Martin O. Overholt

The Overholts are of German origin and are widely scattered throughout East Huntingdon and adjoining town ships in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. The founder of the American branch of the family was Martin Overholt, who came from Germany, his native land, he having been born thirty miles from Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the year 1709, and settled in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, his death occurring in Bedminster township, April 5, 1744. He married, November 2, 1736, Agnes, born April 18, 1713, died November 2, 1786. Mr. Overholt and his wife were among the earliest members of the old Deep Run Mennonite Congregation in Bedminster, and their remains were buried in the graveyard there. They were the parents of five children: Barbara, Henry, see forward; Maria, and Martin. (A full account of the history of the early members of this family is found in the sketch of Benjamin F. Overholt, which appears elsewhere in this work).

Henry Overholt, eldest son of Martin and Agnes Overholt, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1739, died in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1813. He married, January 3, 1763, Anna Beitler, born in, Milford township, Bucks county, March 24, 1745, died April 5, 1835, daughter of Jacob and Anna (Meyer) Beitler or Beidler, the former a native of Germany and a pioneer of the Bucks county family of that name, and the latter a daughter of Hans Meyer, the pioneer settler in Upper Salford township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Henry Overholt and wife resided on a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres near the Deep Run Meeting House until April 25, 1800, when he conveyed the farm to Andrew Loux and removed with his family to Westmoreland county, settling on a tract of wild land at West Overton, East Huntingdon township. He was a farmer and distiller by occupation. He and his wife were the parents of twelve children—five sons and seven daughters. He died March 5, 1813. His widow survived him many years.

Martin Overholt, third son of Henry and Anna (Beitler) Overholt, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, November, 1772. In 1809 he purchased a farm in Westmoreland county, whither he had previously removed, and the greater part of his life was devoted to farming. He married Catherine Overholt, daughter of Abraham Overholt, a minister of the Mennonite Church, but not related to this branch of the family. She was born November 1, 1781, and bore her husband seven children, as follows: Susanna, Esther, Anne, Abraham, Henry, John and Martin O. Martin Overholt, father of these children, died in Sangamon, now Logan county, Illinois, June 18, 1835. His widow died in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, December 21, 1866.

Martin O. Overholt, son of Martin and Catherine (Overholt) Overholt, was born August 17, 1824, on the farm in Scottdale, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he still resides and where he has spent all his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has been successful in this line of work and enjoys the reputation of being an intelligent, honorable and upright citizen of his native township. Mr. Overholt is unmarried.

John W. Jordan, ed. History of Westmoreland County Pennsylvania Genealogical Memoirs, vol. II. New York: Lewis Publishing Co., pp. 608-609.

Submitted by Nancy.