The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1883-04-07
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\ opclousas Courier.
4 On Monday last telegram was
received from New York city by
| Judge j. III. Moore, announcing The
death of Judge j. III. Overton, bis
venerable and distinguished faith
er.in-law, on Sunday last in thai
city. Judge Overtou had reached
the ripe old age of eighty-seveu
/ years, rich III the honors Of d halt
century of conspicuous and distin.
guished services rendered TO his
adopted state Louisiana, and per
petuating through his long life the
talents, patriotism, civil and mill
tary reuown, and many social vir.
tues transmitted by a noble ances-
try dating back to our revolutions
airy fathers. In his death st.
Landry parish has lost one of her
Oldest landmarks, one of her most
distinguished jurists, and one d
her ablest and most prominent
citizens. Living here for almost
fifty years, his life may be said to
be contemporalIeous with all the
leading epOchs which mark the
history of our parish in social, civic
Oh political stations. We mightgu
further and very justly add, that
by his death the state Of Louisiana
has lost one of her most eminent
men and distinguished citizens,
prominent alike in her legislative
halls. on the bench, and ia the lle-
litieal arena Of her most illustrious
history of the past
Judge Oyarton was born ait Fay
ettevilIe, N. ~, ia the year f796.
He was the son of Gen. Thomas
I'Overton, a staunch friend and ar
dent supporter of Gen. Jackson,
and who served with distinction
under Gen. jackson during the war
of 1S12.l5 His mother was the
sister of Gov. Holmes. Of North
Carolina, Que Of the most dlistiA-
guished men of the state iD that
day. From North Carolina his
father emigrated to Nashville,
Tehn., about the same time that
jackson, Benton, and other noted
men removed to the new state He
had three SOUS who all reached con-
siderable military renowu under
the leadership of jackson. Judge
j. III. Oyerton was not old enough
to engage in the war of 1914, but
joined Jackson in bis expulsion Of
the Spanish from Florida in 1917.
After this campaign he entered the
law Office 0f his nnele ali Memphis
and studied the profession which
he So brilliantly adorned in his
subsequent life. From Tennessee
Judge Overton moved to Ouachita
parish, ami from thence to St. Ian,
dry parish, which remained his
home the remainder of his active
life. III 1924, he was elected to the
Legislature from st. Landry and
served for many succeeding terms
i'll that body. He was afterwards
elected judge of his district, anil
filed that position with marked
ability for a long term of years.
Reared in the Jackson school of
democratic principles, he adhered
to his Spartan Allegiance the whole
of eyentful life. His abilities.
staunch fealty, and acknowledged
patriotism made him a conspicuous
leader of the democracy in St.
Landry, for long series Of event
ful years. He was an eucyclope-
dia Of all the salient points OF our
state and national history for al
most a century past.
Judge Overton leaves four sur
yiving children, All of whom are
filling important stations III life,
and worthy in every respect Of
their lamented and distinguished
father. The oldest daughter, Mrs
Henry Morgan, resides in New
York city, where he died; Thos. H.
OyeEton, Esq, is the district attorf
neO of Ayoyelles parish; JOhn I'll.
Oyerton, Jr,, is a prosperous mer-
chant IN New Orleans; and Mrs. j
Al. Moore, the wife Of our esteemed
t0wpsman, Hon, J, M Moore, the
| able judge OF the circuit court Of
this circuit.
On last Tuesday committee was
appointed by Judge G.. w, Hud-
spath of our district court--n0w 10