Overton NEWSLETTER:
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This is an open web page for people who are interested genealogy and history for the Overton Name. If you have any stories about an Overton, or want to communicate with a Overton please Email vern@armory.com  in the future, this will be a form based web page, so you can add your stories and view them on the spot.

This story is from grace Lusk Flint.    LUSK, OVERTON AND SHORT ARE CONNECTED

LETTER RECEIVED 24 NOVEMBER 1998
FTM Grace Flint  24 November 1998

 I am one of the granddaughters of Mary Ophelia Short Styron Cavender.  She was my mothers, mother.  Margaret Olive Styron Lusk.  Her only sibling was Thomas Styron (deceased) of San Jose, CA.
 Mary was the sister of Olive Short Toler of Compton CA.(vern's grandmother)
 I know of just one brother, Lee Short, his progeny live in southern California.  There are Bill, Margaret, Rosalee, and Fonce. Oh, as I remember, the name Mary had a brother, Fonce Short.
My mother had 6 children, Mildred, Annie (d) William, Henry, Grace, Alberta (me) Twins Lesley Loran, Weslely Oaran and Margaret Sharon.
Mary O. Short was first married to Wm. Danny Styrene and he passed away about 1900 in Tucomcare (?sp) New Mexico when Mary was about 4 months pregnant with; my mother (called Olive because there were so many Margaret's In the family) she then married Isaac Ibsan Cavender a wider, who had several children. They were married 2-22-1900 (from her bible)
 Aunt Olive as we called her, I know had 2 sons, (Norman I don't think ever married) I lived with her and the other worked for PG&E I think in the area of Avenal, CA. He had one son that I remember, I think his name was Russell about 2 to 4 years older than me. (I am now 75). She also had a daughter, Edna, who also lived with Aunt Olive in Compton.   Like I say Norman & Edna ( see vern toler tree) lived in Compton but the only time I ever saw them or Aunt Olive, I was a child of maybe 9 to 13.  I know at that time neither one was married but way back in my memory it seems; either one or both married latter in life, I'm not sure.
Your letter said Vern attended his a55th high school reunion, What school and town was this?  We or rather I had my 55th; in 96-97, it is time for our 60th but everyone who were in charge of organizing has some kind of health problem.  The rest of us here in the town have offered however aathey don't want to relinquish the realms.  I went to Fresno High, we had 500 plus in our class and the last reunion we had just under 200 present.

 Back to family.
 Mom, Olive Lusk, passed away in 1971, Pop, Patraick Henry Lusk< in 1972. Both in Fresno,
Mildred Chenly the eldest passed away in 75-76 with brain cancer. She had 3 children, Richard, Susasanne, and Robert.  Wm. H. married Margaret Evelyn Alexander, Nov 8th 5 years ago, (1993?)  And they have one son Keith William who married Nanvy Weaver; they had 1 son, Jeramey, 2 girls, Amy and Jennifer. They divorced after about 17-18 years; Keith remarried a fellow attorney, Martha, stepdaughter Abby.
Grace married Mule O. Flint 1-27-1946; we had 4 live children, lost 1 son at birth.  Kenneth Dean 3-2-1950 married Sharon Ly6nn Young, had 1 girl Kendra Marie who married John Reese and have 2 girls, Nicolette 6, Arian 4, and 1 son John Jr 2, Ken lives in Fresno.   Kendra & John in Hayward, CA
Lesley L. married Carolyn Cruse, 2 girls Lesley and Cherel; both girls have 2 girls each.  They live and work in Bend Or.  Les divorced Carolyn in Redmond, OR, where Carolyn lives.  Les has a companion, Lee Hitchcock, they live in La Pine OR.40 miles south of Bend.
Wesley O. was married 4 times and has 1 son John (22??) 3 daughters, Donna (25?) Carol (20+) and Milissa (15?). Wes unfortunately became a pedifile and has served time in prison. He now lives alone in Redding CA.
 Sharon married Kenneth B. Cooper, (Fresno)  they have 1` son Kenn B. Jr. married to Janelle Castiglione, has 1 daughter Megan 6, Clovis CA.
 Kimberly married Scott Mraz, have 1 girl, Amanda 5, live in Lubbock, Texas.
 Calleen married Brian Souga, 1 son Timothy (5) 1 girl Juliana (2) live in Clovis, CA.
Back to Mildreds children.
 Richard 52 lives on the street somewhare.??
 Susanne married Anthony Marino, had 2 sons, Tony Jr. who married Kelly (?) had 1 girl, Riley (5), also they divorced.  Sue had 1 girl, Amanda 18, they all live in Clavis. Sue divorced Tony and is still single.
 Now back to Graces's children.  I have 3 beautiful daughters also. Rebecca who married Fred Wittiver, 25; years ago, no children 3 dogs; and many acres to farm in Chawchilla, CA.
 Laurie who married Martin Stonacek have 2 sons Nicholas 20 & Douglas 17, live in Fresno.
 Candace who married Curtis Conley, had 1 son Jeramey 17, they divorced after a couple of years. She remarried to David O'Neal and have 2 sons.  Preston who is 13 & Jack who is 12. They live in Clovise, CA
 Gracie's husband passed away in August of 1995, before he passed away he had been sick from a major stroke and many small ones for 12 years.
 When I found I was not accountable to anyone I went back to the church I had gone to since 1961 and became involved and then became a deacon and involved in the seniors group.  Also I could now become active in the Retired Teachers organization.  Now there are 60 members in the retired teacher's chorus. We are now getting ready to start our Christmas concerts for retirement villages and convalescent hospitals, lots of fun.
 I wanted to straighten you out on some of the names you have mixed up.  I do not have a computer or I would try to contact you as it is. I use prehistoric communications, pen &l paper. HaHa.
 I am writing you the day before Thanksgiving, but I hope you had a great day of Thanks. I also wish you good health, good wealth and much love.
 A family member somehow
 Grace Lusk Flint

(address can be obtained from vern toler  vern@armory.com)

Contact me, Grace if you need any more info or have questions.
 

There is an WW1 four stacked destroyer named Overton.

 I have an interesting story written by a young Overton about their life in the Civil War. It is long but I can send it to you upon request. < vern@armory.com >

 Vern Toler's Overton branch goes back to John Jessee Overton 1790 Virgina?

Information submitted by Frankie Meyer

(VIRGINIA Marriage-Military  (c) Broderbund Software)

John Overton and Miss Franky Taylor. Decemger 4, 1790
December 14, 1764 -- Jenkins, James & Rebecca Overton. J. T. Hill

Marriages in Orange County

1788
Beverly Overton -- Elizabeth Conner.
Wm. Overton ---Nancy Breadley.

January 2, 1862 Jefer, James M. & Susan A. Overton )d. of Moses)

Dec. 1814 Avis, Joseph W. and Mary (Booker *)  Overton.

May, 1800 Booker, Pahar & Eliz Overton

December 1816 -- Townes, Pascal L & Mary H. Overton

(*Booker apperis several plces, it may indcate town or county.)

December 22, 1778 --Overton, Benj. & Milly Atkinson: (d. of Thomas.)

March 30, 1782 -- Overton, Thomas Purking & Mary Ford: (d. of Christopher)

July 23, 1789  Overton, Moses & Hide Booker.

April 1823 -- Overton, Benj. & Ribecca C. Jeter.

July 23, 1789 --- Overton, Benj. & Rebeca C. Jeter.

Joshus Overton ---Francis Palmer

1789  Bevereley Overton -- Patery Richards.

1797  John Overton -- Martha Carleton
 

                               Information Data on

             THE                OVERTON      FAMILY               BY

Georgia Annie Overton Hoffman
  (Mrs. Norman Alfred Hoffman)
 San Diego, Texas
 December 1954
Copied by Vern TOLER January 10, 1998

   THE OVERTON FAMILY

Since different members of the family have asked me a number of times` about our family history, I will write what I remember.

A gentleman named ---- Henry married a lady named ---- Paine, and in the early 1800's that family moved to Mobile, Alabama from Virginia, traveling on horseback and brining their possessions on skids, the Indian method of transportation.

 Miss Paine had the gift of a marvelous voice but her very prominent family in accordance with the highly respected tradition of the family and those times did not consider any connection with the theatre possible for their daughter.  However it seems that this young lady did not abide by these standards, which shut her out of their society and alienated her father.

 The Henry's were parents of few children: Tommy and Henry, about whom I know nothing; Nancy who married a Mr. Capps, and she was always referred to as "Auntie Capps".  They had a daughter Sarah, who married a Mr. Stackhouse, and they had a daughter who died while a young lady, another daughter of the Henry's.

 Jane married a Mr. Russell and they had twins one of whom died in infancy, the other one Olive, and George and Ed.  George moved to New Orleans and established a very successful jewelry business; Ed was bookkeeper and collector for the Adam Glass Furniture Company in Mobile.  I knew his wife but can not remember her name, a daughter of theirs married Ed Worcester.  Olive was left totally deaf from scarlet fever when a child about ten years old.  She never married.  Mamma lived with the Russell's for a while and went to school in Mobile.

 When we were in Mobile, Olive lived near Allie and us and I went to the Government Street Presbyterian Church Sunday school with her.  Although totally deaf, she attended regularly.  She uses to take us to the Magnolia Cemetery with her also, and I well remember the gorgeous flowers and trees, and beautiful monuments in the cemetery.

 Olive was very fond of children and used to entertain us with the many stories she knew.

 Sophie Henry married John Jesse Overton.  She was born in Georgia in 1800 and died July 22, 1859, and is buried in the Overton Cemetery.  (John Jersse Overton was born in Virginia in 1790. He received large land grants from the government for services in the War of 1812=15.  These grants were near Peoria, Illinois and in Baldwin County, Alabama.  He had established an overland freight business in Mobile and it was on one of these trips that he lost his life in crossing Dog River after heavy rains.  When he realized the team he was driving could not make the crossing in the swift water with their heavy load, he attempted to cut the team from the cart and became entangled in the harness, and was swept downstream.  This was February 14, 1841.  He is buried in Mobile in Magnolia Cemetery.

 These vehicles were probably ox-carts as I am sure they were used many years latter: in fact I had the experience of enjoying that method of traveling from Montrose to Grandmas home, now in Fairhope, when coming from Texas.  Once there was some confusion as to the time of our arrival.  Grandma sent Will or Frank to meet the boat for three days, and then decided to wait until she heard from Mamma before sending anyone to meet us again, and we arrived next day. So we used the available taxi of the day, at Montrose, a Negro boy with an ox-cart, to the delight of Allie and me, after sitting two days in train and boat.  I think about the only time we were all on the cart was when we crossed Fly Creek and seemingly went dangerously far out in the bay to make the crossing.  Where the flowing water from the creek came in contact with the tide and waves in the bay a sand bar was formed, and the ford was over this shallow water.  Those carts may still be seen on the Mexican Border today.

 Capt. Harrab, who lived south of Zundles, once told my brother Walter his mother had a store in Tatumville before the War Between the States, in a building she rented from Great-grandfather Jesse Overton.
 Sophie Henry and John Jesse Overton were the parents of Thomas, Orville Matilda, George, Margaret, Rose and Olive.

 Rose Overton married David Crockett Stapleton.  They had four children, Lee, Gus, Josh and Charlie.  Although Lee died young, at 23 0r 24, he had already established a very good timber business.  Lee had his oxen and hauled the logs overland to where they were rolled down the steep bluff between Fly Creek and Montrose, and, the beach was very narrow, and made into rafts, then towed to markets.  He is buried in the Overton Cemetery at Tatumbille.  Gus married Laura Brayant and they had three children.  Josh married Mollie Gables and they had several children.  Charles married Lillie Gable and they also had several children.

 Uncle Crockett Stapleton was Sheriff of Baldwin County for many, many years.  Although he was a staunch republican and Baldwin a purely democratic county, he was sheriff as long as he ran for the office.

 Uncle Crockett had a store at the ferry and some of the time during the year, I do not know when or why; some of the riverboats came from Mobil and were tied up at that place for some time.  Living on Fish River and the main country road at the ferry crossing, Uncle Crockett and Aunt Rose nearly always had guest in the home.  Aunt Laura was with them after they moved to Fly Creek, as governess, teaching the younger boys, Josh and Charlie.  They always had a nice home and good servants, and everyone was welcome.

 Mamma often spoke of the happy visits in the Stapleton home, swimming, dancing, sometimes going to dances as far as Stapleton -- that was the home of Uncle Crockett's parents.  The group from Aunt Rose's would ride horseback and in carriages.  There were boat rides on the river and singing.  Sometimes Aunt Alice, Aunt Laura, Mamma, Uncle Wesley and Uncle Barney, Lee and Gus, were all there, and they all had good voices.  (I never knew anyone else who knew all the words of so many songs as Mamma did.  She knew poetry also. )   Neighbors and people from the riverboats would join them.  Some officers and families lived on them when they were in Fish River.

 Olive Overton married a Mr. Wsochester, and they were the parents of two children.  One died in infancy and the other, a son, Warren, married Mattie Short.  They lived in Texas for many years.

 After Mr. Worchester's death Olive married a Mr. Hoyle whom we always called "Uncle Hoyle," he lived with Grandma Davis later in life and I knew him quite well.  They were the parents of Eddie who died in infancy and George, who married a widow; Mrs. D'Olive Batre they had a daughter named Daisy. George Hoyle was well known in business and apolitical circles in Baldwin County and South Alabama, having served as state representative and held county offices also.

 I have heard Grandfather Thomas Overton speak of Aunt Olive as being very beautiful and others saying so, too, so she was no doubt the family beauty.  I knew Aunt Margaret, Aunt Rose and Grandmother Davis, and I know they were pretty.

 Margaret Overton married Thomas Short. They were parents of Mattie who married Warren Worcester.  The Worcester children were Eddie, Rose, Joe, Olive, Warren ND George.  Olive married a Mr. Toler.  Other of the Short children was John, Wesley, George, and Lee.  Marlly married, but I do not know whom nor do I remember the names of the ladies the sons married.

 Mamma, Allie and I visited Cousin Mattie and Cousin Warren near San Antonio in 1892. Cousin Mattie and Great Aunt Margaret, who was a widow then, were also there.  I have memories of wide porches upstairs and down, large trees and swings, and that I would take a cup and go down to the cow pens and get the fresh milk with a lot of l foam on it.  For a time about ten o'clock every morning cans of tomatoes were opened and all the children, except me, enjoyed them thoroughly.   Latter in the year we had butter milk and graham biscuits and this was served to us under the huge oak trees.  To me this was a treat.  Aunt Margaret had charge of the milk house under the oak trees -- a most fascinating place to me, with all the milk crocks standing in the trough of cool water alongside the milk house.  I also remember trips to a pottery, where a souvenir was bough for each child.

 The Worcesters and Aunt Margaret moved to Alabama.

 Later the Toler family, whom I never knew and who lived closest to us in Texas, Cousin Mary Short and one brother, and I believe Great Aunt Margaret, moved to the West Coast.  The other remained in the Hill Country north of San Antonio.

 I remember members of the Short family visiting us when we lived in San Antonio.   And there also the first sleet and snow I had ever seen. --

 Of the Worcesters, Rose and Joe lived in Fairhope now; Eddie and Olive in California; George (who visited Mamma following World War I now lives in Fairhope; and I think Warren lives in Northern Alabama.

I also remember how very much Mamma, Aunt Alice, George Sheridan and my daughter Anne enjoyed visiting Rose. And Olive on Mamma's last trip to Mobile and the time they spent in Uncle Wesley's home at Tatumbille. And Olive on Mamma's last trip to Mobile and the time they spent in Uncle Wesley's home at Tatumbille.

 Wesley George Overton married Katherine Herbert.

 Grandfather George Overton died in a Confederate Union prison during the Civil War and Grandmother Katherine died of pneumonia in Tatumville in 1865 or 1866.  She is buried in the family cemetery there.

 Their children were: Alice, who married Barney Sheridan and whose children were Sadie and Willie who died in infancy, and Barney who married Dorothy Pritchard and George who is now living in Mobile, and Katherine (Kittie) who married William Kling.

 Laura married Valdy Overton and they had two children, Oran and Jesse. They separated and Aunt Laura moved to Grandma Davis's where she died in the winter of 1891 or 1892.  She is buried in the Overton cemetery.  Grandpa Davi's niece and her husband, Judge and Mrs. Coasts of St. Stephens adapted Jessie.  Jessie married and died a few years later, leaving a baby.  Oran lived with Grandma Davis and attended school at Battles Wharf for some time.  Later he moved to Mobile and lived with Aunt Mamie and Uncle Wesbright and had a good business when he was run over by an automobile, which caused his death while he was still a young man.  He married Rooney Kelly and they had three children.  One daughter, Drs. Doris Hunt of Clearmont, Florida, is the only member of the family living.  She has one child.  She and her husband have a citrus orchard near Clearmont. Georgia Olive Overton was named for her father & aunt --- She; was born in Tatumville March 3, 1860 and died in Alice April 17, 1932.  She married Siduan Overton and they were the parents of Georgia, Alice, Orrie, Walter, and an unnamed baby, Alma and Sid Orrie died at the age of eight months and are buried at Corpus Christi.  The unnamed baby was born in what is now part of the Howard David home, where we lived for some time while Papa worked at Fort Morgan, and she is buried in the Overton Cemetery in Baldwin County.  She lived to be but one week old.

Georgia Married Norman A. Hoffman and they are the parents of Anne, Norman, George and Roger, and a son, Charles Wesley, who died at the age of 11 months in 1913. I (mama Addie Walter Alma & Sid) lived in the Wesley G. Overton home at Tatumvillve for a while in 1901, while our home was being built at Alicae, Texas.

 Part of the Thomas Overton home, almost west of the cemetery and a little south and east of Uncle Wesley's place was still standing.  Our neighbors directly on the east were the Wilson's and a little further east Mrs. Wilson's mother, Mrs. Stapleton and another daughter Elma's family a little north on the bay.  They cared for Uncle Wesley's home and boats during the winter while the family was in Mobile.  We bought vegetables from them, the only names I remember were Aunt Maria, and Uncle Jordan - a ---family

 Alma married Ernest M. Glover and they had two I believe sons, Ernest, Jr. and Siduan O.  Ernest died in 1936.

Wesley George, born in 1862 or 1863, married Mary Beardsley (Aunt Mamie) and they had four children, Wesley, Edward, Dillon and Marian.

 Wesley is married but I do not know his wife's name.   Ed married Julia -- and they have two sons, Wesley and Ed.  Marian married Dr. Walker, and Dillon is not married.

 The first really pretty party I attended was a birthday party for Wesley or Ed at their home in Baldwin County one summer.  Uncle Wesley sent someone in a boat to the Davis home for Allie and me.  The girl's favors were beautiful small bouquets.  I keep mine for several years.

 Mobile's leading dressmaking and millinery establishment was owned by a close friend of the family, a Mrs. Lloyd and Aunt Alice, Aunt Laura and Mamma all worked there and it is probably where Olive Russel worked also when a young lady.  She was working with a dressmaker when I knew her many years later.  There were no "ready-made " dresses and hat stores.  Aunt Alice lived with Mrs. Lloyd for sum time and was married from her home, and during the rush season Aunt Laura and Mamma often were there for several days at a time.

 My grandmother, Julia Smith Overton, said her mother-in-law, Sophie Henry Overton, who lived in the two-story house at Tatumville (where my grandmother lived as a bride and until they came to Texas) had one of the most beautiful voices she ever hear Mamma told us about officers from Farragut's ship coming ashore and asking everyone to come out on the wharf, as they were going to shell the woods back of the beach at Tatumville.  Great Aunt Rose was there at the time, and was probably living with Grandmother Katherine Overton while the men were away during the War Between the States.

My grandmother, Julia Smith Overton, said her mother-in-law, Sophie Henry Overton, who lived in the two-story house at Tatumville (where my grandmother lived as a bride and until they came to Texas) had one of the most beautiful voices she ever hear Mamma told us about officers from Farragut's ship coming ashore and asking everyone to come out on the wharf, as they were going to shell the woods back of the beach at Tatumville.  Great Aunt Rose was there at the time, and was probably living with Grandmother Katherine Overton while the men were away during the War Between the States.
 When the officers were told Aunt Rose was sick and unable to leave her bed, they checked, then had the family move her to a room facing the water, and said they would be very careful and try to avoid hitting the house.  However one cannonball did hit a corner of her room, near the rood, and I remember when I was a girl I looked with awe at the place where the cannonball struck Aunt Rose's room.

Five generations of Overton's have lived in this home.  Ed B. Overton was the last to own it.

 Mamma, who was then a very small child, remembered the officers from the ship giving them sugar, the first they had had in several years, she said.  It was poured onto a white cloth on the Warf, probably one of the men brought from the ship when they brought the sugar.  I remember hearing more conversations about 'no coffee' and how corn, sweet potatoes, and some roots were parched and used as a substitute.  I imagine the roots were those of the chicory plant since it was used to mix with coffee in Europe -- Its habitat -- and brought to the Gulf Coast by the French.  Many people today prefer the mixture to pure coffee.  The leaves are also edible, and are or were used for salad and greens.

 There was one bay boat named "The Heroine" that could run the blockade.  She had been built in England was wonderfully built, with exceedingly powerful engines, therefore fast and could maneuver around the warships.  She no doubt obtained her cargoes from ships coming into the Mexican coast at Bagdad to get cotton, while British men-of-war stood by to protect their ships.  Her cargo was made up of drugs (quinine for malaria fever was one, I am sure) and other badly needed merchandise.  Her running the blockade so successfully was doubtless why she was named "The; Heroine" She was in the service as a bay boat running from Mobile to the East Coast where I made many trips on her crossing Mobil Bay.

 Thomas and George Overton lived at Tatunville on part of the land their father, Jesse Overton, had received for services in the war of 1812 to 1815.  They had a lumber mill on Sweetwater Branch, also known as Mill Creek, at Taturnville.  The dam was on the East Side of the road from Daphne to Battle Wharf.

 We always stopped there to let the horses drink, the waster was cool, fairly swift, and very clear with a clean sandy bottom.  We would look at the foundation of the old mill in the deep water above the dam.  There was a footbridge across the creek over the dam and the underwater view of the mill foundation of heavy timbers was clearer from this. It was made of heavy planks two and one-half or three inches thick, twelve to fifteen inches wide and twelve or fourteen feet long.  The water spread below the dam where at the fording it was shallow and wider.  There was no waterfall- perhaps it was filled in with sand by the time I saw it - but the creek above the dam or retaining wall on the mill side was quite deep and the top of the dam was about two inches below water level.  It seems odd to pass there now and find no water.  There was also a short stream between there and the Overton's known as Durwood Creek, eight or ten feet wide and ten or twelve inches deep, near the Bay.

The Overton Brothers shipped lumber in their own boats.  The Ellen Briggs, now lying submerged in Weeks Bay, belonged to Grandfather George Overton.  They shipped lumber to Florida, one of their best markets, and to other places around the Gulf Coast; likely to the Caribbean, too.  Many plants were brought back on return trips.  Their orchards and gardens had many kinds of fruit trees and shrubs that were not grown locally.

Mamma had a bread tray for mincing dough, a bread board for kneading dough, rolling out dough for biscuit and pies, tea cakes, etc.; and a rolling pin, that Thomas Overton made in the mill for a wedding present o her mother, Katherine Herbert Overton.  There was a lapboard for sewing this set, but Mamma never did have that.

 Hiram Preston Herbert died in Sumpter County, Alabama in 1835.  His wife, Eliza Ann Dixon, was born in Newbern, South Carolina, and died in Baldwin County in 1865.  She is buried in Overton Cemetery.  Their Children were:

 Katherine, who married Wesley George Overton, and their children were Alice who married Barney Sheridan, Laura who married Valdy C. Overton, Georgia Desle who married Siduan Overton, and Wesley Overton, who married Mary Beardsley.

 Laura, who married -----Litchfield and their children were: Asa (Ace?) who died young, and Liza.  Aunt Laura was burned to death.  She was burning leaves in the yard and her skirt became ignited.  The flames were beyond control instantly.

 Joseph --- I do not know whom he married but their children were Irene, Lillie, Emily (Em), Mary and George.

 George.  I do not know the name of his wife, either; their children were Jim, Joe, Knox, Alice, Gladiola, Elmer and Dewitt.

 Elizabeth married James Chandler.  Their children were Elizabeth who married Joe Naylor, Laura who married George Herbert, and Annie who married a Mr. Pond, and a son who died at the age of three or four years.

 After Hiram P. Herbert's death Eliza Ann Dixon Herbert married Joseph Litchfield (not related to Laura's Husband) and they had one child.

 Margaret, who married Captain --- Cypret.  Their children were Emma who married a Mr. March and Will --- I do not remember whether he married, but I do remember him coming to grandma Advisee's and taking Aunt Alice and me and the other children to visit his foster mother who lived at the Jackson Oaks above Daphne, and that he had a beautiful schooner.  I corresponded with Emma for some time while she was postmistress at Narcissus in Baldwin County, which is no longer on the map.  No doubt, like the East Fork of Fish River, it has another name.

 My parents and I lived with Great Aunt Betty (Elizabeth) and Uncle Jim Chandler in Orange, Texas, for a while when I was a small child, and after I was grown I corresponded with Laura for several years, and with Annie also, whose son is living in Orange where he has a nice home and good business.  The Herbert's all lived in Louisiana and East Texas
 

 I received the following information from Mrs. Emma Herbert Sasser, a widow and daughter of Joseph Herbert, who lives in west Monro, Louisiana.  Emma was Mamma's first cousin.  She said that her daughter with whom she lived had a complete family but that she was out of town at the time and when she returned I could have a copy of it if I would write again, and that it covered the family in England, also.

 After Hiram Herbert's death his widow had in her possession deeds to lands in Birmingham, money and jewels, but the container was broken open by a slave who stole all of the papers and some of the money and jewelry, none of which was ever recovered.   No sale or transfer of the lands was ever made so this might be investigated.  I am not as optimistic as she was, for I feel sure the property was sold long ago for taxes or by forged papers.  She said that after Hiram Herbert's death his widow married Joseph Litchfield who owned a plantation on the Tombigbee River and a great number of slaves.  During the Civil War his slaves were run off the plantation by "Yankees", his name was forged, and all money due him was collected, and he committed suicide in 1863.   His widow moved to Baldwin County where her children were living, and where she died in 1865.  She is buried in Overton Cemetery.

 Orville Matilda Overton married William J. Davis.  They had three sons, Alexander C., Frank and Will, and a daughter who died in infancy.  Frank and Will both died while young men, from exposure and drowning during a severe blizzard while going to Mobile for supplies for their store at Tatumbille.  Their bodies were found on the shore of Bon Secure Bay near Fort Morgan, still in the boat, which was filled with water from the rain and waves.  They were buried at Tatumville in the family cemetery.

 Alexander C. Davis (Dan) was the eldest child.  He disliked very much to be called "Cousin" and was known from the oldest to the youngest as "Dan".  I do not know where the name Dan was acquired.  He worked with the City Transportation Company while a young man, which at that time were cars on tracks drawn by mules.  Dan was also a member of the Bolunteer Fire Department, which Mobil had at that time.  April 9th was "Firemen's Day" and a city holiday celebrated with picnics, parades, fireworks and speeches.  It was more important at that time than the Mardi Gras.   Dan moved later to Tatumville, north of Battle Warf.  He probably had an interest in the store with his brothers, or assumed the management of it after their deaths.  He married Loretta, whose last name I do not remember.  She died in Mobile, where no doubt she went for medical care, and she is buried in Magnolia Cemetery there.  Their children were Will H., and Frank, named for their father's brothers.

 Will H. married Geneviueve Webb and they had one daughter, Effie.  She is married but I do not remember her husband's name.  After Genevieve's death Will H. married Celeste Shepherd and they are the parents of Ethel who married Henry Winbert, and Howard who married Jessie ----.

 Frank married Nellie Kirk and they had two sons, Frank and Buford.  They separated and Frank married Stella Lawrence and they were the parents of Frances, Allen, Edison, Stella Mae and Mary Louise.

 Orville Matilda Overton Davis, whom we called "Grandma" since she reared Mamma, taught school in Barton Academy before she was married, which was on her eighteenth birthday.  After the war (Civil) the "Carpetbaggers Reign" she served meals to the army officers stationed in Mobile.  They made Will or Frank their mascot and fitted him out completely in a lieutenant's uniform, even to the sword.  Times were hard and Grandpa Davis fount it necessary to help his mother and his sister and her children.  Grandma had a great deal of pride and sat late at night sewing on their children's clothes, adding her beautiful hand embroidery.  Later she moved to Tatumville and assumed the care of her brother George Overton's children, who had been cared for since their mother's death by their mother's brother George or Herbert family Here she also served meals, then to Mobilians who come over on Sunday excursions.  After the regular morning trip to Mobile the boats immediately returned to the "Eastern Shore", many passengers going to the Point Clear Hotel, a famous hotel then as now --- returning to Mobile to make the regular afternoon trip to the Eastern Shore, back to Mobile with the excursion group, and then return to Zundles for the early morning trip Monday, a busy day for the crew.  Zundles was the last landing on the Eastern Shore, from which the boats left early every morning, returning in the afternoon landing and all wharves on the shore.

 When I was a child I met one of the guests, a Mr. LeFevre, in Alice.  He came to our house and had quite a visit with us.  Mamma asked him if he remembered the "shoo-flys" he used to bring them.  He laughed and said, "Oh, yes;" and from his expression I think he must have enjoyed brining them as much as the children enjoyed getting them.  A "shoo-fly" was a box of popcorn containing a prize.

 About 1922 there was a small detachment of soldiers camping in San Diego, and a friend of mine brought a Major LeFevre to my home one evening.  He was from Mobile and knew all about the W. G. Overton's.

 Grandma Davis later moved to Mobile, where the children could all attend school.  They bought a home in the southwest part of the city and later bought a better home farther north, and some rent property.  After the death of their sons Will and Frank and Dan's wife Loretta, Grandma moved back to Tatumville with her two grandchildren to live with Dan.  Aunt Laura kept house until she was married and then Mamma until she married, at this time that Grandma returned to Mobile to take up the housekeeping responsibilities and where her grandchildren Will and Frank could attend school.

 We were there a short time in 1890 when my sister Orrie was born.  I still remember my amazement when the huge Christmas tree was brought in and could be squeezed through the door.  I was also a little awed at the Indians from Florida, who came dressed in the very best Indian clothes, long braids, moccasins and many beads.  They came just before Christmas every year with articles for sale that they had made through the year.  I was surprised at Grandma's and their friendliness and at their ability to carry on a conversation.

 Allie was a great favorite of Grandpa Davis.  When we were there visiting she would go through his coat pockets when he came home, to see what she could find, and there was always something --- nuts, candy, knick knacks, maybe an apple --- neither of them said a word.

 We visited there a short time in 1891 when Mamma was sick.  They had just bought a "number of acres of land in the D. C. Stapleton Cow pasture" according to the deed, from the D. C. Stapleton's  (Great Aunt Rose and Uncle Crockett) to be near them, and built a home.  Soon After this Grandpa Davis died and he is buried in the Overton Cemetery.  Aunt Laura and Uncle Valdy separated and Aunt Laura moved over the Bay and lived there until her death in 1892, and she is buried in the family cemetery at Tatumville.  It was at this time that Grandma Davis came to Texas, visiting her sister, Aunt Margaret Short and family, around Boerne, her niece in Beeville and her brother, Grandfather Thomas Overton and us in Alice.

 Aunt Laura left two children, Jessie and about three years old whom Judge and Mrs. Coats of St. Stephens adopted.   Mrs. Coats, Whom we called Aunt Lommie, was a niece of Grandpa Davis.  Oran, Jessie's brother, was with Grandma for some time and went to school at Battle Wharf With Will and Frank as long as they attended school there: then he went to Mobile and was with Uncle Wesley and Aunt Mamie, where he was in school.   He was bright and ambitious and had his own business and was quite young when he was run over by an automobile.

 We knew Jessie and Oran quite well, as we would all be at Grandma Davis's at the; same time during the summers.

 Aunt Lommie, Jessie's adopted mother, brought two of her brother's children one summer, and there were fourteen of us there for about a month.  We had a grand time.  Aunt Lommie would go to the beach with us twice a day.  She was very lively and lots of fun.  We were not allowed to go swimming alone.

 We lived in Mobile, where Allie and I attended school and spent the summers at Grandma's.  One year, on account of a yellow fever quarantine, we were there until December and we were to have been in Texas for the opening of school that fall.

 When we made our next trip Grandma had just finished a new home -- the place Frank Davis sold when he moved to Bayou Le Batre.  This is just south of Harry and Ethel Wineberg's home.

 Thomas Overton married Julia Margaret Smith in Trinity Episcopal Church in Mobil in 1894.  She was the daughter of Captain Henry Smith who was born in South Carolina and Margurit Morris who was born in Canada; His mother was a Miss ---- Guyot.  The Smith's were married in Canada and one of their daughters was born there.  Louice Julia was born in Maine and Mary, who married Thomas Fowler of Mobile, was, I believe, born in New York.

 Henry Smith, my Great Grandfather, at one time owned controlling stock in the New York Hearld, which he sold and entered the army, and the family moved south.  He went to Mexico with Taylor and Grant in 1845 in the war between Mexico and the United States, also served in the Civil War, and, was in charge of Louisiana District with headquarters at Batton Rough following the Civil War hostilities.  I have a picture of the Capitol of Louisiana at that time, which was sent to my Grandmother from one of her sisters, showing their father's headquarters.  A far cry from the Louisiana State Capitol of today.  He returned to New York later and was librarian in al large New York Library at the time of his death.  Great Grandmother Smith went from Mobile to Louisiana in an unsuccessful search of information about her mother, Mrs. Morris Margurite ----- who was exiled with the Acadians from Canada.  It is thought she died there during a yellow fever epidemic, which wiped out entire families and almost all inhabitants of villages, as she was never found or heard from.

The children of Thomas and Julia Overton were Lena, who married Calvin Skidmore --- they had four children; Oran who married Kate Smith and had three children; Valdy who married Laura Overton and they had two children, Oran and Jessie; Laure died and Valdy married Louise Huggins and they had one daughter, Antoinette.  A daughter was born in Brownsville and died when a few years old.  Siduan who married Georgia Overton and they were the parents of Georagia, Alice, Orrie, Walter, a baby who was not named and died when only a few days old and is buried in the Overton Cemetery, Alma and Sid.  Orrie died at the age of eight months and is buried at Corpus Christi.  Sophie first married Sam Byington and they had one son: many years later she married Ed Lawson.  Walter married out West late in life and had no children.  Nettie died at nineteen and she is buried in Alice.  Calvin, born in Rockport, died in infancy and is buried there too.  Aunt Sophie is the only one of the family now living.  She is 85 years old and lives in Houston.  She has a grandson who is married and has three children.  She an d her daughter-in-law live together.
 
 

 Grandfather Thomas Overton was employed by the United States Government to work in the shipyards at Bagdad, Mexico, which was on the coast south of the mouth of the Rio Grande.  Bagdad in a short time became a 'boom town'.  With a skiff, or lighter, that would carry a bale of cotton, one could make twenty to forty dollars a day.  They took the cotton out to ships in deeper water, where British men-of-war stood by to make sure freighters or Union warships did not molest lighters.  The population of Bagdad grew to 25,000 in a short time, and there were twenty stages a day between Matamoras and Bagdad, which were reaping a rich harvest from warring Confederates and Federal's on the Texas side and Liberators and Imperialists on the Mexican side.

 Empress Carlotta had left the City of Mexico and moved to Matamoras across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, as conditions were very unsettled in Mexico.  This naturally added to the growth of Matamoras.  There is a theater there, now used for movies, which Carlotta built so she could enjoy the operas and plays she was accustomed to when living in France and Mecico City.  They played in Mexico City after showing in South American cities, then in New Orleans and New York.  Father Parisot called the 'killer hurricane' that came in 1867 "El castigo de Dios" -- the punishment of God -- on the city which he described as a "veritable Babel -- The Gomorrah of the Rio Grande."  There was an attempt to rebuild the city of Bagdad but it was completely wiped out by another hurricane in 1874, and there is no more Bagdad.   However, Matamoras, under the agreement between Mexico and the United States allowing Mexican products to be exported through the Port of Brownsville, is again a very prosperous city, and this also increases the Brownsville port business.  Grandmother Julia Smith Overton was a customs inspector at the Port of Brownsville, and it was at this time that Grandfather Thomas returned to Alabama, where he found conditions so completely changed that he came back to Texas and they moved to Corpus Christi in 1868 or 1869, then to Rockport.  They separated in the early 1880's and Grandmother married a Dr. Foley.  They; had a son, and they separated in about 1886 or 1887.  This son was named Dan and he held a responsible position with the Texas Oil Company in Mexico, where while on a scouting trip he was ambushed and killed by bandits.  It was considered a case of mistaken identity, as he was well liked by everyone.  She moved to Dran C--ertan's, a ranch near what is now Premont and where Allie (my sister) was born.  She moved to the new town of Alice, where she lived and practiced medicine until her death in 1905.  She often drove many miles to see her patients.
 

 The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad built a line south to connect with the Texas Mexican National Railroad, which ran between Corpus Christi and Laredo, Texas, on the Mexican border, in 1888.  The place was named Alice and were soon the largest cattle shipping point in the world.

 With the coming of the railroad, Grandfather Thomas who had been in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana returned to Texas, and he and my father constructed the first buildings in Alice.  We were then living in Corpus Christi.  My father was an excellent painter and interior decorator, and my grandfather a building contractor.

 Grandfather Thomas, like all the family, loved plants.  He built a six foot solid board fence on part of the land around his home to protect his plants from the trade winds that swept across this country from the Gulf. And it was there I saw my first camellias, cypress vine, and hollyhocks.  He also loved his violin.  He lived there until a short time before his death, which occurred at the home of his eldest daughter in Jennings, Louisiana, where he is buried.

 Papa is remembered especially for his interest in and work with young boys.  He organized a baseball team -- he was manager and umpire -- also had some gymnasium equipment.  To buy baseball suits, balls and other things needed, he taught them jokes and songs, and skits for "Black Face Minstrel Shows".  He made arrangements for games with teams from other towns, promoted 4th of July celebrations with parades, decorated carriages, bicycles, etc. and sponsored kite contests and other projects.

 Uncle Oran was first postmaster of Alice.  He resigned on account of ill health and Papa was appointed to take office until Uncle Oran's term expired.  It was while holding this office in 1897-1908, when he resigned, that he studied law, since he had time to read and no time or money to attend college.  He passed the state examination and was admitted to the bar in 1902 and soon had a well-established law practice.  He was appointed postmaster every time a republican administration was in office, as long as he asked for the appointment.  There was no civil service in the post-office department at that time, and the President appointed postmasters, so with each change of political party there was a change of post masters, as the President filled all vacancies with men from his own party.  The term of the postmaster was for four years, the same as the President's.

 He was attorney for the Texas-Mexican National Railroad and the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad from 1902 until he left Alice in 1910.      (End)



Subject:         Overton's
   Date:         Thu, 17 Aug 2000 15:00:19 -0700
   From:         Frank Overton <monfo@cwo.com>

Hi,My name is Frank Overton born Oct.26 1940 and I'm interested in getting
any information I can on my grandfather and great- grandfather.My
grandfather's name was Mack Overton(I'm not
sure of his birthdate but his brother,Anthony Overton was born in 1864
in Monroe
Louisiana,and eventually migrated to Chicago where he died in 1946.Their
mother's name was Martha Berry her father being John Berry.Mack Overton
married Emma Nelson of Enid Oklahoma,(1871), and they had two children
Anthony,and Beatrice.We believe Mack and Anthony father's name was Anthony
Overton also.I don't have much information but was hoping some of the
Overton's out there will know something about them.Monroe must have been
quite a small town then.



 

   Date:         Sun, 14 Jul 2002 16:36:39 +0100
   From:         "Barbara Kingman" <barbara@abs2net.com>
  Am reseasrching my family name of Overton. We come from Worcester, England.
Would like to register with your website.

Barbara Kingman



   Date:        Tue, 10 Dec 2002 11:01:45 -0600
   From:         "Dr. Luis Arandia-Antelo" <larandia@birch.net>
 

my name is hanne-lise overton and i live in lubbock texas. my father is
dr. philip marvin overton 12-29-1930, so of philip r. overton. his father is the late
dr. marvin cartmell overton of lubbock texas. we have many many overton relatives here in texas and are very proud of our name and heritage.  it would be interesting to here back from you!

hanne-lise overton
hanneliseo@netscape.net
 



Subject:         Overton name
   Date:         Mon, 30 Dec 2002 07:58:39 -0600
   From:        Tom Overton <overtot@stthom.edu>
     I am interested in learning more about descendants of
Waller Overton, the brother of John Overton,
founder of Memphis and law partner to Andrew Jackson.
Thomas G. Overton
Houston, Texas
 
 
 

===============================================================================================
   Date:         Mon, 30 Dec 2002 12:38:42 -0600
   From:         Tom Overton <overtot@stthom.edu>
 

This may answer a question that was posed on the web site:
Nan Overton West, 4822 72nd Street, Lubbock, Texas 79424-2102, has written a monster-sized Overton geneaological reference. I don't know if any copies are available. I could not afford it at the time, and I don't think that any Lubbock Overtons are related to me.
 
My father, one of 12 children b. near Alexandria and Melville, La.,  was James Young Overton (b. La., 1918 or 17); his father was Charles Pinckney Overton, d. 1948, was said to have ridden with the James Gang-no documentation); his father was George Eliot Overton (Eufala, Alabama); his father was Thomas Jefferson Overton, and his father was
John Overton, son of Waller Overton, brother of THE John Overton, the founder of Memphis, law partner to Andrew Jackson and the richest man in Tennessee. John Overton was a favorite nephew of THE John Overton. THE John Overton married at age 54 or 55 and what did he name his son?
John, you guessed it. That side of the family is very easy to trace; all you have to do is look at back issues of Nashville and
Memphis newspapers. But you can have the founder of Memphis legend all to yourselves. I would like to know more about
James Pinckney Overton, who allegedly rode with the James Gang--now, that's something I can brag about! I'd also like to know more about George Eliot Overton, etc. The Thomas Jefferson name sneaks in there because
TJ was allegedly a cousin of THE John Overton and encouraged the young man to study law.    (I have birthdates and spouses, but not at my fingertips.)
Tom Overton
Houston
 
 

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