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From History of North Washington, published 1903, now in public domain. 
Submitted by Candy L. Grubb April 30, 1997. Both above notices must remain 
when copied or downloaded.

candyg@ieway.com

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RALPH EMERSON OVERMYER

	Ralph Emerson Overmyer, a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser,
near Hunters, Stevens county, was born at Lindsey, Sandusky county, Ohio,
May 16, 1870.  His parents, Henry H. and Margaret A. (Walker) Overmyer,
were also natives of the "Buckeye State."  The father served with 
distinction through the Civil War, is now prominent in G.A.R. circles, 
is an Odd Fellow and a Mason.  The mother is a native of Port Clinton,
Ottawa county, the daughter of David and Nancy Walker.  Her father,
George Wagner, died a few years since in Sandusky county, worth over two
million dollars, accumulated in face of the fact that he could neither
read nor write.  He was one hundred and seven years at the time of his
death.  She now resides in Ohio.
	In 1884 our subject left home.  His father insisted that he should
adopt a profession, but he declined to do so, preferring to learn a trade.
He first went to Michigan, thence to Toledo, Ohio, where he learned the
trade of a wheelwright, and returned home.  This was in 1887.  The follow-
ing day he left for Spokane, Washington, but fell ill on the way, and 
arrived in that city with but two dollars and fifty cents in cash.  Soon
afterwards he came to the vicinity of Hunters, secured a homestead, and 
subsequently travelled as agent for a fruit tree firm.
	January 2, 1898, he was married to Clara Maud Runyon, a native
of Fort Buford, Dakota and twenty-one years of age.  Her father was 
M.B. Runyon, a mining man, and her mother Mary I. (Radspiner) Runyon.
Mrs. Overmyer's grandfather, John M. Runyon, is over eighty years of age,
stout and hearty, and her great-grandmother, Mrs. Runyon, is now living
in Kentucky, a centenarian.  Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Overmyer, Clara Maud and Margaret Angelica.
	Our subject has two hundred acres of land, nearly all fenced, 
substantial residence, barns and plenty of water for irrigating purposes.
He has an orchard of two hundred trees, four of which came from his
father's nursery in Ohio.  He is proprietor of the Santiago mine, near
Hunters, upon which there are about thirty three thousand dollars worth
of improvements.  It carries gold and silver, mainly the latter.  One 
thousand tons of ore, now on the dump, will average ten dollars to the
ton.  He also controls other valuable properties.  Coming here with no
capital, he is, at present, one of the more substantial citizens in the
vicinity.  He owns an interest in the People's Telephone Company, between
Cedonia and Hunters.
	Mr. Overmyer is a public spirited, enterprising citizen, and one
who has won the confidence of the community in which he resides.
	Mr. Overmyer is giving considerable attention to raising poultry,
having ten acres fenced for this purpose, two large modern poultry houses,
and from four hundred to five hundred fowls.  He is the most extensive
poultry raiser in the county.