| WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS. | 257 cont'd |
WILLIAM OVERHOLT.
WILLIAM OVERHOLT was born in Hancock county, Ohio, June 4, 1857, his parents being Henry and Sarah (Fritz) Overholt, both natives of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit throughout his active life. He died during the early part of the Civil war at the age of forty-five years. His widow, however, is still living in Ohio, and has now attained the ripe age of eighty-one. They had two sons who loyally entered the Union service during the war of the Rebellion, one of whom was taken ill soon after joining the army and died, giving his life as a ransom for his country's preservation. David served throughout the entire struggle and is now living in Ohio. John C. and Henry are also residents of that state.
William Overholt, the youngest of the five children, was reared under
| 258 | HISTORY OF ALLEN AND |
the parental roof and as a companion and helpmate on life's journey he chose Miss Gertie Redfern, also a native of Hancock county, Ohio, and a daughter of Peter C. Redfern. Her mother bore the maiden name of Frances Wineland and was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Redfern died in 1893 at the age of fifty-four years, and his widow is still living at the age of fifty-four. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Overholt has been blessed with five children, namely: Floyd L., Alma Edna, Willie E., Merle R. and Orpha H. I. Overholt. The initial letters of the youngest daughter spell Mr. Overholt's native state—Ohio.
In the year 1889 our subject came with his family to Kansas, and after residing in Humboldt for a short time purchased the Maple Grove farm in Salem township, comprising two hundred and forty acres of rich land, which he placed under a very high state of cultivation, there residing for seven years. He then rented his farm and came to Humboldt, where he is now engaged successfully in operating a corn sheller. In his political affiliations he is a Republican, and for one term served as trustee of Salem township. Both he and his wife are members of the Knights and Ladies of Security and in Humboldt and the surrounding country they have a large circle of friends limited only by the circle of their acquaintances. Classified among the substantial citizens of the community Mr. Overholt owes his creditable position to his well-directed efforts in business and his indefatigable energy.
Pages 257-258, transcribed by Carolyn Ward from History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas: embellished with portraits of well known people of these counties, with biographies of our representative citizens, cuts of public buildings and a map of each county / Edited and Compiled by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott. Iola Registers, Printers and Binders, Iola, Kan.: 1901; 894 p., [36] leaves of plates: ill., ports.; includes index.
