Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-13

With laying away of all that was
mortal of the late John Overman, an
other Of Wapello county's Oldest and
most respected citizens. as we'll as one
of the Oldest settlers of this city, has
gone to the great beyond. After ca
reer covering period of nearly ninety
years John Overman passed away last
Saturday morning at II o'clock at his
home in South Ottumwa, that part
known as Old Richmond, and, his re.
mains were buried in Shaul cemetery.
AS to the history of the man who
now sleeps beneath the sod in the lit
tie spot he chose for his final resting
place, it reads like page taken from
some old pioneer chronicle. If one
could record all the incidents, adven-
! lures and romances connected with his
life, it would make 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, adj
venturous 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
I II in the year of 1916 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 it's 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 1874
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 Ottumwanoo
(Swift Water) which is today Ottum
wa. At the time John Overman came
to the settlement there were only two
log cabins in the village.
Builds in Richmond.
L Crossing the river to settlement or
the south bank which was known as
Old Richmond, Mr.. Overman built his
habitation and here he passed the
greater part of his long life His moth
er came out from the east, and will
her were his children, and severa
younger brothers and sisters.
A few years after he settled in the
new country his second marriage oc
Cured This time he married Mrs
Elizabeth Hoddy, mother of ALFRED
Hoddy Of this city, and to this unior
were born two children, Cyrus ant
Cordelia. Cyrus now resides in Idaho
but Cordelia died in infancy ant
sleeps beside her mother in the famil!
| lot in the Shaul cemetery. OF the three
older children, Susan Lee, has beer
: dead for twelve years, Lydia Hawl
died thirty years ago and John Milton
Overman now lives in Lyons, Colo.
Marrier Lydia PickIer.
In 1866 Mr.. Overman married hi!
third wife, Miss Lydia Pickler. siste
! to James Picker Of this city. For for
ty years nothing marred the happiness
of this union until the death of Mrs
Overman which occurred June 10, o
:, this year. Again Mr.. Overman wa!
: left alone and coming as 1t did in tn,
evening of his life, he was prostratet
with grief and for days his life wa!
despaired Of AS time passed he seem
ingly grew stronger until few day!
before his death, when he began to fai
in health Not until few hours be
fore he passed away did any Of thu
members of the family realize that TIL,
I end was so near.
Seeks Gold In 1849.
Going back again to his early life, 4
is known that Mr.. Overman was on,
, of the adventuresome ones who became
affected with the gold fever in the day!
of 40 and was one Of the many WHIT
: made the long and perilous trip across
/ the plains to California. In the day
: when John Oyerman was young, lith'
of limb and full Of adventure he wal
a great hunter and good shot with {
rife. His excellent character ant
peaceful nature won for him the re
! spect Of all who met him and on TIN
trip across the prairies, he was chosen
as captain of the wagon train. OwinI
: to his good Judgment in affairs, hi
manhood and kindly nature, many
! bloody conflict and ARRAY with the saw
= age Indians, were avoided. On one oc
casion of this trip. an immigrant wa
; driven from the train on account of be
i ing unkind to the Indians.
Opens overman Mine.
During his career as a miner in tn
West he opened and worked the nov
famous Overman mine, located at Car
d son City, New. While engaged in min
ing he gathered a goodly sum Of gol
a and plenty of money found it's wa
! into his pockets but left easily, 70
No ono ayar asked aims Of the kind