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OVERMAN, Phoebe Jane 1821-1899

OVERMAN, COOPER, HOWLAND, CHASE, WATERBURY, WILLIAMS, SANBORN, COTTON, AIKMEN, AITKEN

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 11/3/2012 at 03:10:13

[Semi-Weekly Cedar Falls Gazette, Friday, January 06, 1899]

Mrs. Phoebe Jane Overman, wife of J. M. Overman, died at her home in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Jan. 3, 1899, aged 78 years, 3 months and 28 days. She was the daughter of Amos and Jane Cooper, and was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Oct. 21, 1821, being the eldest in a family of seven children.

She was married June 24, 1840, at Hillsboro, Ohio, to John Milton Overman, who survives her. Nine children, four sons and five daughters, 11 of whom are living, blessed this union. Of the sons, Henry resides at Elgin, Illinois, Edwin at Los Angeles, California, and Alfred and Milton at Cedar Falls. The daughters: Mrs. George Howland, Mrs. Joseph Chase, Mrs. Dr. Waterbury, Mrs. Fannie Williams, and Miss Flora Overman—all reside at Cedar Falls, and were privileged to be at their mother's bedside, at the hour of her departure. She lived to see her children's children to the third generation, of whom twenty-seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren survive her.

Into the circle of her descendents, death has come but twice, of her brothers and sisters all have died except Mr. Amos Cooper of Cedar Falls, and Mrs. H. C. Overman of Chicago. It is of interest that three of her sisters were united in marriage to three brothers of her husband. Of this brotherhood and sisterhood, death has claimed all except the bereaved husband, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Overman of Chicago.

In 1842 she removed with her husband to Muscatine, and in 1848, to Cedar Falls, Iowa. They were, therefore, among the first to locate in the city, their first home being a log cabin, fronting on what is now First Street, between Washington and Clay.

Since 1866 they have lived in their beautiful and Hospitable home at the end of Sixth Street.

On the 24th of June, 1890, a large circle of friends and relatives gathered at their home, many of whom had come from distant states to engage in the festivities, to celebrate the anniversary of their golden wedding. In the winter of 1897, her husband's eightieth birthday was celebrated in their home. He having been the first mayor of the city. Mayor Melendy presided on this occasion, and all the ex-mayors of the city were present as guests. In these and like anniversary occasions she took a lively interest and was an active participant.

She was reared in the Quaker faith and never forsook the language, dress and manners that characterized that society in the days of her girlhood. In character she was ingenuous and unaffected. There was a cheeriness and hopefulness in her disposition that seemed to increase with her years, and that neither the approach of age nor the immediate presence of death was able to dampen. She had little regard for social usages, but by her simplicity of manners and genuine goodness of heart, she won the love and esteem of all who came within her husband, her home; these were her field, her world. She sought no other. "Her children arise up and call her blessed: her husband also, and he praiseth her."

It was a time honored custom in her family for the children and grandchildren to gather with the parents and grandparents in her home on Christmas Day to enjoy its festivities together. On account of her feeble health, it was proposed this year to omit the custom. She plead so earnestly for the reunion that it was held as usual, and notwithstanding her weakness of body and the nearness of the grave, she seemed the happiest of the group.

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[From History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, 1904]

Mr. Overman was married in 1840, in Highland County, Ohio to, Phoebe J. Cooper, daughter of Amos Cooper, and to them were born nine children, eight of whom are now living. The record is as follows: Sara J., who married Joseph Chase; Lydia E., deceased September 3, 1901, who was the wife of Dr. S. Waterbury; Florence, who is the devoted and tender attendant upon her father; Martha E', who married G. C. Howland; Henry C., who married Cora Sanborn; Edwin E., who married May Cotton, now deceased; Alfred; Milton C., who married Mrs. Mary Aikmen; and Fannie E., whose first marriage was with Edward Williams and her second with W. T. M. Aitken.

There is a strange affection existing between the Overman and Cooper families, both families having been of the Quaker faith for the last four generations and four brothers of the former family having married four sisters of the latter. The first marriage was that of our subject, John Milton Overman, to Phoebe Jane Cooper, in Highland County, Ohio, in 1840. Dempsey C. Overman and Leah Cooper were married in that county one year later. In 1842 John Milton and Dempsey C. Overman with their wives removed to Muscatine County, Iowa, accompanied by other brothers of their parents' family. In 1850 Amos Cooper and his family came to Iowa and later further alliances were contracted between the younger members of the two families, William P. Overman marrying Harriet Cooper in 1850 and Henry C. Overman marrying Dorinda Cooper in 1852.


 

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