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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of C. E. OVERTON 

Pages 487-488, transcribed in full by Danni Hopkins 

[Surnames: ELROD, FATE, HECKARD, KIMBALL, OVERTON, STRODE, WILCOX, VAN DORN, VORHEES] 

    
C. E. OVERTON, the subject of the present sketch, is a native of Bernadotte Township, Fulton County, Ill., having been born July 25, 1841. His parents, Francis L. and Sarah (Van Dorn) Overton, settled in Bernadotte Township near Ira Elrod, in the year 1853, and two years later removed to section 7, where they continued to reside until the father's death. Francis L. Overton taught school in his younger days, but after coming to this county devoted his time to farming and took a prominent part in local affairs, at various times holding offices of trust and responsibility. He was especially interested in educational matters. His wife, who at the time of their marriage was Mrs. Sarah Wilcox, owned the one hundred and sixty acres of land on a part of which her son now resides. Their union was blessed with the following children: Charles E.; Luther M., who was married first to Miss Mary Fate, and afterward to Miss Alice Vorhees, and who lives on a part of the old homestead; Harriet M., who married George Fate, and died nineteen years ago; Alice A., who married Mrs. [sic, Mr.?] Curtis J. Strode, lives in Lee Township, this county; and Francis L. The latter and his wife Sarah are buried in the Randall graveyard side by side. 
    
Charles Overton was educated in the public schools, and passed one term in the Lewistown Seminary, acquiring thus a sufficient amount of knowledge to begin teaching at the early age of eighteen. However, after two terms of teaching and when he had reached his twentieth year, he enlisted as a soldier in the Union Army on September 10, 1861. He was in Company G, Fiftieth Regiment Illinois infantry, which was organized at Quincy, Ill., and his first service was in Missouri along the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. He figured in the battle of Shiloh, and narrowly escaped a very serious wound, a ball striking the metal on his leather belt and glancing off. He also took part in the battle and siege of Corinth on the 3d and 4th of October, besides which he was in many smaller engagements and served in Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. Being transferred to the Fifty-fifth United States Colored Infantry, he received a commission as First Lieutenant of Company C, and later was Captain for a year and a half. Mr. Overton continued in service until January 1, 1866, at which date he was mustered out at Baton Rouge, La., and immediately returned to his home in Bernadotte Township, where he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. 
    
In October, 1856, Mr. Overton was united in marriage with Miss Laura E. Heckard, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Kimball) Heckard. After his return from war he bought the eastern half of the old homestead, but subsequently exchanged it for the western half, and to this he has continued to add until his estate at the present writing embraces two hundred and seventy-five acres of highly improved and valuable land. Upon this he has a large frame house and many barns which have been erected by himself. For several years after his marriage he taught school. They are the parents of two children, viz: Frank L., who was born August 10, 1867, and is now Assistant Cashier of the Arkansas Banking Company, of Stuttgart, Arkansas County, Ark.; and Cora B., who was born March 20, 1875, and lives at home. The Overtons were of Scotch origin, and the Van Dorns an old and prosperous German family. 
    
In politics Mr. Overton is a Republican, and like his father was a strong Abolitionist, having assisted several slaves to escape--whole families going through at once. He has served his township as Collector, Assessor and School Director. Besides farming he is interested in stock-raising, and ranks among the most prominent and successful men in the county. He is also largely interested in real estate in Stuttgart, Ark., being a large stockholder in the bank at that place, and being one of the three men who secured the charter for the Stuttgart & Arkansas River Railroad. His son Frank L. was educated in the Fulton County schools, and at the Normal School, Valparaiso, Ind., from which he was graduated with honors on June 2, 1887. He afterward went through a commercial course at the same institute, being graduated March 21, 1889. Miss Cora Overton has up to the present time attended school in her native county and also at Cuba, and her parents are making arrangements to have her most thoroughly educated. Mr. Overton has been of much benefit to the community in which he resides, being at all times interested in public matters and a willing contributor to worthy causes.