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JOHN E. OVERTON. The
Overton family originated in Wales and many generations
ago three members of this family, possessed of the
ambition, courage and sturdy manhood which have ever been
characteristic of those of that nationality, crossed the
ocean to America and settled in what was then the wilds
of Long Island. From them sprang all the Overton's now
residing in this country. The great-grandfather of our
subject, John Overton, was born on Long Island, as was
also the grandfather, Methusalah Overton, and the father,
John H. Overton. The grandfather was born in Coram,
Suffolk County, and was prominently identified with the
agricultural affairs of his section. He married Miss
Sarah Still, also a native of Coram, and there they
reared their family and passed their entire lives.
John H. Overton received limited
educational advantages during his youth, but quite as
good as many others in those days, and when about
seventeen years old he left the farm and went to sea. Two
or three years later he began learning the carpenter
trade and this he followed for fifteen years, when a
desire to again return to his early occupation of farming
caused him to settle on a tract of land in Port
Jefferson. In connection with farming he has since been
engaged in dairying and has conducted both most
successfully up to the present time. In 1852 he married
Miss Caroline Emmons, a native of Suffolk County, and
daughter of Capt. Wines Emmons. Prior to his marriage Mr.
Overton had built a fine residence in Port Jefferson, and
he has resided there ever since. Mrs. Overton passed away
in 1861, and in 1864 Mr. Overton married Miss Amelia
Roberts, daughter of Henry Roberts. In politics Mr.
Overton is a staunch Republican and has held the position
of Assessor and Commissioner of Highways. Although now
seventy years old, he enjoys fair health, and, being
possessed of estimable qualities, has many friends.
John E. Overton, son of John
H. Overton by his first marriage, is a native of Port
Jefferson, born February 12,1856. He secured a good
education in the schools of his native village and
assisted his father in driving a stage for some time.
When he was about eighteen years old his father engaged
in dairying and our subject assumed the management of the
farm. Since that time he has been closely identified with
the agricultural affairs of the county. In the year 1881
he married Miss Florence S. Hawkins, daughter of Hon.
Simeon Hawkins, a prominent citizen of Jamesport,
Suffolk County. This union has been blessed by the birth
of four sons, as follows: Myron E., Robert N., J.
Stanley, and Lawrence H.
Socially Mr. Overton is a
Mason, a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the volunteer
fire department of Port Jefferson. He has been Chief of
the latter organization since its formation and not long
since was re-elected the seventh time. Mr. Overton has
served as a member of the Board of Education for five
years and was very instrumental in the erection of the
present commodious school building. In politics he is a
supporter of Republican principles and is now President
of the Republican Club at Port Jefferson. He is an active
worker for his party and has been private secretary for
the Senator from this district four years and Deputy
Clerk of the Assembly for three terms.
Our subject is a Director of
the Bank of North-port, a stockholder in the Bank of Port
Jefferson, and the Port Jefferson Milling Company,
President of the Board of Trade of the village, President
of the Port Jefferson branch of the Mercantile
Cooperative Bank, and also of the Republic Savings &
Loan Association. January 1, 1896, through a partnership,
he became manager for a large importing and exporting
firm of Kobe, Japan, with offices at the corner of Fifth
Avenue and Eighteenth Street, New York City.
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