Henry Overstolz
| Mayor Henry Clemens von Overstolz | |
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| 24th Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri | |
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In office February 9, 1876 – April 12, 1881 |
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| Preceded by | James H. Britton |
| Succeeded by | William L. Ewing |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 4, 1821 Munster, Germany |
| Died | November 29, 1887 (aged 66) St. Louis, Missouri |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse(s) | Philippina Espenshied |
| Children | Lucile A. von Overstoltz, Ida von Overstoltz, Charles Henry von Overstoltz, Marie von Overstoltz, Catherine Philippine von Overstoltz |
Henry Overstolz (born Henry Clemens von Overstolz on July 4, 1821 – November 29, 1887) was the 24th mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, serving from 1876 to 1881. He is a direct descendant of the oldest patrician family of Cologne, Germany (the Cologne patricians). Henry exerted a wide-felt influence on public thought and action, upon political affairs and business activity, and fifteen years prior to his death he retired.
Born in Munster, Germany on July 4, 1821 to William von Overstoltz and Therese Buse. His father William was born in Duisburg, Westphalia in 1780 and died in St. Louis in 1853. His mother Therese was born in Paderborn, Westphalia in 1790 and died in St. Louis in 1862. Henry moved to St. Louis in 1846, where he entered the merchandising business. Aside from his business prosperity, Henry could lay claim to eminent services rendered to his fellow-citizens in a political life as satisfactory, as it was honorable.
Henry involved himself in the city's government and, in 1847, was elected to membership in the City Council. In 1853, Henry 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. Henry 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, Henry again ran for mayor in the special mayoral election that followed. He lost to his opponent James Britton. Henry contested the election two days later, alleging, among other irregularities, ballot stuffing. In February 1876, after a recount of the ballots, Henry unseated Britton and was declared mayor, having won by 77 votes out of more than 29,000 votes cast. He was a supporter of the Charter and Scheme that separated the city of St. Louis from St. Louis County in 1876.
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