Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Overholser, Christian 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 2:52 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

Christian Overholser, farmer, section 3, Genesee Township, was born Dec. 9, 
1831, in Harrison Co., Ohio. He is the son of Martin and Barbara (Arford) 
Overholser, the former a native of Bucks Co., Pa., and the latter of 
Washington Co., Md. The ancestral stock in the paternal and maternal lines of 
descent is German. The parents of Barbara Arford died when she was three years 
of age, and she was brought up by the father and mother of her husband, to 
whom she was married in Harrison Co., Ohio, and with him and their children 
came to Illinois, arriving in Genesee Township, May 4, 1854. Both are living 
in Coleta village; they are aged respectively 76 and 73 years. The family 
removed in 1834 to Tuscarawas Co., Ohio. Mr. Overholser is the oldest of the 
children now surviving. He came to Genesee Township with his parents in 1854, 
and enjoyed all the experiences of the pioneers of Whiteside County, entering 
heartily into the work of improving a prairie farm from its original 
condition. The claims had been held some time, but only as bones of contention 
among the speculators. The parents are active members of the United Brethren 
Church, in which the father has held the offices of Trustee, Steward and 
Classleader. He was in early political life a Whig, and has latterly acted 
with the Republican party. The son was married Sept. 27, 1857, to Sarah 
Kilmer, in Genesee Township. Mrs. Overholser is the daughter of Christian and 
Mary (Shoop) Kilmer. Her father was a carpenter by vocation, and both he and 
her mother were descended from ancestors of pure German origin. They were 
married in Pennsylvania, and went soon after to Holmes Co., Ohio, which was 
then unsettled and not organized. Mrs. Overholser was born there, March 19, 
1832, and is the youngest of seven children. She came with her sister, Mrs. A. 
R. Hurless, to Genesee Township, in 1857, and was married as stated. The 
children of Mr. and Mrs. Overholser are recorded as follows: Frances A. 
married Charles Lunn, and they reside on a farm in Hancock Co., Iowa; they 
have two children, Oliver N., born April 2, 1882, and Ada B., born Dec. 4, 
1883; Delilah J. married Volney G. Chaffee, and they are farmers in Wysox 
Township, Carroll Co., Ill. Their children were born as follows: Jessie M., 
Sept. 11, 1880; Henry L., April 30, 1882; Christian, Feb. 23, 1884. Henry H. 
married Louisa Horlacher, and they live in Coleta, where the former is 
operating as agent for the creamery establishment of T. F. King & Co., at 
Morrison; their daughter Ermawas born Feb. 20, 1884. Edwin W., William I. and 
Florence M. live at home; James L. and an infant unnamed are deceased. The 
first home of Mr. and Mrs. Overholser was a pioneer's cabin 16 feet square, 
located on 40 acres of land, on section three, presented to them by the senior 
Overholser. The proprietor applied his efforts to its improvement, and 
purchased 17 acres of timber and 80 acres of prairie adjoining, the farm now 
containing an aggregate of 137 acres of land in excellent condition. The place 
exhibits a valuable and tasteful collection of farm buildings, including a 
good residence. It is stocked with high grades of Short-horn cattle and Poland 
swine. Mr. Overholser is a member of the United Brethren Church, and has held 
every office within the scope of the society; has been Sunday-school 
Superintendent, and has been an indefatigable worker in that capacity. 
Politically, he is a Republican in sentiment and action. He has served long 
and arduously in local offices. He officiated three terms as Collector of 
Taxes, six years as Constable, four years as Justice of the Peace, and a long 
period as Township Trustee.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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