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Below is a family biography included in History of Lee County, Iowa published by Western Historical Company in 1879.  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.

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OVERTON, ELIAS, farmer, stock-grower and dealer, Sec. 27; P. O. Clay’s Grove; son of Asa Overton, who was born in Hartford Co., N. C., 1771, and married Kitty Thomas, born in Hartford Co., N. C., in 1775, during 1811, they removed to Randolph Co., of the same State; and, spring of 1837, were among the first settlers of this part of Lee Co., where they both died the following year, the mother the 1st, the father the 29th of May, leaving a family of seven children — six sons and one daughter — of whom but two brothers are now living, Mr. Overton being the only member of the family left in Lee Co.; he was born in Hartford Co., N. C., Jan. 12, 1807; raised in Randolph Co., where (his parents being in destitute circumstances and there were no free schools), he grew up with a limited education, and worked as a common laborer from place to place; he reached his 26th year, when he married Miss Nancy York, who was born in Randolph Co., N. C., in 1811, and within thirty days they emigrated Westward, first settling in St. Clair Co., Ill, where he purchased a little farm of forty acres, and engaged in farming on his own account; in 1836, he crossed the Mississippi, and settled on what afterward was Section 36, Marion Tp., where he put up a rail pen in which they lived until a cabin could be erected; in September, 1840, his wife died, leaving three children — Alfred N., born July 13, 1834; he enlisted in 40th I. V. I., in 1862, and died at Columbus, Ky., March 11, 1863; Eliza J., born in September, 1836, and Lucinda R.; born Feb. 17, 1840. In September, 1841, he married Eliza Bunner, who was born in Virginia March 17, 1815; they have five children — Mary E., born in October, 1843, the wife of C. C. McCord, of this township; Arey L., born in May, 184—, the wife of Daniel Powell, of Cedar Tp.; John T., born March 31, 1848, at home; Marion T., born Aug. 10, 1850, a farmer of this township; and Sarah A., born Sept. 21, 1853, the wife of John Powell, of Harrison Tp. In 1854, Mr. Overton removed to his present place of residence, where he now owns 1,140 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre. Members of long standing in the M. E. Church; his first wife having been a member of the same Church in which he holds the office of Trustee; he has held the office of Township Trustee and County Supervisor for eleven years, and has held various school offices.

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This family biography is one of 668 biographies included in The History of Lee County, Iowa published in 1879.  For the complete description, click here: Lee County, Iowa History and Genealogy

View additional Lee County, Iowa family biographies: Lee County, Iowa Biographies

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