St.
Clair County MO Homepage
Henry County MO
Homepage
St. Clair County Missouri Biographies
SECTION O
OVERTON, Riley
source: 1883 History of St. Clair
County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1175
--- RILEY OVERTON, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Vego County, Indiana,
in 1837. His father, Matthias Overton, was a native of Scotland, but left that
country when he was ten years of age, coming to the United States and locating
in Switzerland County, North Carolina. After residing there a few years he
moved to Indiana. In 1822 he married Miss Nancy Whaley, of North Carolina, and
to them were born eight children. When Riley was but four years old his lather
died, and he continued to live with his mother until he was thirteen, then
binding himself out to work until his seventeenth year. This contract expiring,
he worked at different places for a time, and was then married to Miss Leona
Wright Gunn, a daughter of John Gunn, of Vego County, Indiana. They have had
three sons and three daughters: Mary E., Ella F., Edgar R., William R., Harriet
C., and Arthur H., politically Mr. Overton is a Republican. He is one of the
prominent farmers of this township; and now owns 319 acres of valuable land,
under fence and well improved, upon which is a good vineyard, residence and
outbuildings.
OWEN, James B.
source: 1883 History of St. Clair
County MO, National Historical Co., pg: 1175
--- JAMES B. OWEN, section 29, a representative citizen of this township, is
the son of Josiah and Sarah Owen, nee Butcher, and was born in Gasconade
County, Missouri, in 1833. His father was born in South Carolina in 1801, and
in 1824 was married, his wife having come originally from Calhoun, Tennessee.
They had twelve children, James being the fifth child. Previous to his birth
the senior Owen had moved to Gasconade County, Missouri, but when nine years
old the subject of this sketch, leaving that vicinity, went to Camden County in
1842, to Dade County in 1843, Hickory in 1848, Cooper in 1860, and finally
settled in St. Clair County in 1869. In 1855 Mr. Owen was married in Hickory
County to Lucy A. Dickinson, and they are the parents of eleven children:
Marion J., William, Medford, Louisa C., James M., Mary S., Sarah M., Nancy R.,
Mattie D., Charlie J. and John F. Mr. O. is a leading member of the Democratic
party, and has been a delegate to conventions at Osceola every year since in
the county. He took an active part in the rebellion, and was engaged in
forty-two battles, first serving as lieutenant and then as quartermaster
general. He received three severe wounds, and had three horses shot from under
him. His landed estate embraces 240 acres.