Home > United States of America > Iowa > Wapello County > Ottumwa > Shaul Cemetery > Philander T “Philo” Overman

Philander T “Philo” Overman

Birth	:	21 Mar 1834 Wayne County, Indiana, USA
Death	:	22 Jul 1927 Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Shaul Cemetery, Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.9953003, -92.4492035
Description	:	An article was published about Philo Overman in "Ottumwa, Yesterday, and Today," by Glenn B. Meagher and Harry B. Munsell, published in 1923. At that time, Philo was the oldest pioneer in Ottumwa, having lived in what is now Ottumwa or its outskirts for seventy-seven years. Much of the article was Philo's reminiscences about the early days of Ottumwa, and most of his obituary, which I have transcribed below, appears to have been taken from that article. The article ended with this paragraph: "He told how he and his neighbors ate hoecake and buckwheat cakes, made... Read More	An article was published about Philo Overman in "Ottumwa, Yesterday, and Today," by Glenn B. Meagher and Harry B. Munsell, published in 1923. At that time, Philo was the oldest pioneer in Ottumwa, having lived in what is now Ottumwa or its outskirts for seventy-seven years. Much of the article was Philo's reminiscences about the early days of Ottumwa, and most of his obituary, which I have transcribed below, appears to have been taken from that article. The article ended with this paragraph: "He told how he and his neighbors ate hoecake and buckwheat cakes, made trips requiring a week to the mill, carded, spun and wove the wool for their clothing and labored often late into the night, performing the necessary tasks of the pioneer. Meat was plentiful, deer and fowl being abundant and 'more wild turkeys than we have chickens now,' as he expressed it, but most of their necessities were obtained with never-ending and hard labor while comforts were never thought of. But withal, Mr. Overman now at his ninetieth milestone says, 'We were happy.' " --------------- Obituary From Ottumwa Courier, July 23, 1927: PHILANDER T. OVERMAN. Philander T. Overman, 93-year-old pioneer of Wapello county, died suddenly at his home on Lorella street, at 11:50 a. m. Friday. Mr. Overman was said to be the oldest pioneer in Ottumwa, having lived in what is now Ottumwa or its outskirts for eighty-one years. He was born in Indiana, March 21, 1834, and came to this county when he was thirteen years old. Mr. Overman's work in this community dates back to the time when Ottumwa occupied only a little area on the north side of the Des Moines river, which was unbridged, but connected with a ferry, operated by Mr. Overman's brother, John. The ferry operated across the river at a point near where Richmond avenue ends today. On the other side of the river a road ran along the bank through what is now Central addition to Wapello street, where there was another ferry line. Mr. Overman knew Chief Keokuk, who he said, was somewhat different in appearance from the other Indians. Chief Wapello died four years before the Overmans came to Iowa. He was also in Ottumwa when the Mormon migration settled here for the winter and remembered the walnut homes which they erected for themselves. The flood of 1851 was always vivid in Mr. Overman's memory. He spoke of the hurried building of large platforms, which the hogs were driven upon and thus saved from the flood waters. Charles F. Harrow owned a large tract of land west of the city and it was necessary to place all the livestock and valuables on these platforms. The pioneer attended school in the first building erected for the Congregational church, on Third and Court streets. There were about fifteen or twenty students in the school, whose parents maintained it by subscription. The first court of justice was also started when Mr. Overman was a young man. He often spoke of the times preceding the court, when law and order was in the hands of the settlers, who he said, possessed a keen sense of moral right and who made their decisions good. The community which settled on the south side of the river was independent of Ottumwa and was called Richmond. Practically all of the land west of Wapello street was in corn at the earliest recollection of Mr. Overman. Mr. Overman was married to Miss Mary M. Young in 1856 and four children were born to them, three of them preceding him in death, as did Mrs. Overman. They were, Alfred B., who died when 2 years old; Eva, who died in 1881 [sic]; and Reuben, in 1864; and Mrs. Harriet Michael, who survives him. Mr. Overman was a policeman here for one year and later served as constable. In the year of 1864 he made an overland trip to California in quest of success as a gold miner. Family records say that he was "fairly successful." He returned to Ottumwa in 1871. Funeral services will be held Sunday.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Philander T “Philo” Overman's memorial?
Philander T “Philo” Overman's memorial is located at: Shaul Cemetery, Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA.
When did Philander T “Philo” Overman death?
Philander T “Philo” Overman death on 22 Jul 1927 in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Philander T “Philo” Overman's memorial?
Latitude: 40.9953003
Longitude: -92.4492035

Family Members:

Parent

Jane Spencer Overman

(1797 - 1858)

Spouse

Mary Young Overman

(1833 - 1914)

Siblings

John Overman

(1816 - 1906)

Mabel L Overman Hoover

(1817 - 1850)

Children

Harriet E Overman Michael

(1859 - 1931)

Eva A. Overman

(1862 - 1883)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Shaul Cemetery
Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9953003, -92.4492035

2. Wilkenson Farm Cemetery
Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9527862, -92.4418455

3. McIntire Cemetery
Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9646988, -92.4005966

4. Zion Cemetery
Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9448000, -92.4615000

5. Ottumwa Cemetery
Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0346985, -92.4049988

6. Calvary Cemetery
Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0261002, -92.3897018

7. Ottumwa Jewish Cemetery
Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0362000, -92.4009000

8. Brooks Cemetery
Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0038986, -92.5346985

9. Wapello County Care Facility Cemetery
Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0274420, -92.3728750

10. Dexter Farm Cemetery
Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9333425, -92.4168449

11. Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9333000, -92.4856033

12. Mount Olivet Cemetery
Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0471992, -92.3902969

13. Point Isabel Cemetery
Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9258003, -92.4617004

14. Harris Cemetery
Chillicothe, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0694574, -92.4779650

15. Bowen Cemetery
Chillicothe, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0416718, -92.5335147

16. Burns Cemetery
Chillicothe, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0708008, -92.4867020

17. Ralston Cemetery
Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9750000, -92.5530000

18. Memorial Lawn Cemetery
Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0699997, -92.4068985

19. Dahlonega Cemetery
Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0540000, -92.3700000

20. Ormanville Cemetery
Ormanville, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9136009, -92.4824982

21. Wellman Cemetery
Ottumwa, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9495900, -92.5483450

22. Chisman Cemetery
Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0231018, -92.5610962

23. Kitterman Cemetery
Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0412000, -92.3430000

24. Round Point Cemetery
Agency, Wapello County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0190000, -92.3270000