Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 618.

W. L. Overley, deceased, who during his lifetime was one of the conspicuously successful farmers of Jones county, was born in Kentucky in 1847. He was still a young man, however, when he came to this state, seeking to make a fortune for himself in a region, which was comparatively new and unimproved. He procured a place of good size, to which he devoted himself with an energy that was not slow in winning results. Bountiful harvests repaid him richly for the days of hard toil he had spent in the fields and then by husbanding his resources and his profits he was able to take advantage of the land values spread out before him, adding from time to time, as opportunity offered, to the fields he had first attempted to cultivate, until at his death he was possessed of three hundred acres. His land was all well improved, as the result of his own efforts, and both in the orderliness of its appearance and in the quality and maintenance of the buildings gave evidence of the skill of the owner in his work and of his thrift in caring for his possessions. On the 25th of December 1906, Mr. Overley's life was ended and a good man was known to have passed from the community in which he lived. Since his death Mrs. Overley has disposed of the real estate he left, retaining only the house and lot in Onslow where she now lives.
For more than thirty-six years Mr. Overley and his wife were permitted to pass down the highway of life together. Mrs. Overley was Miss Ellen South in her maidenhood and was one of a family of eight children. Although of Canadian birth she had for some years been a resident of this state and county, where she met Mr. Overley. Their union was celebrated March 15, 1870, and in the course of years was blessed by seven children: Ada L., who is the wife of John Dew, of South Dakota; Sarah, who married Elmer Omer and is living in California; Emma F., who is the wife of William Sandhouse, of Jones county; Bessie M., who married John Faust, of this county; Lelia Mae, who is the wife of Alfonso Babcock and lives in Texas; and two who have passed away. There are also nine grandchildren.
Mr. Overley was a stanch supporter of the republican party, never failing to give his support to its candidate at elections and always playing a conspicuous part in its councils. For more than twenty years he had been a member of the Masonic lodge, in which he had a host of friends, for he never begrudged any effort which might tend to advance the welfare of his fraternal brothers. Among these he was sincerely mourned when death carried him from their midst, though he was more deeply missed from the family circle, where he was known as a devoted husband and a loving father. Mrs. Overley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 574.

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