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Note-On May 16, 2017, I found an additional obituary and funeral notice for John Overman, indicating that he did not die in the Ottumwa city limits. His home was located outside the city limits, and I have changed his death place from Ottumwa to Wapello County. The homestead where John died is described below, as in his will. This homestead is now a part of the city of Ottumwa, but at the time he died, it was not. I have added both the obituary and funeral notice to this memorial. These articles were both from the...
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Note-On May 16, 2017, I found an additional obituary and funeral notice for John Overman, indicating that he did not die in the Ottumwa city limits. His home was located outside the city limits, and I have changed his death place from Ottumwa to Wapello County. The homestead where John died is described below, as in his will. This homestead is now a part of the city of Ottumwa, but at the time he died, it was not. I have added both the obituary and funeral notice to this memorial. These articles were both from the Ottumwa Tri-Weekly Courier and are in the public domain and may be viewed online.
John Overman's will describes his homestead as: "consisting of four acres of land more or less situated on the Northwest Fourth (1/4) of Section Twenty-Six (26), Township Seventy-Two (72), Range Fourteen (14) of Wapello County, Iowa." The portion of plat map that I have posted is from the "Standard Atlas of Wapello County, Iowa, 1908," and on this map, John's homestead is labeled "John Overman Block, Aud. Lot 12." (This stands for Auditor's Lot 12.) A larger and clearer image may be seen by clicking on the map. This homestead is now the site of the Fareway Store and parking lot in Ottumwa.
On January 27, 2020, I added a newspaper clipping from the Ottumwa Tri-Weekly Courier of Saturday, July 14, 1906, to this memorial. To get a clear copy of this clipping, it was necessary to do the snip image in two parts. This article tells of the reburial in Shaul Cemetery of family members and others who were buried in a little cemetery that John had at his home. This article is in the public domain and may also be read on the Chronicling America website.
I have not been able to find out who John's first wife, the mother of his children Susan, Lydia, and John, was. The marriage and death records available for them were recorded during years when the mother's name was not required. His obituary, which I have transcribed below, stated that his first wife died in Wayne County, Indiana, but her name or date of death was not given.
On June 14, 2017, I noticed that Sarah Hix (Ward) Brown has been linked from her memorial as John's wife. I have received correspondence from Overman family researchers who believe Sarah was his first wife and that he deserted her, taking the three children with him.
John married Elizabeth Hoddy on March 1, 1850, in Wapello County, Iowa. I believe that John and Elizabeth were later divorced or at least separated. (More information about their marriage and my research on this in Elizabeth's memorial.)
John Overman was married to Lydia Pickler on March 3, 1866, in Wapello County, Iowa.
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Obituary From Ottumwa Tri-Weekly Courier, Tuesday, September 11, 1906, Image 8:
JOHN OVERMAN PASSES AWAY
ONE OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF WAPELLO COUNTY ANSWERS LAST CALL
John Overman, one of the oldest and first settlers of this county, passed away Saturday at 11 o'clock at his home just outside the city corporation west on the Richmond road. The deceased at the time of his death was 89 years, 11 months and 8 days of age. [sic]. The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon from the family residence at 4 o'clock, Rev. C.E. Chambers, pastor of the Davis street Christian church, conducting the funeral services. Interment will be made in the Shaul cemetery.
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"Overman Funeral," From Ottumwa Tri-Weekly Courier, Tuesday, September 11, 1906, Image 8:
The last sad rites over the remains of the late John Overman, who passed away at his home southwest of the city in Old Richmond, were held yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock from the family residence. Rev. C. E. Chambers, pastor of the Davis street Christian church conducted by funeral services. Interment was made in the Shaul cemetery.
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Obituary From Ottumwa Courier, September 11, 1906:
JOHN OVERMAN EARLY SETTLER
HE CAME TO THIS SECTION OF THE COUNTRY IN THE YEAR OF 1844
City at That Time Bore the Name of Ottumwanoc Among the Indians and Louisville Among the White Settlers–A Pioneer's Life.
With laying away of all that was mortal of the late John Overman, another of Wapello county's oldest and most respect citizens, as well as one of the oldest settlers of this city, has gone to the great beyond. After a career covering a period of nearly ninety years John Overman passed away last Saturday morning at 11 o'clock at his home in South Ottumwa, that part known as Old Richmond, and his remains were buried in Shaul cemetery.
As to the history of the man who now sleeps beneath the sod in the little spot he chose for his final resting place, it reads like a page taken from some old pioneer chronicle. If one could record all the incidents, adventures and romances connected with his life, it would make a most interesting story and fill a book. From the time he left the quiet and peace of his home in Indiana and sought the wild, adventurous life of the western plains, he took part in many of the stirring events of this section which happened in this part of the country in the days gone by.
Place of Birth.
John Overman was born September 17 in the year of 1816 on a farm in Wayne county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood and was married. By his first marriage three children were born. He lived happily and contented in Wayne county until the grim reaper death laid its hand upon his wife. After the death of his wife he placed his children in the care of his mother and started for what was then the frontier. He arrived in the year 1844 at the place known at that time as Louisville to the settlers on the Des Moines river, and known among the Sacs and Fox Indians as Ottumwanoc (Swift Water), which is today Ottumwa. At the time John Overman came to the settlement there were only two cabins in the village.
Builds in Richmond.
Crossing the river to a settlement on the south bank which was known as Old Richmond, Mr. Overman built his habitation and here he passed the great part of his long life. His mother came out from the east, and with her were his children, and several younger brothers and sisters.
A few years after he settled in the new country his second marriage occurred. This time he married Mrs. Elizabeth Hoddy, mother of Alfred Hoddy of this city, and to this union were born two children, Cyrus and Cordelia. Cyrus now resides in Idaho but Cordelia died in infancy and sleeps beside her mother in the family lot of the Shaul cemetery. Of the three older children, Susan Lee, has been dead for twelve years. Lydia Hawk died thirty years ago and John Milton Overman now lives in Lyons, Colo.
Married Lydia Pickler.
In 1866 Mr. Overman married his third wife, Miss Lydia Pickler, sister to James Pickler of this city. For forty years nothing marred the happiness of this union until the death of Mrs. Overman, which occurred June 13, of this year. Again Mr. Overman was left alone and coming as it did in the evening of his life, he was prostrated with grief and for days his life was despaired of. As time passed he seemingly grew stronger until a few days before his death, when he began to fail in health. Not until a few hours before he passed away did any of the members of the family realize that the end was so near.
Seeks Gold in 1849.
Going back again to his early life, it is known that Mr. Overman was one of the adventuresome ones who became affected with the gold fever in the days of '49 and was one of the many who made the long and perilous trip across the plains to California. In the days when John Overman was young, lithe of limb and full of adventure he was a great hunter and a good shot with a rifle. His excellent character and peaceful nature won for him the respect of all who met him and on the trip across the prairies, he was chosen as captain of the wagon train. Owing to his good judgement in affairs, his manhood and kindly nature, many a bloody conflict and affray with the savage Indians, were avoided. On one occasion of this trip, an immigrant was drive from the train on account of being unkind to the Indians.
Opens Overman Mine.
During his career as a miner in the West he opened and worked the now famous Overman mine, located at Carson City, Nev. While engaged in mining he gathered a goodly sum of gold and plenty of money found its way into his pockets, but left easily, for no one ever asked alms of the kindhearted miner in vain. He made himself poor by giving.
Tiring of the wild life of a miner, Mr. Overman turned his eyes eastward and came back to Ottumwa, where he began to operate the first ferry boat to run across the Des Moines river at this point. The ferry landing was at the Finley hotel, located in Old Richmond, which building is still standing on the south bank of the river. Local old settlers, now living, say he was the best ferryman that was ever on the Des Moines. He was as much at home in the water as out. He followed the ferry business for a number of years, and then settled down upon the farm on which he passed his latter days and upon which he died. The farm in the early days consisted of nearly two hundred acres, but as the old pioneer grew more aged he disposed of the most of it and reserved but four acres where from a neat, snug cottage he looked out upon the wonderful growth of the city whose birth he had witnessed, and passed a quiet, retiring life.
All his family who had passed away during his long career along with a number of children of emigrant trains who died at the point enroute, were buried in a small plot in the dooryard of his home. As the city grew the corporation extended to his place, but it was only in last April that he had the burying ground moved to the Shaul cemetery.
In the last days of his life, it had always been his wish that he be buried in the quiet little cemetery in the door yard. But at the last, he ordered the cemetery moved and requested that he be buried with his family. Before his death he ordered a monument with the inscriptions upon it, of his people. The monument will be placed in the Overman lot at the Shaul cemetery.
Comes From Illustrious Stock.
Mr. Overman was a descendant of a long line of prominent citizens of the early colonies of the United States. He was a descendant of Isaac Overman, who with his brother Charles formed a part of the German colony to whom William Penn gave a portion of Pennsylvania. Isaac Overman married Abigail Pike, who was a descendant of John Pike, traditionally distinguished in the early Indian wars. She was a sister of Major Zebulan Pike, who served in the war of the revolution, and the aunt of Major General Zebulan Pike, who was killed at the battle of York, Canada, in the year of 1813. [Zebulon Montgomery Pike]
The Overmans were originally of the Quaker faith, and from them John Overman inherited his kind and loving disposition, and his love of peace and unaffectedness. For years he had been a member of the Christian church and died in that faith.
John Overman, when in life belonged to that class of men, who, when in their youth were of good staunch character, muscular in body and with a wonderful will power, filled with grit. It was that class of men who paved the way for the advance of modern civilization. At the time he came to this county it took men of his stamp to live here, others had no right in this country, filled as it was with dangers on every hand. He helped to make this city what it is today. With his death, another chapter of early history of hardship and toil has been closed. All honor and laurels to such men as John Overman. May their names and deeds be written high upon the tablet of fame. |
