The Clinton Public
DeWitt County, Illinois
Thursday, October 15, 1863
Death of a Baptist Minister and Soldier.
Rev. Overton ELY, the subject of this notice, was born in Overton
county, Tennessee, January 9, 1820. He moved from his native State
to
Madison county, Illinois, in 1844. He was hopefully converted
under the
preaching of Elder DODSON in a series of meetings held with the
Pleasant
Ridge Church in the fall of 1852 and was by him baptized into
the
fellowship of that church. He soon afterwards began to preach
and was
licensed by the church, January 1853. In 1855 he moved near Clinton,
DeWitt county, and united with the church there and continued
his
membership in that church until his death. A council was convened
in
Clinton for his ordination, and he was set apart to the ministry,
March
8th, 1860.
In the summer of ’62, with thousands of others, he left all
he held
sacred on earth and entered the service of his country, in the
41st
regiment, Illinois volunteers. He was in eight battles, viz.:
Fort
Henry, Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Hatchie, Vicksburg, and Jackson.
It
was on the last dreadful assault on Jackson that he was killed,
July
12th. So far as can be ascertained, he was first wounded in the
left
arm, and seated against a stump holding his wounded arm, a shell
struck
him on the head, carrying away the upper part. Nothing has been
heard of
him since, as few survived to tell the sad story of the dying
and dead.
He was buried by rebel hands, but we know not where.
As a true Christian, he carried his religion to the camp and the
battlefield and unsolicited members of his company have informed
the
writer of his devoted piety in camp. He organized a mess of praying
men,
and kept up a prayer meeting as regular as circumstances would
permit in
his tent. His regiment mourns his loss and feels that a good man
has
fallen and that there is one less praying spirit among them. He
was
regarded among his associates as a brave soldier and a devoted
Christian. Thus another herald of the cross has fallen. May we
be
faithful in our duties as he was and be prepared for the Master’s
summons. May the widow’s God be the support of his afflicted
companion
and seven fatherless children.
T. REESE