An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 309-310
	
	WILLIAM H. OVERLOCK, Mayor of the town Kent, King county, Washington, was
born in the State of Maine, October 17, 1865. His parents, Jacob and Elmira
(Nowell) Overlock, were also natives of the Pine-tree State, both being now
deceased. William H. is the fifth of the family of five children; he was reared
amid the scenes of his birth, and received his education near the old farm,
which was his home until 1881. In that year he began the journeyings that were
not to end until he had passed beyond the great plains and over the mountains of
the Pacific Coast States. He first went to Lawrence, Massachusetts, but after a
few months went to Boston, where he engaged in butchering stock for market; he
became expert in this business and also developed into a good judge of market
animals.
	The quiet New England methods of business were not according to the ideas of
Young America, so our subject determined to go West; this he did, and for a
period of two years was mining in Arizona near the town bearing the cheerful
name of Tombstone. He was very successful in this venture, but after a time came
to the coast, and permanently located in Kent in 1890. He took up the old
occupation of butchering, and as he is a complete master of the business he has
won a large and steady patronage. Choosing his stock from the pastures of the
surrounding country he has the advantage of those depending upon wholesale
packers. His shop is neat and clean, and the stock is handled with the utmost
care and nicety; the assistants are capable and courteous, and are zealous in
their efforts to please customers.
	Mr. Overlock was given a strong testimonial of his popularity in his
election to the office of Mayor of Kent in 1892. He has filled the position with
credit to himself, and has displayed unusual executive ability, his
administration having been highly satisfactory, not only to his constituency but
to the general public. He is a member of the Masonic order, and of the I.O.O.F.,
belonging both to the subordinate lodge and to the encampment. He has been one
of the most enthusiastic supporters of public enterprises and has lost no
opportunity to further the interests of his town and county in encouraging the
development of every possible resource.
	He was united in marriage, in the town of Kent, January 19, 1892, to Miss
Bertha M. Cox, who is a native of the State of Illinois.
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
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