A life sketch written by granddaughter, Verda Noble, to honor her grandfather on his 80th birthday
1923
80th Birthday
Overton at his 80th year has seventeen grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren. On the 15th day of April 1923, he spent a very enjoyable birthday of which the following clipping gives an account: Tenders Him a Surprise On their return home from church yesterday morning, Mrs. R.L. Hunsicker and father, O.A. Ellison of Council Bluffs, Iowa, but who for the past year has made his..Read More
1922
A Visit to His Oldest Daughter
On the 26th of May, 1922 he came to Red Cloud to visit his oldest daughter, Laura Hunsicker and family, and on the 16th of June he went to Morland, Kansas to visit his three grandsons and families, returning to Red Cloud the 12th day of July. His son-in-law, R.L. Hunsicker passed away, November 15, 1922. He has remained with his daughter until after spending..Read More
1920
Second Visit to Oregon
On the 20th day of October 1920, Overton made his second trip to Oregon to visit his brother and sisters. While in Oregon in 1894, it took from 1 p.m. on Monday until 3 p.m. on Thursday to make the trip to the seashore. In 1921 the trip was made by his nephew, Sam Parrett, and family in four and one-half hours in an Overland...Read More
The Family in Oregon
In Oregon Overton’s older sister, Jane Parrett lived with her two sons, Walter and Addie on their old homestead that her husband took up in 1852 on Parrett Mountain. Her other son, Samuel Larkin is a banker in New Burg. He has two sons, Homer and Clifton and one daughter, Eva. Jane Parrett passed away, November 28, 1921, and was laid to rest on Parrett..Read More
1896
Second Marriage
On December 20, 1896 Overton married again to Mary Sparks. To them two children were born, a daughter, Ursula Emmeline on July 8, 1898 and a son, William Firman Allen on November 19, 1901. They lived on the old homestead until it was sold in 1908, and they moved near Effingham where he had bought a farm. In 1909, his wife having left him, he..Read More
1895
The End of the Trip
Leaving the beach and going out on land, they traveled ten or twelve miles when they camped until the next morning. That night the men went up the Big NesTucker to fish for salmon. They made a bon-fire and left the women at the camp, but soon a call came for some of the men to come quick as they were frightened out of their..Read More
1894
Return to Camp
August 15, 1894 they returned to camp and witnessed quite an unusual sight. There is always a dismal mist under the sun when its about three quarters of an hour high but on this particular evening, Overton, standing on a goods box called the attention of the whole crowd, seventy-five in number, to see the sun setting perfectly clear. You could look at it as..Read More
Trip to the Sea Shore
In 1894, Overton spent 10 days on the beach of the Pacific Ocean. The tide being governed by the moon, the full of the moon each month is the high tide and Overton was watching it recede when he noticed a rock he had never seen before and procured a star fish, which is still a treasured souvenir. He and two other men, William Parrett..Read More
1893
First Visit to Oregon
In June 1893, Overton made his first trip to see his dear old mother whom he had not seen for 28 years. His father having died in 1876. His little brother, Joseph, died on the plains as his parents were on their way to Oregon and his sister, Amanda died in 1888. He met his five sisters and one brother, the one sister, Elisa Anna..Read More
1867
Overton and Anna’s Children
Laura Jane was born, June 15, 1867. Her little brother Willie on May 3rd, 1869 and Nancy Evaline “Nannie” on February 2, 1871. That same year, 1871, the family moved to the old homestead near A.D. Simmons near Muscotah, Kansas, in the western part of Atchison county. In 1874 little Willie died with a congestive chill. Sarah Olivia was born March 18, 1875 and died..Read More