter, real estate mogul, city commissioner and, likely, bigamist—proving that, indeed, truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.” BlueInk Review “The last fourth of the book, is in fact, is a biography of Dr. N. T. Oliver, or as he was more commonly known, Edward Oliver Tilburn. Tilburn is quite a character and his life as a con man is well worth the time.” https://katenread.wordpress.com/2021/06/24/review-hypno-ripper/ “In the book’s final section, Hartman provides a fascinating and well-researched biography of Tilburn, alias N. T. Oliver and “Nevada Ned”, and the man’s rollercoaster of a life does not disappoint. In sum, Tilburn – sometimes with an “E” at the end of his name, sometimes not, but usually with an unearned honorific like “Dr.” or “Ph.D.” attached – was a patent medicine huckster, an author, a preacher, a professor, a realtor, and a man of business to the American towns and people he would descend upon, swindle, and leave.” https://www.jasonhalf.com/blog/book-review-the-hypno-ripper-2021-edited-by-donald-k-hartman