Smith County, Texas
Eleazer Claiborne Overton (Photo courtesy of Thomas Peebles, Columbia, TN) |
The oldest son in Samuel Overton's birth family was his brother Eleazer Claiborne Overton (1812 - 1903) who lived his entire life in Maury County, ultimately buying the 250 acre family farm from the estate of the father, Jesse, for the princely sum of $5,750 around 1860. Fortunately for those of us who study history and genealogy, Eleazer was a prolific writer, often chronicling the status of his family at the time of a letter, as well as opining on the state of the weather, crops and government, all factors he found to be outside his sphere of control. In one particular letter written on March 15, 1880 to a half-cousin, once removed, Mattie Belle Overton, of Clinton, Louisiana, Eleazer gave very specific information to his relative concerning the state of his family. Eleazer was a schoolteacher at heart and his written tales of woe relating to the after-effects of the Civil War serve as excellent history teaching aids. For a review of the twelve letters written by E. C. Overton to his brother John in Smith County, click here. |
John Franklin Overton (Photo courtesy of Howard Bramlette, Nashville, TN) |
The second son in the Jesse and Susanna Overton family was Colonel John Franklin Overton (1816 - 1879). John was the leader of his siblings in terms of moving south to Texas. In fact, the Republic of Texas issued certain land grants to John as early as December 10, 1839 in San Augustine, Texas, several years prior to Texas being granted statehood. John first was married to Mary Jane Jameson in Tennessee and had perhaps two children by her, the first being named John Franklin, Jr. Mary Jane moved to Smith County with John, but died in 1849 and is buried in the Elkins Cemetery. |
Mary Drucilla Walker Overton (Photo courtesy of Howard Bramlette, Nashville, TN) |
In 1852, John Franklin Overton married Mary Drucilla Walker (1833 - 1911), daughter of a prominent Tylerite, Beverly Walker. John and Mary Overton had eleven children, several of whom with descendants still living in east Texas. John and Mary's home for almost all of their married life together was located just north of Swinneyville, east of Lake Tyler. A very good description of the old home place was presented in the Fall, 1970 issue (Volume 9, Number 2) of the Chronicles of Smith County, Texas. As noted in the same article, John F. Overton was given his honorary title of Colonel due to his commercial involvement in the supplying of troops for the Confederacy. The city of Overton, Texas takes its name from Colonel John F. Overton.
The fifth son of Jesse and Susanna Overton, and younger brother of Dr. Samuel Overton, was Robert Carter Overton (1827 - 1893). Robert moved to Smith County, Texas long enough to marry Amanda Parlee Pace in 1852, and to serve in Captain John D. Hamilton's Company D, 14th Texas Volunteer Calvary in 1861. This Company was known as the "Rusk Avengers." Robert and Amanda then moved on to Barry County, Missouri, where Robert died in 1893. They had eleven children, two of whom attended medical school. The second son, Benjamin Franklin Overton (1855 - 1940) followed in his uncle Samuel's footsteps and practiced medicine in Omen for many years. Dr. Ben Overton and his wife Sarah Adeline Hays are buried in the Ebenezer Cemetery just south of Arp, Texas.
Abdon Independence Alexander Overton (1830 - 1913) was the sixth son of Jesse and Susanna Overton, and moved to East Texas, marrying Elizabeth Pace in Rusk County in 1851. Abdon also was a doctor, and moved his practice to Missouri, living the latter part of his adult life near his brother, Robert C. Overton. Some sources suggest that Abdon Overton served in the same Calvary unit as Robert during the Civil War.
The seventh and last son born to Jesse and Susanna Overton was the namesake of the father, Jesse Overton (1832 - 1866). This Jesse Overton attended medical school at University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1856. He moved to East Texas within a year of graduation, marrying Lucinda Elizabeth White in Rusk County on September 17, 1857. Jesse Overton, MD, practiced medicine in Omen, with his office located very close to his older brother, Dr. Samuel Overton. Jesse served as detail surgeon with Captain Mayo's Camp, Speight's Regiment for only a month from May 1, 1862 until June of that same year. He was discharged in favor of a petition submitted by citizens of the Old Canton and vicinity, wherein an appeal was launched for his return to their medical needs.
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