OH-FOOTSTEPS-L Archives

From: MRS GINA M REASONER< >
Subject: HENRY OVERMIRE - HAMILTON COUNTY
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 1999 16:33:44, -0500

A PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF DELAWARE AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES, IND.
A.W. Bowen & Co., 1894 - page 667-668

HENRY OVERMIRE is a well-to-do and contended citizen of Mount
Pleasant township. He was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, July 16, 1837,
being the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Espells) Overmire, both natives of
Germany. They were married and came to America in 1836, landing in new
York, and going thence to Cincinnati, where Mr. Overmire engaged in a
foundry for three years. After this he went to Franklin county, Ind. where
he employed his time in farming and shoemaking until his death, 1877. His
widow lives with her daughter. The father and mother reared a family of six
children, of whom three are living, namely: Henry, Elizabeth, living in
Cincinnati, and Mary, wife of Joseph Groothouse, of Franklin county, Ind.
The parents and other members of the family were members of the Catholic
church, with the exception of Henry, who left that body, and now belongs to
the Methodist denomination.
Henry Overmire, when but fourteen years of age, was apprenticed to
Henry Haffer, of Brookville, Ind., to learn the trade of tanner. He lived
with this man two and one-half years, and then, receiving a higher offer,
went to another tannery in the same place, receiving eight dollars per
month, and remaining four months. He was then employed on a canal boat from
Cincinnati to Larwell for a month, and after a short time spent in
traveling, he engaged in the trade of tanning for over two years for a
number of different employers. Later, he went to Middleton, Ind. and
engaged as a tanner for a year, after which he followed the same trade with
different men for three years longer. Then having made some money, he
bought a small tannery in Jerome, Howard county, Ind., which he operated
one year; his venture being unsuccessful, he was compelled to make an
assignment, and found himself in debt after his property had been taken.
Subsequently, he came to Delaware county, Ind., and worked for thirty
dollars a month, one-half of which he applied on his debts, keeping the
rest for himself, and living very cheaply. He came to Yorktown about that
time, where he engaged with Thomas Allen & Co. as a journeyman for three
years, when he and Jacob Oerther bought the tannery, and the partnership
continued for three years, purchasing his partner's interest at the end of
that time, and operating it alone for ten years. He owns the site upon
which the tan yards stood, but no vistige of it now remains. While thus
engaged Mr. Overmire also conducted a large boot and shoe and harness
establishment, making up most of the leather he produced. In 1882 he
enlarged his business, adding groceries, and his son, L.D. Overmier, before
mentioned, was his partner. This partnership existed until 1892, when his
son became sole proprietor, and the father, the subject, engaged in the
harness business. He also carries gas supplies and fixtures.
Mr. Overmire was president of the first gas company in Yorktown,
and superintendent of the two first gas wells. He served as president four
years, and is now director, treasurer and collector of the company. He was
married in Howard county, Ind., in 1838 to Elizabeth Sharp, born in
Delaware county, July 22, 1840, and the daughter of H.B. and Tabitha Sharp.
Two children, Lewis D., mentioned elsewhere, and William M., a member of
the Yorktown Novelty works, were born of this marriage. Mr. Overmire
located in this county in 1862, and has since exerted himself to the
advancement and interests of the county. He is a member of lodge No. 345,
I.O.O.O., and in politics is an aggressive democrat, working with might and
main for the success of that party. He is one of the most enterprising and
active citizens of Yorktown. He is also a member of the Muncie encampment
No. 74.

This thread:

• HENRY OVERMIRE - HAMILTON COUNTY by MRS GINA M REASONER< >