Joseph Overman

From WikiTree: Joseph Overman born September 6, 1826, in West Elkton, Preble, Ohio, married Anna Jones. They moved to Miami County settling in Harrison Township. Joseph Overman came with his brother Eli in 1847 (History of Miami County: Illustrated). Joseph and Anna had the following children: Daniel (1850), Jesse (1852), Benajah (1853), Enoch F. (1855), Allen H. (1857), Reuben (1859). William (1861), Hannah (1863), Addison (1865), and Mary (1868).

The first home of the parents in Miami county was a wooded farm of eighty acres in Harrison township, and today it is still their place of residence, endeared to them through all the associations of their married life. The land was entered from the government by Mr. Overman's brother, and when our subject took possession of it was almost entirely destitute of improvement.

In a typical pioneer log cabin they lived for three years, and then built a hewed-log house, while in 1873 their present substantial two-story brick residence was erected. The boundaries of the farm were extended until it comprised one hundred and ninety-four acres of valuable land, which the owner transformed into rich fields, but he has since sold portions of it to his sons, retaining possession of a homestead of forty acres.

He and his wife are birthright members of the Friends Church and he has served as elder therein for twenty years, rearing his children in that faith. In politics he is a Prohibitionist, and he is a man of sterling rectitude of character who gives his support to all moral and educational interests. his own life record is unclouded by wrong or suspicion of evil. He has always clung to whatever is of "good repute," and his name is a synonym for all that is honorable and straightforward.

SOURCE: Biographical and Genealogical History of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton Counties, Indiana, Volume II, Published in Chicago by The Lewis Publishing Company in 1898.

Joseph Overman died January 30, 1899 in Amboy. They had a family tragedy, the suicide of their son Daniel, but the coroner's report describes the family and relationships so it is another insight into the time and place:

SUICIDE...Daniel Overman - Take a Leap Into the Dark...A Razor the Instrument by Which the Transit was Effected, and his Father's Barn the Scene of the Sad Rash Act. No Known Cause Except Religious Excitement, as he was an Exemplary Young Man, well Liked by Everybody.

The Following is The Coroner's report, STATE OF INDIANA - MIAMI COUNTY - To the Clerk of the Miami Circuit Court. Comes now the undersigned Coroner of said County and makes the following report, to-wit: On the morning of Monday, April 11th, 1881, word was sent me to come and view the dead body of Daniel Overman, lying at the residence of his father, Joseph Overman, two and one-half miles south-east of North Grove, in said Miami County, in Harrison Township. I repaired to the locality and viewed the body of the deceased, and examined the following witnesses: Sarah J. Overman, deceased's wife; Joseph Overman, his father; Annie Overman, his mother; Harvey McCoy; Christian Edwards,and David Larrison, and from their evidence, I would report that the came to his death by his own hand, by cutting his throat with a razor, and no one is in any manner connected therewith or to blame therefore.

The deed was committed on the morning of April 11th, 1881, between the hours of 6 and 7 o'clock, and took place in a shed attached to his father's barn, and death was instantaneous, the trachea and carotid artery being severed. The testimony of the witnesses heretofore mentioned, sworn to and signed, is herewith returned as a part of this report. The deceased was 30 years of age, had been some time married, had no children, and was evidently laboring under religious monomania at the time of his death. ABNER D. KIMBALL, Coroner.

The following is a digest of the evidence taken by the coroner: His wife, Sarah J. Overman, had noticed for some two or three weeks that he seemed deranged, and during the night before his death, jumped up in bed about 2 o'clock, as if frightened, and when she asked him what was the matter, he said nothing, and laid down and slept till morning. About day light he got up as usual, dressed and started for the barn bareheaded. After he had been absent a few minutes she went out to see where he was, and saw him just in the act of falling. His throat was cut and bleeding, and he never spoke. She was of the opinion that he committed the deed, and attaches no blame to any one else.

His father, Joseph Overman, said the deceased had been at his house most of the time for the past three or four weeks, and he had noticed symptoms of derangement in his son, but never suspected he would take his own life, he had never said anything leading to supposition that he would. His father attaches no blame to any one. Mrs. Annie Overman, his mother, testified as to the age of her son, said he had been at home for several weeks, had noticed symptoms of insanity in him for several days, and he seemed to feel, from his conversation, that he was not enjoying a proper amount of religion, and most of his talking was on that subject. She attaches no blame to any one and says he came to his death by his own hand.

Harvey W. McCoy testified as follows: I have known the deceased, Daniel Overman, for about ten years; was with him at church yesterday, April 10th; had a conversation with him after church, did not notice any thing unusual in his actions; met him in the afternoon again, but he seemed cheerful and happy; never heard him express himself in a way that would indicate that he had intentions of committing suicide; saw him this morning, April 11th, after the alarm had been given, at the barn where I found him dead, he having to all appearances cut his throat with a razor which was found lying close beside him. It is my opinion that he committed the act with his own hand, and that no blame is attached to any one.

Christian Edward testified that he had known the deceased about sixteen years, but had not seen him for about three weeks, and had not conversed with him for several months, and had noticed nothing unusual in his actions; went to this father's house and found him lying in the barn with his throat cut and a razor close beside him. Thinks he did it himself, and attaches no blame to any one.

David Larrison had known him for eighteen years, and frequently conversed with him; never noticed anything unusual; went to the house when the alarm was given; deceased was at the barn with his throat cut from ear to ear; believed he was laboring under mental derangement. This is the second successful suicide in Harrison Township within the past ten weeks, besides one attempt by another person. It would seem that there is a peculiar fascination about it which causes it become, as it were, epidemic in a neighborhood when once that fatal deed is committed.

We hope the Sentinel will never again have to chronicle another case in Harrison Township. Young Overman, was well connected, his parents being among the most respected in the township. He had a fond wife, and the only cause that can be assigned for the step, was that traces of insanity had shown itself in one branch of the family in the past; one member having committed suicide and another become insane.

The following obituary is from the U.S. Quaker Periodical, The American Friend, Jan - December of 1899: Joseph Overman died at his home, near Amboy, Indiana, First month 29th, 1899, aged 72 years, 4 months and 23 days. He had a birthright with Friends, and was a faithful, obedient and trustworthy member. His last illness was at times attended with much bodily pain, which was borne with Christian patience. During his sickness the company of his friends and neighbors afforded him much pleasure and comfort, he often repeating appropriate texts of Scripture and admonishing to faithfulness and a loser walk with the Master. He was a charter member of Amboy Monthly Meeting.