Biographies

ELMER U. OVERMAN, State's Attorney of Oquawka, and one of the foremost members at the Bar of Henderson County, has spent his entire life in this part of Illinois.

He was born in St. Albions Township, Hancock County, on the 30th of June, 1864, and is of German and English lineage.

His father, Charles Overman, was born in Clark County, Ill., and for many years followed agricultural pursuits, but is now living retired in Oquawka, at the age of seventy. He was married on the 14th of January, 1845, to Miss Martha Garner, daughter of William and Sarah (Robinson) Garner. Nine children were born of this union, five sons and four daughters, of whom Edgar R. and Chivyral W. died in infancy. James G. is now engaged in farming near Red Cloud, Neb.; Sarah A. is the wife of Alex Waggoner, a retired farmer of Oquawka, Ill.; Jennie is the wife of Charles Swartz, who is engaged in clerking in this city; Mary is the wife of Dr. R. D. Demerell, a physician and surgeon of Red Cloud, Neb.; William P., who was a lawyer of more than ordinary ability, died in Red Cloud, Neb., at the age of twenty-seven years; and May is the wife of Leon Lemaire, a grain and implement dealer of Oquawka, Ill. Mr. Overman whose name heads this record is the youngest of the family.

No event of special importance occurred during his boyhood and youth, which were quietly passed upon his father's farm in St. Albions Township. He enjoyed the advantages afforded by the district schools of the neighborhood, and remained under the parental roof until eighteen years of age, when he entered Hedding College, of Abingdon, Ill., in which institution he pursued his studies for four years. Having chosen the legal profession as one which he wished to make his life work, he began study in the law office of Sharp & Berry Brothers, of Carthage, Ill., and in May, 1889, was admitted to the Bar. Since that time he has been continuously engaged in practice.

He located in Oquawka in July, and has rapidly won his way to a foremost place among his professional brethren. In November, 1890, he was elected to fill an unexpired term as State's Attorney, and in 1892 was re-elected, so that he is now filling the full term.

On the 26th of April of the same year, Mr. Overman was joined in wedlock with Miss Nellie Zinn, of St. Albions Township, Hancock County, daughter of William H. and Florence (Crawford) Zinn. Her grandfather is yet living, at the advanced age of ninety years.

Mr. Overman is a warm advocate of Republican principles, and by his first vote supported Hon. James G. Blaine. He is a member of Tranquil Lodge No. 193, I. O. O. F., of Oquawka; of Oquawka Camp No. 1037, M. W. A.; and both he and his wife hold membership with the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Overman worked his own way through college, serving as janitor, and the same enterprise and perseverance which led him to thus acquire an education characterize his professional career. He is a man of sterling worth, and in business and social circles occupies a prominent position.

From the Portrait and biographical record of Hancock, McDonough and Henderson counties, Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1894)
May, 1894. Lake City Publishing Co.