Correction
In last week’s “Military History” column, Orville’s photo was ran with his brother’s article as Oliver. This week’s article sets the record straight. We apologize for this oversight.
—WBN editors
By: Mark Holtsberry
Orville Donovan Overmyer was born November 27, 1893. The son of John Arthur Overmyer, born March 22, 1868 in Brownsville, Licking County, Ohio, and Ida Alice (Barton) Overmyer, born March 25, 1872 in Bluffton, Wells County, Indiana. This couple was married June 27, 1889. They became the proud parents to Mytle Bloom Overmyer born in 1891. Followed by Orville in 1893, Clyde in 1897, Howard Opal in 1899.
By 1900, this family was living in Jackson, Allen County, Indiana. John was working in a factory. By 1910, the family had added children, Guy Kenneth in 1902, Emmett Gaylord in 1904, Lucille Berniece in 1907. Orcellia was born in 1910 who died later that year and Dewain Elmo in 1914.
The family was living on Laura Street, in Payne, Harrison Township. John was a railroad section foreman. Most of the children were in school. In 1917, Orville fathered two children, one a daughter, June Eloise, out of wedlock, the mother of June Eloise, was Viola Tom.
On May 31, 1917, Orville joined the Regular Army at Ft. Thomas, Kentucky. On December 7, 1917, he was given the rank of Private.
Orville served with Company C. 7th Engineers. Orville served until March 13, 1918. Orville transferred to Company C. 116th Engineers. On July of 1918, Orville boarded the ship, “Radnor” and left New York for Brest, France. Orville served in St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne defensive sector.
On July 15, 1919, Orville sent home on the ship, “Radnor”. The ship arrived in New York July 28, 1919. On August 4, 1919, Orville was Honorably discharged. By 1920, Orville had moved to Winter, Sawyer County, Wisconsin. His parents and brothers and sisters had also moved there. Orville will work as a farm laborer.
On Saturday June 9, 1928, Orville was killed instantly by a premature discharge of dynamite while he was blowing out tree stumps on the Conner’s Lake Road near Winter, Wisconsin. Orville was working with his brother, not sure which one, who drilled the holes beneath the stumps while Orville placed and fired up the charges. It was supposed that Orville was kneeling with the box of dynamite in front of him and a spark from his pipe set off the dynamite.
Orville had been employed by Sawyer County in the work of dynamiting. His work was always effective and efficient. A descendant reported that one of Orville’s arms were found later and buried in Winter, Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
Orville’s remains were brought home to Payne, Ohio and buried in Lehman Cemetery, June 11, 1928. He is buried in lot 490, section A., grave 5.
… Until next time!
