My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

HUGH OVERSTREET, who is now publishing the Ava Advertiser, has, through the greater part of his life, been engaged in newspaper work, and is an able journalist. He was born October 26, 1867, and is a son of J. C. and Cornelia (Whetstone) Overstreet, both of whom are natives of South Carolina. The father has followed merchandising, milling and farming during various periods in his life. He was a soldier in the Confederate army during the late war and is now residing in Sylvania, Ga. He has taken an active part in local politics, and for several years was County Ordinary. Five of his brothers were killed in the Confederate service. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Overstreet were born eight children, all of whom are yet living. They gave their children excellent educational advantages, and three sons are college graduates. One of them, J. W., carried off the first honors of his class at Mercer University.

In his native state of Georgia, Hugh Overstreet was educated, graduating from the high school in Sylvania. At the age of fourteen he left home, and for a few months worked in a grocery store in Savannah, Ga. He then went to Millen, Ga., where he was employed in a newspaper office for a short time, but he principally learned his trade in the office of the Savannah Morning News. Borrowing $50, he then left for the west. On reaching Ava he was obliged to send home for more money, and when it reached him, continued his journey to Tipton, Mo., where he worked on the Times for seven months. His father then bought him a paper at Tennille, Ga., which he published for nine months, when he sold out. He was then only seventeen years of age. A few days later he came to Ava, and later went to Ogden, Utah, where he was employed on the Utah Daily Union for thirteen months. He next went to Evanston, Wyo., and took charge of the Uinta Chieftain, which was owned by a stock company which had the best-equipped office in Wyoming.

For a year Mr. Overstreet there remained, and then, by the advice of George Carpenter, of the Carpenter Paper Company, of Omaha, Neb., he went to Pocatello, Idaho, and organized a stock company for the publication of the Pocatello Tribune, a weekly Republican paper. In this venture he lost all he had. James H. Hawley, the Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee of Idaho, then asked him to carry on a daily Democratic paper through a political state canvass, and for the admission of the territory into the Union. Mr. Overstreet did so, publishing the first Democratic daily paper of Idaho. He then went to Salmon City, Idaho, where he worked on a paper seven months, after which he went ninety-five miles up the Salmon River to Clayton, and with the capital he had saved purchased a paper, but the boom in that town collapsed and he was left without a cent. Going to Boise City, he then traveled for the Irrigation Age for a few months, and later took charge of the Anaconda Standard, a daily paper of Anaconda, Mont., where he continued for three months. Subsequently he removed to Missoula, Mont., where he met his present wife, who had journeyed from Ava to meet him.

In September, 1892, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Overstreet and Miss Etta Henson, who was born in Ava December 26, 1866, and is a daughter of James and Julia (Bower) Henson. One child graces their union, Georgia Ruth. After their marriage Mr. Overstreet went to Butte, and for a few months worked on the Butte Miner. On the 1st of February, 1893, he took charge of the Ava Advertiser, in the publication of which he is now successfully engaged. In politics he is a Democrat, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Both are highly respected citizens of this community and hold an enviable position in social circles.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Jackson County, Illinois family biographies here: Jackson County, Illinois Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.