OVERMAN, William C.: Born 1860

OVERMAN, VARNER, BAKER, HORN, LEE

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 3/16/2014 at 15:47:50

Father Of Midwest Grocers' Association Was 73 Years Old; Well-Known Here.

W.C. Overman, 73 years old, former vice president and general manager of J.C. Hutchison & Co., former local wholesale grocery concern, died at his home, 631 North Court street, at 7:15 a.m. today.

He has been ill since July 3, 1933. Mr. Overman retired from active business last March.

J.G. Hutchison & Co., predecessors of the Witwer Grocery Co., was established in Ottumwa in 1891 and Mr. Overman became connected with the firm shortly after that, working for many years as a traveling salesman.

In 1902 he moved his family to Ottumwa from Keosauqua and has since lived here. He left the firm in 1905 and for two years was engaged in the candy business here with the firm of Overman & Sharp. In 1907 he re-entered the employ of the Hutchison company. When that firm was reorganized in 1910 he was made manager. In 1924 he severed his connections with the firm. Two years were spent in California and two years in Ottumwa before he re-entered the firm in January 1928.

At the time of his retirement from business, he was vice president and general manager and served as treasurer.

Mr. Overman was known as the "father" of the Midwest Grocers' association, having been very active in the organization of that group. For several years he served as president.

In Ottumwa, Mr. Overman was a member of the First Methodist church, where he held a position on the official board. He was also a member of the Kiwanis club and the local council of the United Commercial Travelers.

William C. Overman was born in Hancock county, Ill., April 15, 1860, the son of Samuel and Nancy E. Overman. The Overmans came originally from North Carolina. Mr. Overman's father was a farmer in Adams and Hancock counties in Illinois. The family moved from Illinois to Keokuk in 1865 and ten years later to Keosauqua.

At Keosauqua Mr. Overman was married to Carrie E. Varner. His wife and two daughters, Helen and Hazel, both at home, survive, as do his brother, J.M. Overman of Keosauqua, and a sister, Mrs. Fannie Baker of Polk City. He was preceded in death by one son, John Lee Overman; his parents and two sisters, Mrs. Pauline Horn of Hillsboro and Mrs. Mary Lee of Denver, Colo.

The body has been taken to the Lester Jay funeral home.

Source: Scrapbook of Unknown Origin, Page 101