The Early days in Overbrook, Kansas                           

Business in 1885

Downtown 1909

Coming Overbrook was founded in 1886, when the Kansas, Nebraska, & Dakota built through the area. W. T. Coffman and J. B. Fairchild were the founders. They had farms side by side on which they started the town. They gave the railroad half interest in the town in return for the railroad coming through the townsite. The earliest description of Overbrook in a newspaper was in the Burlingame Independent, Nov. 11, 1886.

Going Across this trail [the old Santa Fe Trail] and dipping to the north and south over the "divide" are the farms, side by side, of J. B. Fairchild and W. T. Coffman, a north and south section line dividing them .... Upon either side [of the railroad] are the stakes marking the lots and blocks of the new town, among which the carpenters were busy erecting a handsome store building and at another point a residence .... Another new frame building is owned by a Mr. Thompson, a blacksmith. The railroad track as graded crosses the townsite from east to west, and ample provisions have been made for side tracks, depot grounds, stock yards, etc. Overbrook was named by a construction engineer for the railroad. He named it after his hometown of Overbrook, Pennsylvania. The first business was a grocery store owned by William Kincaide. There was no other railroad station or trading point for miles around, so Overbrook attracted a good business from the start. Residents. moved in from the surrounding area. Carbondale, which was losing its mining business and some of its population, and the village of Ridgeway both contributed quite a few residents to Overbrook. By 1888 the town had two general stores, a grange store, a depot, a druggist, a hardware store, two blacksmiths, two carpenters, a confectioner, and a barber.

   THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF OVERBROOK.
THIS society of the Methodist Episcopal church was organized
in the spring of 1885 at a school house a mile and half southwest of the present town of Overbrook, About twenty names were presented the day of the organization, the sermon being preached by Rev. W. A. Quayle, of Baldwin. The organization was effected through the efforts of Bro.. J. S. Counts.
The meetings of the society were held at the above mentioned school house until 1886, and then moved to the school house a mile northwest of town, where the church remained until 1888, when the church building in town was erected.
The Sunday school that was conducted in connection with the church services, was run as a union Sunday school until the church moved to its new home.
None but those who have had like experience can know of the struggles of those few earnest workers, in the early history of this organization, in keeping alive the society. providing preaching services, and meeting the necessary expenses; and no- one but like earnest, tireless workers in the hour of victory can appreciate the joy with which they witnessed' the completion of their permanent home-the beautiful and substantial structure shown in the accompanying engraving.
At the laying of the corner stone o: the church building the names of the previous pastors of the society and the board of trustees were placed therein.
The parsonage-also shown in the engraving-was completed in the spring of 1894, from which time the society has had a resident pastor.
Since the organization of the church it has had seven pastors; Rev. Winbigler, Rev. L. C, Biggs, Rev. D. L. McCreary, Rev. Chas. Atherton, Rev. Win. Whitley, Rev. W. S. Mitchell, and Rev. D. A. Shutt, who has been pastor since March, 1897.
From the small beginning thirteen years ago, the church has grown, through many tribulations, to an organization having a membership of 130, and with a church property valued at $3,000, and practically free of debt.
The M. E. Sunday school has a large membership, and a good interest is manifested by the large attendance each Sunday.
The Epworth League organization is one of the most active in the country, holding its meetings regularly, and by earnest work has established quite a library of choice and ,Suitable books
The present official board of the church is as follows: Rev. D. A. Shutt, pastor; W. T. Coffman, 0. F. B. Coffman, Geo. S. Coffman, D. S. Fairchild, Milo Emery, Dr. S. J. Hampshire, E. W. Badger, J. Tregemba, Sr., Joseph Harbour, T. E. Secrist, Mrs. T. E. Secrist, James Tregemba, and Mrs. V. Radcliff.