BIOGRAPHY: Overman, Dempsey C.
From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

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     DEMPSEY C. OVERMAN. - This gentleman who was the first postmaster 
in Black Hawk County, and for more than a quarter of a century one of 
the prominent business men of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died at his residence 
in that city, October 19, 1874.  He was born in Highland County, Ohio, 
March 13, 1820, and was consequently over fifty-three years of age at 
the time of his death.  His early life was spent on a farm, which he 
helped to cultivate, attending school for a few months each winter.  
When he was twenty-two years of age his family removed to Muscatine 
County, Iowa, locating at a point on the Cedar River, sine known as 
Overman's Ferry, where he engaged in farming, which he successfully 
carried on until February, 1848, when he removed to Cedar Falls, and 
with this brother, John M., and E. Bunn, a brother-in-law, purchased 
the water power and other claims embracing the original site of Cedar 
Falls, and some other adjoining lands.  Here he immediately went to 
work with the characteristic industry and energy which has marked his 
whole life, and in a few months had a saw mill in operation, and was 
thus the first to tame the waters of the Cedar, and make them aid in 
the advancement of civilization.  Two years later he erected and put 
into operation the first grist mill in the county, which, though a rude 
affair, the burrs being cut out of a granite boulder, proved some great 
benefit to the few settlers who came straggling in at that early day.  
In connection with his brothers and brother-in-law, with whom he was 
connected in nearly all of his relations, he laid out and became one of 
the  original proprietors of the town.  With them he willingly spent 
his vast energy, and the best portion of his busy life, in building up 
and developing the natural resources possessed by the beautiful little 
city he had assisted in planting.  They enlarged the mill-race in 1852, 
and then again in 1854 to its present size, built a new mill with two 
run of stone and the present dam in 1855, and the large substantial 
stone mill, now standing, in the  Summer and Fall of 1856; a large 
brick block, costing some $15,000 in 1857, and from time to time making 
various improvements, giving generous aid to every thing which seemed 
calculated to advance the general interest and prosperity.
     In his private capacity as a friend and neighbor, Mr. Overman was 
an energetic supporter of home improvements, and many monuments of his 
enterprise and generosity are pointed out, which will long remain as 
exponents of a faithful friend and valued citizen.  He was ever ready 
to respond to the call of duty, though arduous and unpleasant, was 
beloved and esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, 
who will long cherish his kindly words, and many acts of friendship and 
benevolence.  Though an unfortunate chain of circumstances greatly 
reduced his worldly means a few years before his death, he ever bore in 
his business relations the proudest name that can be applied to 
perishing mortals, that of an honest man, which is "the noblest work of 
God."