Henry Overstolz
Encyclopedia
Henry C. Overstolz was the twenty-fourth mayor of St. Louis, Missouri
, serving from 1876 to 1881.
Overstolz was born in Munster, Germany and moved to St. Louis in 1846, where he entered the merchandising business. He quickly involved himself in the city's government and, in 1847, was elected to membership in the City Council. In 1853, Overstolz was elected as the city's comptroller, becoming the first native-born German to be elected to office in St. Louis. Later, in 1871, he was elected president of the city council.
Overstolz ran for mayor as an independent
in April 1875, but lost to Arthur Barret
. Following Barret's sudden death a scant three weeks after his election, Overstolz again ran for mayor in the special mayoral election that followed, but lost to his opponent James Britton
. Overstolz contested the election two days later, alleging, among other irregularities, ballot stuffing
. In February 1876, after a recount of the ballot
s, Overstolz unseated Britton and was declared mayor, having won by 77 votes out of more than 29,000 votes cast.
Overstolz was a supporter of the Charter and Scheme that separated the city of St. Louis from St. Louis County
in 1876. As a result of the new city charter
, Overstolz became the first mayor of St. Louis elected to a four-year term when he was reelected in 1877.
During the course of his mayorship, Overstolz worked to reorganize the city government and forge new relationships with the county and state resulting from the changes instituted by the new city charter.
Overstolz sought a third term as mayor, but was defeated by William Ewing
in the 1881 mayoral election.
Overstolz died on November 29, 1887 and was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery
in north St. Louis.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, serving from 1876 to 1881.
Overstolz was born in Munster, Germany and moved to St. Louis in 1846, where he entered the merchandising business. He quickly involved himself in the city's government and, in 1847, was elected to membership in the City Council. In 1853, Overstolz was elected as the city's comptroller, becoming the first native-born German to be elected to office in St. Louis. Later, in 1871, he was elected president of the city council.
Overstolz ran for mayor as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
in April 1875, but lost to Arthur Barret
Arthur Barret
Arthur B. Barret was the twenty-second mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, but died from an illness only 11 days after taking office....
. Following Barret's sudden death a scant three weeks after his election, Overstolz again ran for mayor in the special mayoral election that followed, but lost to his opponent James Britton
James H. Britton
James H. Britton was the twenty-third mayor of St. Louis, Missouri.Britton was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia on July 11, 1817. In 1840, Britton moved to Troy, Missouri where he opened a general store. He first became involved in Missouri politics when he became Secretary of the Senate of...
. Overstolz contested the election two days later, alleging, among other irregularities, ballot stuffing
Ballot stuffing
Ballot stuffing is the illegal act of one person submitting multiple ballots during a vote in which only one ballot per person is permitted. The name originates from the earliest days of this practice in which people literally did stuff more than one ballot in a ballot box at the same time...
. In February 1876, after a recount of the ballot
Ballot
A ballot is a device used to record choices made by voters. Each voter uses one ballot, and ballots are not shared. In the simplest elections, a ballot may be a simple scrap of paper on which each voter writes in the name of a candidate, but governmental elections use pre-printed to protect the...
s, Overstolz unseated Britton and was declared mayor, having won by 77 votes out of more than 29,000 votes cast.
Overstolz was a supporter of the Charter and Scheme that separated the city of St. Louis from St. Louis County
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
in 1876. As a result of the new city charter
Municipal charter
A city charter or town charter is a legal document establishing a municipality such as a city or town. The concept developed in Europe during the middle ages....
, Overstolz became the first mayor of St. Louis elected to a four-year term when he was reelected in 1877.
During the course of his mayorship, Overstolz worked to reorganize the city government and forge new relationships with the county and state resulting from the changes instituted by the new city charter.
Overstolz sought a third term as mayor, but was defeated by William Ewing
William L. Ewing
William L. Ewing was the twenty-fifth mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, serving from 1881 to 1885.- External links :* at the St. Louis Public Library: St. Louis Mayors website....
in the 1881 mayoral election.
Overstolz died on November 29, 1887 and was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery
Bellefontaine and Calvary Cemeteries
Bellefontaine Cemetery and the Roman Catholic Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri are adjacent burial grounds, which have numerous historic and extravagant tombstones and mausoleums. They are the necropolis for a number of prominent local and state politicians, as well as soldiers of the...
in north St. Louis.
External links
- Henry Overstolz at the St. Louis Public Library: St. Louis Mayors Online Exhibit.