Biography:

Dr. George Henry Overholt was born near Beamsville, Ontario on the 7th of March, 1842.   Dr. Overholt was the 3rd of 7 children born to Mark Overholt and the former Catherine Gilmore.   His parents farmed in Lincoln County near Beamsville, now known as the Regional Municipality of Niagara.  Dr. Overholt’s siblings were; Alfred Overholt, Nathan Overholt, Almeda Overholt, William Franklin “Frank” Overholt, Peter Overholt and Elizabeth Jane Overholt.  Dr. Overholt’s father died in Romney Twp near Wheatley on the 11th of May, 1888.  At the time of his death he was living with Dr. Overholt’s brother, Frank.

Dr. Overholt married Charlotte Harriett Warren on the 6th of May, 1865 in Wentworth County, Ontario.  Mrs. Overholt was born in Quebec on the 6th of May, 1841.  Her parents were William Henry Warren and the former Harriett Greenslade.  Her father was a church organist at Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal in 1842.

Dr. Overholt graduated M.D. from the Albany Medical College, (University of Albany) in 1866.  Dr. and Mrs. Overholt settled in Wheatley.  Dr. Overholt was listed in Wheatley, in the 1869 Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory.  Dr. Overholt is also mentioned in Wheatley Story, a publication by Rita Lobzun.  At the time the community had a population of approximately 150 persons.  Dr. and Mrs. Overholt had a 5 year old son George Alison Overholt who died on the 10th of September, 1869. He was buried at Erie Cemetery in Wheatley.  It states on the death record, that their son was born in Beamsville, Ontario.  Another son, Richard Thomas Overholt was born while they were living in Wheatley in 1869.

In 1870, the family immigrated to Madelia, Minnesota, where Dr. Overholt hung out his shingle to practice medicine.  Dr. and Mrs. Overholt had a daughter Laura Grace Overholt born in 1873 and a daughter Stella Overholt was born in 1874.  Another child, with the initials of G. H. was born on the 4th of June 1875.  Their son Charlie Overholt was born on the 19th of July, 1876 and Nellie Overholt was born on the 22nd of December, 1879.

Dr. Overholt served as Superintendent of Schools for Madelia from 1875 to 1877.

On September 7th, 1876, Jesse James and the Younger brothers attempted to rob the Northfield Minnesota First National Bank.  According to Cole Younger who wrote in his autobiography, (The Story of Cole Younger), a Dr. H. M Wheeler had observed suspicious activity and alerted citizens nearby of the robbery.  Two persons were shot and killed by the bank robbers and they fled with no money.  According to Cole Younger, the bandits were spotted in the Madelia area on the 21st of September, 1876 and a posse was formed to capture the fugitives.   Dr. Overholt was part of the posse that went in pursuit of the bank robbers.  Indeed, Dr. Overholt shot at Cole Younger, but missed.  There is an unconfirmed family story, that Cole Younger shot at Dr. Overholt and it struck a pocket watch, which saved his life.  The posse of men from Madelia captured the criminals and Dr. Overholt attended to the wounds of the captured bank robbers.

By 1885, Dr. and Mrs. Overholt had moved to Kenyon, Goodhue Co., Minnesota, where Dr. Overholt continued to practice medicine.  According to the 1895 census, Dr. Overholt was living in Kenyon with his wife Charlotte (who listed her occupation as a music teacher) and their children Grace, Charley and Nellie.  Directly below the census account for Dr. Overholt is his son, Richard, who was living independently with his wife Jennie and their infant son Archibald.  Richard’s occupation was listed as a druggist.  This census also confirms that Richard was born in Ontario.  Richard Overholt died in 1903 and he was buried at the Kenyon Cemetery.

The 1905 U.S. Census placed Dr. and Mrs. Overholt on Redwing Avenue in Kenyon.

Mrs. Overholt died on the 9th of April, 1906.  She was buried in the same plot as her son Richard at the Kenyon Cemetery.  Their son Charlie died on the 4th of September, 1918 and he was also buried in the family plot at the Kenyon Cemetery.

Dr. Overholt married Betsy (Valsvig) Groven on the 29th of May, 1907 in Red Wing, Minnesota..  She was born in Norway on the 13th of June, 1865.  Mrs. Overholt was married to Knute S. Groven and they had 2 children, Tina Josephine Groven and Clarence Benjamin Groven.  Her first husband Knute Groven died in 1904 and he was buried at the Kenyon Cemetery.

Dr. Overholt adopted her son Clarence who was 12 1/2 years old at the time over his marriage to Betsy Groven.  According to the 1910 census, Dr. Overholt was still practicing medicine in Kenyon.  Dr. Overholt appears under the Kenyon subtitle in the 1922 Minneapolis, Minnesota City Directory.  It does not identify an address, just his occupation as a physician.  According to the 1923 University of Michigan, College List of Students, Dr. Overholt was also a Justice of the Peace and an insurance agent.

Dr. Overholt died at his residence on the 23rd of February, 1928 in Kenyon, Minnesota.  The following article appeared in the Argus-Leader which was published out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota on the 26th of February, 1928 on page 1, “Kenyon, Minn., Dr. George H. Overhold (sic), 86 years old, who ministered first aid to members of the Jesse James-Younger gang when they were captured following the famous Northfield bank robbery, is dead at his home here.  Dr. Overholt was also a member of the posse which fought with the gang.  He was the first physician to practice here.”  Dr. Overholt was buried next to his first wife Charlotte at the Kenyon Cemetery.  Betsy (Groven) Overholt died on the 18th of April, 1934.   She was also buried at the Kenyon Cemetery.

*Mrs. Overholt’s son, Clarence Benjamin Grover served with the United States Military in WWI and WWII.

**Despite an extensive search for a tombstone for Dr. Overholt’s son George Overholt, none was located at the Erie Cemetery.