Birth: Jul. 11, 1901

Death: Sep. 26, 1987

Family links:   Spouse:   Blanche Jane Lucy Overley (1904 - 1997)*    

Children:   Lenola Jane Overley (1924 - 1926)*   Ross Alan Overley (1928 - 2017)*  

Burial: IOOF Riverview Cemetery Monticello White County Indiana, USA

 A book, Trails West - by canal, horse and wagon, by- Homer L. Overley, a Carroll County native, will be available at the Canal Days Festival and Rendezvous. The historical novel was edited by the late author’s granddaughter, Linda Overley Grimes, to whom he dedicated the work. She is a school librarian in Indianapolis. She in turn dedicated her work to her 93-year-old grandmother, Blanche Jane Overley of Monticello. Published by the Overley family, the book is also available from the author’s son, Robert D. Overley of Monticello. The author uses the Fictional story of a young man, Gravy Jones, to relate the history of the area at the time of the construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal and of his life working on the canal. Through the tale are included many interesting facts concerning the engineering and mechanics of the canal. In his forward, Overley wrote that he “used Indiana history as a setting for the novel part, that of the life of Gravy Jones, in hopes that this era of our Hoosier state heritage be considered rich, prideful and exemplary for an appealing study by our new generations. Included in the publication are sections of the “History, Specifications, Equipment, Personnel and Operation of the Wabash-Erie Canal,” “Exploration of the Midwest,” “Native American Influence on Settlement of the West” and Nomenclature of Pioneer Words and Terms.” There are also several pictures showing early scenes in Delphi and Pittsburg as well as canal boats. Homer Overley lived in the area of Jefferson Township as a youth, and his parents had a grocery in Yeoman, which was later sold to the Rockhills. He served in the Marines during World War I and saw duty with the Navy in World War II. Later, he was a construction engineer, working on the Convention Center in Indianapolis as his last project before retirement. He spent several years researching and writing the book before his death in 1987. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book ($14.95 each) at the Canal Festival will go to the Carroll County Wabash and Erie Canal Association. Delphi Carroll County Comet July 2, 1997