OVERMAN, Jesse Baldwin 1822 – 1919

OVERMAN, SUNLAP, SNYDER, SCOTT, STORY, CHAPMAN, WAGLIN, LEONARD, SACKETT

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/29/2013 at 15:09:38

Jesse Baldwin Overman, son of Enoch Overman, was born on a farm four miles from Petersburg, Highland county, Ohio, Sept. 8, 1822 and departed this life Aug. 11, 1919, at the age of 96 years, 11 months and 11 days. He was of the Quaker faith and remained true to the doctrine taught him by his father and mother. His ancestors were three brothers who came from Wales. One died, one returned to Wales. The other remained in America and as far as is known by family history, all Overmans in this country have come from this branch.

In 1850 he was married to Margery B. Dunlap, daughter of Dr. G. W. Dunlap. To this union were born seven children, three of who passed away in infancy. Mrs. Florence Chapman Snyder of Brooklyn; Mrs. Belle Scott of Tacoma, Wash., Mrs. Gertrude Story, wife of the late Rev. G. W. Story; George E., who was living at the home with his father.

In 1852 he moved to Iowa and settled at Sandy Hook, known in after years as Overman’s Ferry. He had a general merchandise store, cattle and other stock interests, also three or four farms and the first Rock Island & Pacific Railroad ran through one of his farms at Attalissa. In 1864 he moved with his of strong mind and intellect, and a determination that we find in a few people. He was always ready with a willing hand and heart to help those who were in need. He was a kind and indulgent father, never denying anything to his family that was in this power to give them. He had such a wonderful mind and memory of the past that after he was unable to leave home and go to town, business men came to him to get dates that were not remembered by others. He was a great reader and read the Bible through several times. When he lost his eyesight he seemed to mourn over not being able to read. God was good to him and gave him his second eyesight and he again read the Bible through and was reading it again when his eyesight failed the second time.

He left, beside his children, one brother, Cyrus Overman of Muscatine, who is the last one of the family, and five grandchildren: Charles B. Chapman, a business man of Brooklyn and who has spent most of his life since he was seven years old in the home of this grandfather; Mrs. Chas. Waglin, Jesse Scott of Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. H. J. Leonard and Harry Story of Freeport; also four great-grandchildren: Dorothy, George and Bessie, children of Mrs. Waglin of Tacoma, Wash., and Wallace Leonard of Freeport, Ill.

Mr. Overman was left a widower in 1888 and was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Sackett in 1902. She preceeded him to the better land nine years ago. His daughter, Mrs. Snyder, and son, George, stood by his side for years giving him every care and attention that was needed. The evening before he passed away he hummed a tune, looked up into the faces of his children and said, “I am suffering so.” And the next evening at 5:30 he gently went to sleep and all was over. He was laid to rest in the I.O.O.F. cemetery with many beautiful floral offerings from relatives and friends. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Pool of the M.E. Church.

Source: Unknown newspaper clipping found in scrapbook belonging to my great grandmother, Edith (Kann) Newton.