West Overton Circa 1867
Written & Compiled by K. R. Overholt Critchfield
Photographs Created & Edited by K. R. Overholt Critchfield © 2016, 2017, 2018
~~ Published January 18, 2018 ~~

Reference data about the 1867 Atlas of Westmoreland County, Pennsylania, does not tell us much more than: a) it contained maps and drawings of townships and boroughs from actual surveys, b) done under the direction of S. N. Beers and D. G. Beers, c) engraved by Worley and Bracher, and d) originally published in Philadelphia by A. Pomeroy. The drawing of West Overton, seen above, was included in the 1867 atlas, and was reprinted in subsequent years. You can obtain your own copy of the West Overton drawing at the web site of John Pritiskutch Productions (www.anthracitemaps.com), in various sizes on paper or heavier stock, like a work of art. The site offers other reproductions of late 19th century and early 20th century maps, and drawings of towns, counties and states throughout the United States. The Pennsylvania offerings have quite a few other pictures that refer to members of our family.

Several years ago, I purchase my own poster-sized copy of the West Overton drawing, and the notation, All Rights Reserved John Pritiskutch Productions was printed on the bottom right corner. More than a year ago, upon contacting John Pritiskutch, I secured his permission to manipulate my copy of the drawing, scan it, and create photographs for this web page -- many thanks, John! I wanted to show how really special this work of art is, by creating closeups to reveal some of the interesting details of the daily lives of our Overholt ancestors, following the Civil War years. However, before you begin looking at my jpg creations, we must discuss the big problem regarding the title of the drawing.

Above all, we should not accept the notion that the title, Property of A. S. R. Overholt & Co., West Overton, is accurate, not when it was dated 1867. In the year the atlas was published, given as 1867, West Overton and Abraham Overholt's Homestead House was NOT the property of Aaron Stauffer R. Overholt, because Abraham Overholt (1784-1870) was alive until January 15, 1870. In 1867, Abraham was tearing down the Broad Ford distillery building erected by son Jacob S. Overholt (1814-1859). He and his partner at A. Overholt and Company, nephew Henry O. Overholt (1830-1880), were replacing the original distillery with a new facility.

The descriptive title for the West Overton drawing should be questioned, as to whether it was added when the atlas was reprinted in later years. Do we know how many times the drawing of West Overton was reprinted? F. A. Davis published the New Illustrated Atlas of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 1876, with 1971 Supplementary Section, in Rimersburg, PA, by the Pennsylvania Record Press (1971), originally published by Reading Publishing Company (1876).

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* Karen's Note: Page 42 is a B&W photocopy of the full drawing of West Overton, severely reduced in size, titled Property of A.S.R. Overholt & Co., West Overton. The only expression of West Overton I found in an online copy of this atlas gave the following diagram in the top left corner of a large map of East Huntingdon Township. Of course, I may have been searching the document incorrectly, but if I could not find it, where did this amazing drawing of West Overton (shown above in a vastly reduced size) come from?

Cover ~ Atlas of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania:
from actual surveys and under the direction
of S.N. & D.G. Beers; A. Pomeroy, Publisher;
Fred Bourquin, Printer; 1867

Diagram of West Overton;
Portion of East Huntingdon Township Map;
Atlas of Westmoreland County; 1867

On Saturday morning January 15th, at his residence in East Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pa., ABRAHAM OVERHOLT, in the 86th year of his age. He arose in the morning in usual health and took the lantern and went out, and not returning, the family went to look for him and found him in an out-house and the lamp of life almost extinguished. He was buried on the 18th in the Mennonite burying ground in said township, followed by a large concourse of relatives and friends. The occasion was improved by _____Woodbury of the Baptist church in the English language, and by Bro. Blough in German. Bro. Overholt was a faithful member of the Mennonite church for many years, and the church has great reason to mourn for him. His seat was seldom vacant at public worship, and he was one of the most benevolent men the church had. When any benevolent purpose demanded it he was always willing and ready to give of his abundance. C.S.

Herald of Truth Obituaries - March, 1870
Herald Of Truth - Volume VII, Number 3 - March, 1870, page 46-47

V. Aaron S. R. Overholt, b at West Overton, Pa., Dec 13, 1837; (twin to John) m Sarah Ann Overholt Jan 6, 1869. P O West Overton, Pa. Retired.

He was for many years book-keeper for the firm of A. & H. S. Overholt. After their death he became a partner in building and operating a large Coke plant of the firm of A. S. R. Overholt & Co., afterwards A. C. Overholt & Co. He is at present [c. 1903] a stock holder in the United States Cast Iron & Pipe Foundry Co., one plant being at Scottdale, Pa. He also has interests in Silver mines in Colorado. He is an accurate business man, there are few better. In some business matter, a lawyer was heard to say, "If A. S. R. Overholt has counted it, we need not look it over." He was universally liked by his employees, one of whom remarked that he would rather work for him than any one he had ever known, as he always knows what he wants to do before he gives his orders to his men. He is kind hearted and generous to all.

He [Aaron] with his twin brother John served for three years in the Civil War, enlisted Aug 1862, in Co. A. 15th, P. V. C. mustered out at Nashiville, Tenn., as first Sergeant June 1865. He is the present occupant [c. 1903] of the old Homestead, where his great grandfather Henry Overholt lived. C: Ralph, Clyde.

A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Martin Oberholtzer;
Descendants of Henry Oberholtzer, by A. J. Fretz (1903); pp. 69-70

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Karen's Note: A. C. Overholt was Abraham Carpenter Overholt (1858-1923), a son of Henry Stauffer Overholt (1810-1870) and Abigail Carpenter (1824-1898). Henry was the first child of Abraham Overholt and Maria Stauffer Overholt (1791-1874). A. C. Overholt went by the name "Abram," which may have been the name used by his grandmother, Maria, to address his grandfather. Abram and his grandfather shared the same birthday, and the cemetery markers for each man give "Abram" as the first name.

Aaron S. R. Overholt and John S. R. Overholt were twins, sons of the Rev. John D. Overholt (1795-1878). The Reverend was a son of Jacob Overholt (1768-1847), who was a son of Henrich Oberholtzer (1739-1813). Jacob was one of Abraham's older brothers. John S. R. Overholt and Maria Overholt Frick (1848-1939) were married on April 17, 1872, two years after Abraham died. Maria had been raised in the Homestead House by her grandparents, Abraham and Maria Overholt, and was the first child of their younger daughter, Elizabeth S. Overholt (1819-1905). Maria was the older sister of Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919).

The young couple lived with Abraham's widow, Maria, who had inherited the Homestead House. The first child of John and Maria, Grace, may have been born there, but when John and his family moved to Ohio, circa 1874, Aaron and his family moved into the Homestead House. As a daughter of Henry S. Overholt (1810-1870), Sarah Ann was also a granddaughter of Abraham and Maria Overholt. She had grown up in her father's very large home, then raised her two sons in her grandfather's Homestead House.

IV. Christian S. Overholt, b at West Overton, Westm'd Co, Pa, Oct 18, 1824; m Katharine L. Newmyer June 28, 1853. Res. 4008 Pine St, Phila, Pa. A business man of long and wide experience, his prominent connection with financial and industrial affairs make Christian S. Overholt an admirable and valuable member of the Pennsylvania Board of Commissioners. He is a retired banker, merchant and manufacturer. For many years he was the manager of the firm of Overholt & Co. of Broad Ford, Pa, a well known firm of distillers. Nearly a third of a century ago he retired from the firm and became president of the First National Bank of Mt. Pleasant, Pa. After ably performing the functions of this responsible post for a long time, he retired from active business life, and has been a resident of Philadelphia for some years. C: Alice, Charles, Mary, Elmer, Anna, William.

A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Martin Oberholtzer;
Descendants of Henry Oberholtzer, by A. J. Fretz (1903); pp. 120-121

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