Harley J. Overturf

Harley James Overturf (also known as H. J. Overturf and Jim Overturf; April 6, 1882 – February 6, 1974) was an American politician and businessman from the state of Oregon. He was a Republican who served four years in the Oregon House of Representatives, where he represented a large rural district in eastern Oregon. Overturf Butte in Bend, Oregon, is named in his honor.

Harley J. Overturf
Oregon state legislator H. J. Overturf, 1922
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 21st district
In office
1921–1924
Preceded byGeorge H. Merryman
Succeeded byA. M. Collier
ConstituencyCrook, Deschutes, Grant, Jefferson, Klamath, and Lake counties
Personal details
Born(1882-04-06)April 6, 1882
Elk Creek, Nebraska, U.S.
DiedFebruary 6, 1974(1974-02-06) (aged 91)
Hood River, Oregon, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Ruth Reid Overturf
ProfessionRealtor and construction contractor

Early life

Overturf was born in Elk Creek, Nebraska on April 6, 1882, the son of John L. and Alzina (Sheldon) Overturf. He attended school in Nebraska, where he graduated from Lincoln High School before attending a local preparatory school. He then taught school in Nebraska before heading west in 1903.[1][2]

Overturf arrived in Central Oregon in 1903 with only sixty cents in cash and several hundred dollars in debt. After arriving in Oregon, he filed a timber claim and then quickly sold the property for a profit. He used the money to finance his college education at the University of Oregon. He graduated from the university in 1904, and then returned to Central Oregon, settling in the newly established community of Bend.[1][2]

Central Oregon

In Bend, Overturf found a job with of the Pilot Butte Development Company. This was the company that had laid out the town of Bend. Within a year, he became the company’s on-site manager and assistant corporate secretary. Overturf remained in that position until 1910 when the company was liquidated.[1][2] On 25 October of that year, Overturf married Ruth Reid. She had arrived in Bend in 1903 and was the town’s first public school teacher.[3][4][5] In 1911, he joined two partners to found the Overturf-Davis-Miller Company, a construction supply business. Overturf became the company president. Bend was growing quickly, so his building supply business was very successful. Overturf left the business in 1913 when he became the local agent for the Western Loan and Building Company, a real estate and mortgage business with its headquarters in Salt Lake City.[1][2][6]

During this period, Overturf was very active in government and community affairs. In 1907, he was appointed to the vacant city treasurer position in Bend. A month later, he was elected city treasure by a vote of 62 to 1.[7][8] In 1909, he was elected to a two-year term on Bend city council.[9] After leaving the city council in 1911, Overturf was re-elected to the city treasurer position by a vote of 179 to 115.[10] In 1915, Overturf was appointed to fill a vacant Crook County commissioner position. Later that year, he was elected to a full term as commissioner by a vote of 830 to 730.[11][12][13] In 1916, Overturf ran for re-election to the county commission, but lost by a vote of 1,946 to 1,802. However, in the same election, voters approved a ballot measure that created Deschutes County, separating the new county from Crook County. As a result, Overturf’s defeat avoided a problem that would have arisen because he resided in the newly formed Deschutes County; and therefore, was not qualified to serve as a Crook County commissioner.[14][15][16]

Overturf was a founding member of the Bend Board of Trade, the Bend Merchant’s Protective Association, and the Bend Commercial Club.[1][17][18][19] As member of the Bend Commercial Club, Overturf was one of the initial investors in Bend-Burns road construction project (now a section of U.S. Route 20). The project connected Bend with the city of Burns, 120 miles (190 km) to the east.[20] Overturf was also appointed to the Oregon Industrial Accident Commission and served on Bend school board for ten years. In addition, he was a member of the local Masons, Elks, Odd Fellows, and Woodmen lodges. During World War I, he was active in several volunteer groups including the Red Cross and local bond drives. In 1918, Overturf attended officer training and was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Oregon home guard.[1][2]

State representative

In 1920, Overturf decided to run for a District 21 seat in the Oregon House of Representatives as a Republican.[21][22][23] District 21 had two seats so the top two vote getters in the primary advanced to the general election. In the primary, Overturf received 837 votes. This was the most votes received in the primary so he became one of the two Republican candidates carried forward to the general election. He was joined by Republican, Denton G. Burdick, who got 713 votes while the other Republican candidate was eliminated from the race.[24] In the general election, Overturf and Burdick won the two District 21 seats; Overturf receiving 1,831 votes, Burdick getting 1,488 votes with the only Democrat in the race receiving 910 votes.[25]

Overturf took his seat in the Oregon House of Representatives on 10 January 1921, representing District 21. His district included Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Jefferson, Klamath, and Lake counties, a large rural district covering more than 26,800 square miles (69,000 km2). He served through the 1921 regular legislative session which ended on 23 February.[1][2][26] During the session, he served as chairman of the railways and transportation committee as well as a member of the irrigation, game, and legislation committees.[27] Overturf also attended a special legislative session in December 1921. That session only lasted six days.[28]

In 1922, Overturf decided to run for re-election. By that time, District 21 had grown enough that a third representative was added to the district. In the Republican primary, Overturf was one of the three Republicans to advance to the general election along with Denton Burdick and J. M. Ezell. The Democratic Party nominated two candidates. All five candidates appeared on the general election ballot.[29] However, a month before the election the state’s World War Veterans’ State Aid Commission fired Overturf from his position as a veteran loan appraiser. The commission alleged that Overturf had inflated the value of some appraisals. This became a state-wide scandal that undermined Overturf’s credibility and threatened to derail his re-election campaign.[2][30] In the general election, the other two Republicans (Burdick and Ezell) got the most votes, easily winning two of the three District 21 seats. Overturf was also re-elected to the House, but for him it was a very close race. The final vote count, gave Overturf a margin of only 27 votes over Democrat, R. E. Bradbury, 3,675 to 3,648.[2][31][32]

The 1923 legislative session began on 8 January with the loan appraisal scandal still making headlines in the newspapers around the state. During the session, Overturf was assigned to the roads and highways, forestry and conservation, alcohol traffic, and printing committees. The session lasted approximately six weeks, ending on 22 February. Just a few days before the end of the legislative session, Overturf and three others were indicted by a federal grand jury for mail fraud associated with the padding veteran loan appraisals.[33][34][35][36]

Veterans loan scandal

The charges against Overturf and the others began with the state's World War Veterans' State Aid Commission which was chaired by Oregon’s governor, Ben W. Olcott. The commission charged that Overturf, Bend’s veteran loan appraiser, and another appraiser from nearby Redmond, were inflating loan appraisals to increase the value of the underlying property. This left the state with undervalued collateral when it made veterans loans.[30][37]

A grand jury investigated the loan irregularities and found cause to bring charges against Overturf and three Bend area real estate agents. The other appraiser fired by the commission was not charged. Overturf denied the charges and stated that his removal was the result of Governor Olcott's opposition to an irrigation bill he had sponsored during the 1921 legislature session. The bill required the State of Oregon to repay local irrigation districts with interest for state property taxes inappropriately levied against the irrigation districts.[37][38][39]

Governor Olcott had vetoed the irrigation bill, but said he had done so for good reason and that his opposition to the bill had nothing to do with the decision to fire Overturf. The rest of the veterans’ aid commission supported the governor, confirming that Overturf’s removal was the result of the commission’s determination that he had inflated property values on veteran loan appraisals. The commission also indicated that Overturf may have benefitted personally from some of the loan transactions.[40][41][42][43] Taking the other side, Bend’s American Legion post voted to support Overturf, recommending that all charges be dismissed.[44][45]

A trial date was not set for almost a year. As a result of the delay, rumors began to circulate that powerful forces in Federal Government were pushing for the charges against Overturf to be dropped. This prompted Oregon’s new governor, Walter M. Pierce, to formally ask the United States Attorney General for assurances that the case would go forward.[46] The Attorney General confirmed that the prosecution would proceed.[47] The trial date was finally set for April 1924.[48]

The trial began on 21 April 1924.[49] It lasted about two weeks. Near the end of the trial, Overturf testified in his own defense. He denied the charges, but admitted that several appraisals were higher than they should have been due to inaccurate measurements of the properties. In addition, Overturf testified that he had asked the veterans’ aid commission several times for instructions on how to prepare his appraisal, but had received no answer to his queries. The jury deliberated for twelve hours before finding Overturf and other defendants guilty of mail fraud. However, after the verdict the jury petitioned the judge for leniency in sentencing, recommending that Overturf and the others be given fines rather than prison sentences.[50][51][52] The judge agreed, giving Overturf a $1,000 fine and the others three defendants $500 fines. Overturf paid his fine and did not appeal the outcome of the trial.[53][54][55]

Later life and legacy

Overturf considered running for re-election to his House seat, but the timing of the trial made that impractical.[49][56] After the trial, Overturf returned to Bend where he continued with his real estate business. He also remained active in civic affairs. In 1930, Overturf was appointed assistant district supervisor for the 1930 census.[57][58][59] Later, he shifted into the construction business, supervising United States Forest Service projects in the Deschutes National Forest.[60]

During World War II, Overturf left Bend to become the government construction inspector at Camp White near Medford in southern Oregon.[61] He then went to work for the Civil Aeronautics Administration building air fields around the Pacific Northwest. During this period, he supervised projects at Seal Rock, Oregon, Deek Park and Hoquiam in Washington state, and Lewiston, Idaho.[62][63][64]

After the war, Overturf and his wife returned to Bend. In 1953, they retired to Hood River, Oregon. His wife, Ruth Reid Overturf died there in 1965. Overturf died on February 6, 1974 in Hood River at the age of 91.[4][65][66]

Today, Overturf Butte in Bend is named in his honor along with a city park. The Reid School in downtown Bend was named after Ruth Reid Overturf. It is now the home of the Deschutes Historical Museum.[4][65][67]

References
  1. Carney, Charles H., "Harley James Overturf", History of Oregon Illustrated (Volume 3), Pioneer Historical Publishing Company, Portland, Oregon, 1922, pp. 674–677.
  2. "J. H. Overturf", Oregon Voter, C. C. Chapman publisher, Portland Oregon, 30 December 1922, p. 105.
  3. "Bend Couple Wed", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 26 October 1910, p. 8.
  4. "Who was Ruth Reid? - Popular teacher created Bend's first high school", The Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 26 December 2016.(subscription required)
  5. "In Bend, it was young love on the frontier - Young couples helped establish", The Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 14 February 2017.(subscription required)
  6. "Company Organizes", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 12 April 1911, p. 1.
  7. "City Council Proceedings", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 22 November 1907, p. 1.
  8. "Very Quiet Election", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 6 December 1907, p. 1.
  9. "An Exciting and Close Election", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 8 December 1909, p. 1.
  10. "Coe Re-elected by 81 Majority", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 6 December 1911, p. 1.
  11. "Overturf Made Commissioner", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 13 January 1915, p. 1.
  12. "H. J. Overturf Appointed Commissioner", Crook County Journal, Prineville, Oregon, 14 January 1915, p. 1.
  13. "Overturf Easy Winner Over Aune for Commissioner", Crook County Journal, Prineville, Oregon, 25 May 1915, p. 1.
  14. "Deschutes County Measure is Carried", Crook County Journal, Prineville, Oregon, 9 November 1916, p. 1.
  15. "Duffy, Brown, Myers, Knox, Luthy, Foster", Crook County Journal, Prineville, Oregon, 9 November 1916, p. 1.
  16. "Final Votes Received", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 14 November 1918, p. 6.
  17. "Bend Will Boost", Sunday Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 5 September 1909, p. 6.
  18. "Booster Elect", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 18 January 1911, p. 1.
  19. "Now Organized", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 19 April 1911, p. 1.
  20. "Bend-Burns Route is Assured", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 1 March 1911, p. 1.
  21. "Bend Man to be Candidate", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 4 December 1919, p. 1.
  22. "Overturf Out for Legislature", Sunday Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 21 March 1920, p. 20.
  23. "House Choice of Overturf", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 25 March 1920, p. 4.
  24. "Race Close in Deschutes", Sunday Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 23 May 1920, p. 20.
  25. "Harding Wins in Deschutes", Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 5 November 1920, p. 8.
  26. "1921 Regular Session (31st): January 10 – February 23", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed 18 March 2017.
  27. "Upton, Overturf and Burdick are Placed Upon Committees", Evening Herald, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 11 January 1921, p. 1.
  28. "1921 Special Session (31st): December 19 - 24", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed 18 March 2017.
  29. "Where to Vote", Evening Herald, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 19 May 1922, p. 1.
  30. "Two Appraisers for Bonus Fired", Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 3 October 1922, p. 1.
  31. "Overturf is Winner by 27 Vote Margin", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 23 November 1922, p. 1.
  32. "Official Majority of Pierce 34,237", Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 24 November 1922, p. 14.
  33. "1923 Regular Session (32nd): January 8 – February 22", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed 18 March 2017.
  34. "Kubli Names Committees", Daily Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, 10 January 1923, p. 2.(subscription required)
  35. "Indictment by Federal Court for Overturf", Daily Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, 20 February 1923, p. 1.(subscription required)
  36. "Four will Face Bonus Charge", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 20 February 1923, p. 1.(subscription required)
  37. "Bonus Probe Promised", Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 6 October 1922, p. 4.
  38. "County Bonus Men Removed", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 5 October 1922, p. 6.
  39. "Welcome Investigation of Appraisal Board Affair", Evening Herald, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 5 October 1922, p. 1.
  40. "Olcott Replies to Overturf in Bonus Matter", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, 6 October 1922, p. 6.
  41. "Profit by Padding Laid to Appraiser", Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 10 October 1922, p. 4.
  42. "Statement of Overturf Denied", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, 10 October 1922, p. 7.
  43. "Overturf Case Details Given by Commission", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 12 October 1922, p. 1.
  44. "Bend Post Vote Confidence", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 7 October 1922, p. 4.
  45. "Bonus Board in Legion Target", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, 7 October 1922, p. 2.
  46. "Pierce Wants Prosecution of Bonus Frauds", Medford Mail Tribune, Medford, Oregon, 17 January 1924, p. 1.(subscription required)
  47. "Federal Attorney Will Press Charges", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 20 January 1924, p. 8.(subscription required)
  48. "Overturf's Trail to Begin April 1", Daily Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, 18 February 1924, p. 1.(subscription required)
  49. "Bonus Trail Opens in Federal Court", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 21 April 1924, p. 1.(subscription required)
  50. "Overturf on Stand Denies Allegations", Daily Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, 30 April 1924, p. 7.(subscription required)
  51. "H. J. Overturf, Legislator, Is Found Guilty", Eugene Guard, Eugene, Oregon, 2 May 1924, p. 1.(subscription required)
  52. "Jury Petitions in Bonus Case Asks for Fine", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 3 May 1924, p. 1.(subscription required)
  53. "Fines Penalty in Bonus Case in U. S. Court", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 21 May 1924, p. 1.(subscription required)
  54. "Overturf Gets Off With Fine", Daily Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, 22 May 1924, p. 5.(subscription required)
  55. "Overturf Pays Up", Evening Herald, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 28 January 1925, p. 1.(subscription required)
  56. "May Withdraw as Candidate", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 4 March 1924, p. 1.(subscription required)
  57. "Pencil Plant Sold for $800, Cost $100,000", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 28 February 1931, p. 1.(subscription required)
  58. "Bond Issue Given Backing", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 11 December 1931, p. 6.(subscription required)
  59. "Overturf Named to Aid in Census", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 8 February 1930, p. 3.(subscription required)
  60. "H. J. Overturf Heads Recreation Project", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 2 August 1935, p. 1.(subscription required)
  61. "Local News", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 11 August 1942, p. 7.(subscription required)
  62. "Local News", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 3 November 1943, p. 5.(subscription required)
  63. "Local News", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 18 March 1944, p. 5.(subscription required)
  64. "Local News", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 8 April 1944, p. 5.(subscription required)
  65. Grant, Lia S., "Sagebrushings", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, 27 March 1957, p. 4.(subscription required)
  66. "Harley James Overturf and Ruth L. Reid", Ancestry, www.ancestry.com, Lehi, Utah, accessed 22 March 2017.
  67. "Overturf Park", Bend Parks and Recreation District, Bend, Oregon, accessed 20 March 2017.
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