Henry Overholser (April 14, 1846 – August 25, 1915) was an American businessman, county commissioner, and important contributor to the development of Oklahoma City. He was the first to erect two-story buildings in the city, both of which were torn down in 1907.[1] Overholser's son from a first marriage, Edward, was a mayor of Oklahoma City.[2][3]
Overholser was born April 14, 1846, on a farm in Montgomery County, Ohio, the son of John and Elizabeth (Niswonger) Overholser.[1][2][4] He was one of 13 children.[4]
Overholser married Emma Hannah and, on June 20, 1869, she gave birth to a son, Edward in Sullivan, Indiana[5] The couple had a second child also, Elizabeth, who married George Pirtle and she used the name "Queen". They lived in Kansas and had two sons.[4] Overholser worked in the mercantile business in Sullivan for 13 years.[1] He started various real estate and building enterprises in Colorado and Ashland, Wisconsin before moving to Oklahoma Territory.[1]
Oklahoma Cityedit
Overholser had already made a fortune when he arrived in Oklahoma Territory in 1889.[2][4] He quickly began buying lots, developing business buildings, and making capital improvements using his own money to what would become Oklahoma City[2][3] Overholser married Anna Ione Murphy on October 23, 1889.[6] His brother, Levi, and nephew, Will, lived in one of his buildings on West Grand in 1889.[4]
Overholser ran unsuccessfully for mayor two times, but did succeed in becoming a county commissioner of Oklahoma County.[1][7] He built the Overholser Opera House on Grand Avenue for $108,000 in 1903[1] and the Overholser Theater.[7] In 1905, Henry and Anna Overholser had their only child together; a daughter, Henry Ione Overholser.
Just before statehood in 1906, Overholser helped the local chamber of commerce purchase land for the State Fair of Oklahoma, giving it a permanent home.[7] He served on the fair's board for numerous years.[7]
A prominent mansion in Oklahoma City stands as testament to the Overholser family. The 20-room, brick-and-stone Victorian mansion lies in Heritage Hills[7] and was built in 1903.[8] It passed through the family until it was transferred to David Perry, the husband of Overholser's daughter, after her death. In the 1970s, the mansion was donated to the state and is currently maintained as a historic house museum by Preservation Oklahoma through an agreement with the Oklahoma Historical Society.[9]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefA History of the State of Oklahoma, Vol.2 - 1908 July 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine at USGenNet (accessed April 22, 2010)
^ abcdEverett, Dianna. "Henry Overholser," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture February 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. (accessed April 22, 2010)
^ abFugate, Tally D. "Edward Graham McClain Overholser July 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture February 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. (accessed April 22, 2010).
^ abcdeThe Other Overholser at Family History Bites (accessed April 26, 2010)
^Fugate, Tally D. Edward Graham McClain Overholser (1869-1931) July 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine at Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture February 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine (accessed April 27, 2010)
^Fugate, Tally D. "Anna Ione Murphy Overholser," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture February 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. (accessed April 22, 2010).
^ abcdeShottenkirk, Marcia. "The Century Club: Henry Overholser" in The Journal Record on February 12, 2007. Copyright 2007 Dolan Media Newswires.
^Heritage Hills Historical Preservation Inc. May 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (accessed April 26, 2010)
^"About Us January 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine," The Overholser Mansion. (accessed January 26, 2010).
External linksedit
Henry Overholser Mansion - official site
January 01, 1970
henry, overholser, april, 1846, august, 1915, american, businessman, county, commissioner, important, contributor, development, oklahoma, city, first, erect, story, buildings, city, both, which, were, torn, down, 1907, overholser, from, first, marriage, edward. Henry Overholser April 14 1846 August 25 1915 was an American businessman county commissioner and important contributor to the development of Oklahoma City He was the first to erect two story buildings in the city both of which were torn down in 1907 1 Overholser s son from a first marriage Edward was a mayor of Oklahoma City 2 3 Henry OverholserBorn 1846 04 14 April 14 1846Montgomery County OhioDiedAugust 25 1915 1915 08 25 aged 69 Oklahoma City OklahomaResting placeFairlawn Cemetery Oklahoma CityNationalityAmericanOccupationBusinessSpouse s Emma Hanna Overholser divorce c 1880 Anna Ione Murphy Overholser 1872 1940 ChildrenEd Overholser 1869 1931 Elizabeth OverholserHenry Ione Perry 1904 1959 Parent s John OverholserElizabeth Niswonger OverholserSignature Contents 1 Early life 2 Oklahoma City 3 Overholser Mansion 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editOverholser was born April 14 1846 on a farm in Montgomery County Ohio the son of John and Elizabeth Niswonger Overholser 1 2 4 He was one of 13 children 4 Overholser married Emma Hannah and on June 20 1869 she gave birth to a son Edward in Sullivan Indiana 5 The couple had a second child also Elizabeth who married George Pirtle and she used the name Queen They lived in Kansas and had two sons 4 Overholser worked in the mercantile business in Sullivan for 13 years 1 He started various real estate and building enterprises in Colorado and Ashland Wisconsin before moving to Oklahoma Territory 1 Oklahoma City editOverholser had already made a fortune when he arrived in Oklahoma Territory in 1889 2 4 He quickly began buying lots developing business buildings and making capital improvements using his own money to what would become Oklahoma City 2 3 Overholser married Anna Ione Murphy on October 23 1889 6 His brother Levi and nephew Will lived in one of his buildings on West Grand in 1889 4 Overholser ran unsuccessfully for mayor two times but did succeed in becoming a county commissioner of Oklahoma County 1 7 He built the Overholser Opera House on Grand Avenue for 108 000 in 1903 1 and the Overholser Theater 7 In 1905 Henry and Anna Overholser had their only child together a daughter Henry Ione Overholser Just before statehood in 1906 Overholser helped the local chamber of commerce purchase land for the State Fair of Oklahoma giving it a permanent home 7 He served on the fair s board for numerous years 7 Overholser Mansion editMain article Overholser Mansion A prominent mansion in Oklahoma City stands as testament to the Overholser family The 20 room brick and stone Victorian mansion lies in Heritage Hills 7 and was built in 1903 8 It passed through the family until it was transferred to David Perry the husband of Overholser s daughter after her death In the 1970s the mansion was donated to the state and is currently maintained as a historic house museum by Preservation Oklahoma through an agreement with the Oklahoma Historical Society 9 References edit a b c d e f A History of the State of Oklahoma Vol 2 1908 Archived July 24 2008 at the Wayback Machine at USGenNet accessed April 22 2010 a b c d Everett Dianna Henry Overholser Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived February 1 2015 at the Wayback Machine accessed April 22 2010 a b Fugate Tally D Edward Graham McClain Overholser Archived July 21 2010 at the Wayback Machine Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived February 1 2015 at the Wayback Machine accessed April 22 2010 a b c d e The Other Overholser at Family History Bites accessed April 26 2010 Fugate Tally D Edward Graham McClain Overholser 1869 1931 Archived July 21 2010 at the Wayback Machine at Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived February 1 2015 at the Wayback Machine accessed April 27 2010 Fugate Tally D Anna Ione Murphy Overholser Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived February 1 2015 at the Wayback Machine accessed April 22 2010 a b c d e Shottenkirk Marcia The Century Club Henry Overholser in The Journal Record on February 12 2007 Copyright 2007 Dolan Media Newswires Heritage Hills Historical Preservation Inc Archived May 1 2009 at the Wayback Machine accessed April 26 2010 About Us Archived January 29 2010 at the Wayback Machine The Overholser Mansion accessed January 26 2010 External links editHenry Overholser Mansion official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Overholser amp oldid 1217676870, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
