CHARLES F. OVERFELT
HORSE BREEDER
HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY 511
SURNAMES: PYLE, GEIZWEIN, LENZ,
Among the breeders and raisers of fine draft horses in Santa Clara and San Benito counties, who by energy and industry have become successful, the names of Charles F. Overfelt and his brother Ed J. stand to the front. A native son, he was born in the rural district near Berryessa, Cal., July 28, 1858, the son of William C.Mary E. (Pyle) Overfelt, both early pioneers of California, who are represented elsewhere in this history.
Charles F. spent his boyhood days on the farm, going to school a short time during the winter months. Being the oldest of the family, many responsibilities were thrust upon him, as his father died when Charles was only seventeen years old. His first independent purchase of land was in stanislaus County near Oakdale, which he leased and sold eighteen years later. In 1891 he and his brother, Ed. J., purchased 430 acres six miles from Hollister in the Santa Ana Valley and engaged in the stock business and attained success as a breeder of fine horses. They owned some of the best prize stock of Belgian draft horses in America, showing them at the State Faris and the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San francisco and carrying away many premiums. He and his brother now own 970 acres in the San Juan Valley, San Benito County. In 1860 W.C. Overfelt started operating a threshing machine and from that year until 1910, with the exception of two years, threshing outfit's were sent out from the home ranch, C.F. Overfelt carrying on the business for forty seasons.
Mr. Overfelt was married in San Jose in 1899 to Miss Rosine Lenz, a native of California, the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Geizwein) Lenz. Her father conducted a draying business for many years in San Jose. They are the parents of two children; Dorothy L. and Charles Harold, graduate's of San Jose high school. Both are now student's at Stanford.
In 1919 Mr. Overfelt came to San Jose and now lives retired. His life has been one of toil, and characterized throughout by industry, perseverance and progressiveness and the prosperity which has come to him is well deserved, for the principle's which have governed his conduct throughout his entire life, are founded on the Golden Rule. and
Transcribed by Marie Clayton, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California,
published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 511
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORY-The Valley of Heart's Delight