Capt John Michael Overmyer

"Overmyer history and genealogy, from 1680 to 1905"

By Barnhart B. Overmyer, John C. Overmyer

http://www.archive.org/stream/overmyerhistoryg00over#page/216/mode/...

JOHN MICHAEL (J. G.), fifth son and twelfth child of John George Overmyer, the emigrant, was born at the old homestead, now Limestone twp., Union county, Pa., January 12. 1773. By the teaching of his parents, he received a fair German education, and later learned the trade of what was then called, house carpenter and cabinet maker. House carpenters were those who after a hewed log house or other cabin was erected, would construct window sash and frames and doors and door frames, lay matched floors, with boards all matched by hand. Such work he did during the summer season, and in the winter, would construct chairs, cupboards, tables and at times fanning mills for farmers, the gearings of which consisted of wooden cog-wheels all made by him. He also constructed many of the weaving looms on which our grandmothers wove the material to clothe their families with.

On September 22, 1793, at Longstown, Pa., he married Catharine Long, daughter of George Long, a switzer proprietor of Longstown (now New Berlin), where he resided, until he left Pennsylvania for Ohio. For many years he was Captain of the 7th Com. of the 39th Regt. of the Pennsylvania militia commanded by Col. Youngman. He and his oldest brother, John George, were named as executors in their father's last will and testament. Having completed their final settlement of his fathers estate in 1810, he prepared two teams, horses, harness and wagons, and with one four horse team, and one five horse team. moved to Ohio in 1811, located near Somerset, Perry county, entering a quarter section of forest land, and began to establish a home, with a family of six children. His brother Peter having settled there ten years previous, here he with his wife and children began and cleared up a farm. He often exchanged work with his neighbors, would finish their homes and construct furniture for them, and they in turn would chop on clearings and build fence and plow for him.

In the fall of 1826, he with two of his sons, George L. and Michael, and a neighbor, Daniel Hensel, made a trip to Lower Sandusky to view the new country with a view to locating where water navigation could be utilized for shipping surplus produce, that would eventually accumulate in later years, when the forest was finally cleared away. He made the trip on horseback, the two sons and Mr. Hensel traveling on foot from their home in Perry county to Lower Sandusky (now Fremont) Sandusky county, mostly over new roads through the dense forest. They were well pleased with the lay of the land and the water navigation of the Sandusky river. On their return trip they stopped at the government land office at Bucyrus, Ohio. He entered the southeast quarter of Section 18 for George L. and the southwest quarter of the same section for Michael and Mr. Hensel entered the southwest quarter of Section 17 all in Sandusky township, paying one dollar and a quarter an acre. Mr. Hensel and the two sons moving onto the land in the fall of 1827. In 1831 he again came to Lower Sandusky on horseback to visit his sons, and found the cleared land so productive and the surroundings so much improved that he decided to sell his holdings in Perry County and himself and the balance of his family also come to Sandusky county. On his return he began preparation and the folowing year moved from Perry to Sandusky county and bought the southeast quarter of Section 19, Pike tract of 153 acres; lived a few months on the west bank of Big Mud creek, until he erected a one and one half story hewed log house on his land in the dense forest, where Samuel Kuns now resides, near Four Mile House, Sandusky township. The first year he resided here was a very wet and rainy season, and he like many other pioneers, became greatly discouraged, but he could not get back, and lived to see the Maumee Pike macadamized by the state and the country improve so much, that he became satisfied with his change. He helped and was principally instrumental in organizing the first Lutheran congregation of Salem's Four Mile church; also active in getting the grounds for Four Mile cemetery.

The itinerant preacher ever was cordially received and entertained by him, and several young ministerial students, had their home with him for years. During the first four years of his residence here his remaining three children were married: viz: John, Barbara and Samuel. In 1836 his son-in-law, John Kuns, father of Samuel and John Kuns, moved in with him, from Perry county, with two four horse teams. Peter Overmyer and Peter Whitmer, both nephews of John M. Overmyer, were the teamsters on this move. The Kuns boys farmed for him as long as he lived. Their rye, wheat and buckwheat was all threshed with flail for quite a number of years. He was about 5 feet, 9 inches tall, square built, broad shouldered, very short stout neck, muscular, active, hardworking, and fond of horse-back riding. An eye witness told the writer that in later years, he kept a young spirited horse, for saddle purposes, and had a mounting stand erected from a square cut of a log or tree, so he could better mount the frisky animal, when starting away into the forest to gather in his and his neighbors cows, to have them ready at home by milking time. He had blue eyes, a round full, flushed, always smooth shaven face, of a genial disposition. When mounted on his charger, his erect position, broad shoulders, ruddy face, broad brimmed hat covering a fine head of grey hair, made a picture for patriarchal inspiration to those who would meet him. never to be forgotten. The writer was assured by many who knew him in their youth, that they considered him one of the grandest old gentlemen the country ever produced.

After a lingering dropsical ailment he died October 19, 1847, and is buried at Four Mile cemetery. His wife, Catharine (Long) Overmyer, was born October 11, 1775, where New Berlin, "formerly called Longstown," is situated. Her father, George Long laid out the town in 1792. Frederick Evans was the surveyor, the first lot sold was No. 53 to Adam Snyder, deed dated January 18, 1793, giving his daughter several lots . A house was erected, where she with her ordinary household duties, managed a bakery for the settlers of the village, baking the ever famous Bretzel and ginger bread, and brewing ginger ale to supply the wants of the public. The writers father often related of remembering the great social jollification of people of the village when the fact was announced that Thomas Jefferson was declared president-elect of the United States. Having moved from Pennsylvania to Perry county, Ohio, in 1811, and from there to Lower Sandusky in 1832, twice tasted the severe trials of pioneer life, with a family of children. She died October 3, 1853, and was buried beside her venerable husband in Four Mile cemetery near her last place of residence.

They were life long members of the Lutheran church; he a Jeffersonian Democrat.

They had the following children:

George L., born January 4, 1795; died August 29, 1870.

Catharine, born June 4, 1799; died November 5, 1874.

Michael, born September 5, 1801.

Susan, born February 13, 1804; died December 31, 1840.

John, born December 24, 1806; died May 10, 1889.

Barbara, born September 25, 1809; died June 7, 1889.

Elizabeth and Magdalena, twins, born August 22, 1812; both died in infancy.

Samuel, born February 1, 1815; died in Mexican War in 1848.

SON OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR CAPTAIN JOHN GEORGE OVERMIRE

OHIO PIONEER

CAPTAIN IN THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE MILITIA

EXECUTOR OF HIS FATHER'S WILL (WITH HIS HALF BROTHER JOHN GEORGE OVERMIRE, JR.)

JEFFERSONIAN DEMOCRAT

Source: One Immigrant's Legacy, The Overmyer Family in America, 1751-2009, by Laurence Overmire, Indelible Mark Publishing, www.imarkbooks.com

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via mother Anna Barbara Overmire (born Vogt) by SmartCopy: Dec 4 2015, 3:04:53 UTC

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SON OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR CAPTAIN JOHN GEORGE OVERMIRE

OHIO PIONEER

CAPTAIN IN THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE MILITIA

EXECUTOR OF HIS FATHER'S WILL (WITH HIS HALF BROTHER JOHN GEORGE OVERMIRE, JR.)

JEFFERSONIAN DEMOCRAT

Source: One Immigrant's Legacy, The Overmyer Family in America, 1751-2009, by Laurence Overmire, Indelible Mark Publishing, www.imarkbooks.com

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via brother John George Overmire, Jr by SmartCopy: Dec 4 2015, 2:52:26 UTC

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SON OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR CAPTAIN JOHN GEORGE OVERMIRE

OHIO PIONEER

CAPTAIN IN THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE MILITIA

EXECUTOR OF HIS FATHER'S WILL (WITH HIS HALF BROTHER JOHN GEORGE OVERMIRE, JR.)

JEFFERSONIAN DEMOCRAT

Source: One Immigrant's Legacy, The Overmyer Family in America, 1751-2009, by Laurence Overmire, Indelible Mark Publishing, www.imarkbooks.com* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 5 2020, 3:19:55 UTC

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry.com U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls; @R5@

GEDCOM Source

Source Citation: Volume: 305; SAR Membership Number: 60991 birth date: 12 Jun 1773 Name: John Michael Overmyer death date: 19 Oct 1847 http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=sarmemberapps&h=12577...

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry.com U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls; @R5@

GEDCOM Source

Source Citation: Volume: 305; SAR Membership Number: 60991 birth date: 12 Jun 1773
Name: John Michael Overmyer death date: 19 Oct 1847 http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=sarmemberapps&h=12577...

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry.com U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls; @R5@

GEDCOM Source

Source Citation: Volume: 305; SAR Membership Number: 60991 birth date: 12 Jun 1773
Name: John Michael Overmyer death date: 19 Oct 1847 http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=sarmemberapps&h=12577...