Short Name: | John J. Overholt |
Full Name: | Overholt, John J., 1918-2000 |
Birth Year: | 1918 |
Death Year: | 2000 |
John J. Overholt was born to an Amish family of limited means in the state of Ohio in 1918. As a child he was soon introduced to his father's personal collection of gospel songs and hymns, which was to have a marked influence on his later life. With his twin brother Joe, he early was exposed to the Amish-Mennonite tradition hymn-singing and praising worship.
An early career in Christian service led to a two-year period of relief work in the country of Poland following World War II. During that interim he began to gather many European songs and hymns as a personal hobby, not realizing that these selections would become invaluable to The Christian Hymnary which was begun in 1960 and completed twelve years later in 1972, with a compilation of 1000 songs, hymns and chorales. (The largest Menn. hymnal).
A second hymnal was begun simultaneously in the German language entitled Erweckungs Lieder Nr.1 which was brought to completion in 1986. This hymnal has a total of 200 selections with a small addendum of English hymns.
Mr. Overholt married in 1965 to an accomplished soprano Vera Marie Sommers, who was not to be outdone by her husband's creativity and compiled a hymnal of 156 selections entitled Be Glad and Sing, directed to children and youth and first printed in 1986.
During this later career of hymn publishing, Mr. Overholt also found time for Gospel team work throughout Europe. At this writing he is preparing for a 5th consecutive tour which he arranges and guides. The countries visited will be Belgium, Switzerland, France, Germany, Poland, USSR and Romania.
Mr. Overholt was called to the Christian ministry in 1957 and resides at Sarasota, Florida where he is co-minister of a Beachy Amish-Mennonite Church.
Five children were born to this family and all enjoy worship in song.
--Letter from Hannah Joanna Overholt to Mary Louise VanDyke, 10 October 1990, DNAH Archives. Photo enclosed.
Tunes by John J. Overholt (124) | As | Instances | Incipit |
---|---|---|---|
A. B. C. SONG | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 31233 34414 32271 |
[I had so many sins and He took them all away] | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 33556 53213 33332 |
[If I have wounded any soul today] (Gabriel) | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer (arr. mixed voices)) | 1 | 53721 35766 172 |
ANBETUNG | John J. Overholt (Composer) | 2 | 11543 51712 11176 |
ANGELUS NEW | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 11234 55453 32345 |
ANRUFUNG | John J. Overholt (Composer) | 2 | 33432 15556 54331 |
BROTHER JAMES' AIR | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 13515 61543 11711 |
[O Love, thou sun whose golden rays] | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 34555 43135 15 |
BEIRUT | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 45545 43555 65432 |
[O we are going to wear a crown] | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 12334 44551 23335 |
BENDA NEW | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 13552 32123 15235 |
BETHLEHEM (Fink) | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 51176 56556 21715 |
BLAIRGOWRIE (Dykes) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 32346 53353 12332 |
CALVARY NEW (Zion's Harp) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 13144 35665 45231 |
CAPERS NEW | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 3 | 34511 76561 35532 |
[Have you wandered away] (Bottorf) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 34556 53432 22344 |
CHRIST IS ALIVE | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 55553 21662 17777 |
CHRISTE SANCTORUM (53432) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 53432 13455 65567 |
COME AND DINE | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 34555 65555 61165 |
COOPER NEW | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 33432 15533 12553 |
CULBACH | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 13554 53117 7665 |
[Der Mond ist aufgegangen] (Schulz) | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 1 | 12143 21333 65433 |
DIE GEGENWART GOTTES | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 12314 32122 35545 |
DIE GNADE UNSRES HERREN JESU CHRISTI | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 13515 61654 32 |
GENEVAN 138 | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 13451 76556 53343 |
DILLER | John J. Overholt (Arranger (harmony)) | 2 | 51334 41233 33111 |
[Flee as a bird to your mountain] (Spanish) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 15556 55432 13344 |
EIN FESTE BURG | Compiler (Arranger (harmony)) | 1 | 11156 71765 17656 |
EIN TREUER ZEUGE | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 13451 71215 67 |
ENDURANCE (Beery) | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 55433 31222 34576 |
EPHRAIM (Leslie) | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 15151 23423 17123 |
ERMAHNUNG ZUR ANDACHT | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 33213 44524 334 |
ICH HALTE TREULICH STILL | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 53156 55234 32123 |
EVENING HYMN (Jackson) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 33433 21714 3235 |
FELSEN | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 55533 33345 55565 |
[For balmy sunshine, for nourishing rain] | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 55653 11216 15565 |
FOUNDLAND NEW | Compiler (Arranger) | 2 | 12321 76342 32112 |
GERICHT | John J. Overholt (Composer) | 6 | 33215 54311 76554 |
GEWISSHEIT | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 11232 17133 23543 |
ELLON | John J. Overholt (Arranger (harmony)) | 1 | 51111 32112 21711 |
GREENCASTLE (Martin) | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 55653 15616 55 |
GREENVILLE (Rousseau) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 3 | 33211 22321 55433 |
HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH (55333) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 55333 32211 77554 |
[O selig Haus, wo man dich aufgenommen] (13511) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 13511 76544 35356 |
HARMONIE DU BRUDERSTADT | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 13215 34543 22 |
[What a wonderful, wonderful Savior] | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 12321 43332 71222 |
HEROLD NEW | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 33212 35543 45517 |
[Everybody ought to know] | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 55654 53556 54533 |
HOHENWITTLINGEN | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 13234 55175 14 |
[I shall not want while Jesus leads] | John J. Overholt (Harmony Arr (for mixed voices)) | 1 | 51233 41335 42432 |
[Amid the toil and pain of life] (Tenney) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 12333 55442 34454 |
[Everything's alright in the Father's house] (McKinney) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 33231 21615 1171 |
[The service of Jesus true pleasure affords] | John J. Overholt (Arranger (harmony)) | 1 | 53233 54316 51176 |
JAUCHZEN | John J. Overholt (Composer) | 2 | 11111 35456 71555 |
JESUS CAME TO THE WORLD | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 54333 32321 35646 |
JESUS CAN NEVER FAIL | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 17651 35426 53176 |
LOVELY NAME | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 33323 44325 55545 |
[O weary soul the gate is near] | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer (for mixed voices)) | 1 | 53232 16517 71215 |
MINA | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 34271 54531 23344 |
KOMMT IHR SÜNDER | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 13556 65355 61532 |
KTO PODA SILU | Compiler (Arranger (harmony)) | 1 | 53321 16555 43255 |
LEESVILLE NEW | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 56653 16576 71543 |
LEIDEN | John J. Overholt (Composer) | 2 | 33451 11765 35554 |
LIVE IN ME (12333) | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 12333 54322 34446 |
LOBT GOTT DEN HERREN, IHR | John J. Overholt (Arranger (harmony)) | 1 | 55531 76555 36431 |
LOBET DEN HERREN | John J. Overholt (Arranger (harmony)) | 1 | 51765 34554 35671 |
LOBSANG | John J. Overholt, Millersburg, Ohio (Arranger) | 3 | |
LOOK TO JESUS | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 31432 13223 44323 |
LOVING-KINDNESS (Caldwell) | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 51112 31222 34543 |
MAINZER | Compiler (Arranger) | 2 | 55517 66564 53176 |
MANSION IN GLORY | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 34555 65123 33213 |
MAUGANSVILLE | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 11233 45654 53445 |
MEINE HOFFNUNG | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 17123 21255 776 |
MENNO | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 51232 57751 71 |
MIT FREUDEN ZART | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 13451 76565 43234 |
[Jesus is a wonderful Saviour] | John J. Overholt (Arranger (for mixed voices)) | 1 | |
MY SAVIOR ONCE FOR ALL | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 55512 32213 21622 |
NEARING THE PORT | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 55534 55564 65555 |
NOT TO THE STRONG | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 32343 23167 12165 |
NUN DANKET | John J. Overholt (Arranger (harmony)) | 1 | 55566 53432 32155 |
LUTHER'S HYMN | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 11321 22313 45321 |
NUN GOTT LOB | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 3 | 13555 66535 1156 |
O DU LIEBE MEINER LIEBE (Thommen) | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 12354 32232 12171 |
OLD TIME RELIGION | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 55611 16511 12232 |
PARADISE MENNONITE SCHOOL | Compiler (Arranger (harmony)) | 1 | 56732 17345 76545 |
PATMOS (55555) | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 55555 67111 76561 |
KREMSER | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 55653 45432 31556 |
[Kiedy ranne wstają zorze] | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 12334 33223 44544 |
RIPLEY (Gregorian) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 13534 65351 43221 |
[Rise, ye children of salvation] (McGranahan) | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 13556 71231 44332 |
RITTERSCHLAG | John J. Overholt (Composer) | 2 | 31321 71651 3323 |
ROCKINGHAM (Miller) | Compiler (Arranger (harmony)) | 3 | 13421 35655 17655 |
RUHESTÄTTE | John J. Overholt (Composer) | 2 | 33343 45514 32344 |
[Once in a lonely manger, hundreds of years ago] | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 1 | |
SAVED BY GRACE (Stebbins) | John J. Overholt (Arranger (stanza harmony)) | 1 | 33432 52117 14326 |
CRUSADERS' HYMN (111271) | John J. Overholt (Arranger (harmony)) | 1 | 11127 13333 42351 |
SCHWNENLIED | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 56543 23554 32356 |
SHIRLAND (Stanley) | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 12342 57117 25465 |
SIE KOMMEN VON OST UND WEST | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 1 | 33215 63332 15644 |
SOCIAL BAND | Compiler (Arranger (harmony)) | 1 | 53117 34543 45567 |
CRANBROOK | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 15654 32151 76565 |
ST. ASAPH (Bambridge) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 33345 55116 56532 |
ST. BERNARD (Tochter Sion) | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 51232 14325 36445 |
ST. JOHN (13355) | Compiler (Arranger (harmony)) | 4 | 13355 11765 45567 |
ST. MARGARET (Peace) | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 55556 71177 77712 |
[Once in sin's darkest night I was wandering alone] | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 34555 55561 11665 |
WÜRTEMBURG (Rosenmüller) | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 33551 23671 32215 |
SUCH WER DA WILL EIN ANDER ZIEL | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 55511 76553 45321 |
[When I shall come to the end of my way] | John J. Overholt (Harmony Arr. for mixed voices) | 1 | 53332 17121 54565 |
[Tender love of Jesus, so lovely and so pure] | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 4 | 55456 53565 44776 |
THE CREATION STORY | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 51111 76565 53511 |
[The great Physician now is near] (Stockton) | John J. Overholt (Arranger (harmony)) | 1 | 55312 34555 13121 |
SALVATIONIST (HAYS) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 13556 55312 11651 |
[Thy love to me, O Christ] (Avis) | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 34332 12122 33433 |
TRURO (Williams) | John J. Overholt (Arranger (Harmony)) | 1 | 13455 67151 54321 |
TWO COMMANDS | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 12333 34432 31712 |
ÜBERWINDER | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 55567 12316 66712 |
VOX DILECTI | Compiler (Arranger) | 1 | 55112 33221 1177 |
SOLITUDE (Downes) | Compiler (Arranger) | 2 | 54531 76552 3432 |
WEARY PILGRIMS | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 1 | 51116 67771 2 |
[You'll hear the trumpet sound] (Spiritual) | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 33231 15534 22653 |
[Soft as the voice of an angel] | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 1 | 55517 65344 46543 |
WUNDERBARE LIEBE | John J. Overholt (Arranger) | 2 | 53165 32535 31653 |
ZION'S COURTS | John J. Overholt (Harmonizer) | 2 | 51122 35423 11275 |