St. Landry democrat., 1883-04-07
THE LATE JUDGE OYERTON.

fed citizen will none the less be pain
fully felt. AS the name be leaves be-
hind him is more or less intimately as
ISOLATED with the public history OF this
State for the last Fifty years, the writer
hopes to be pardoned it he draws
little ON the resources OF his memory for
some of the leading events OF his long
and checkered career. The record is
not an uneventful one, and is referred
to now in order to supply some OF the
omissions in the numerous notices OF
the deceased which have appeared in
the public prints.
AS many of as know, Judge Overton
was a native of Fayetteville, North
Carolina. AT an extremely early age
he was carried to Tennessee, where he
grew up to years of manhood. While
mere youth of twenty, and just after
completing his collegiate course at the
University of Nashville, then under the
presidency OF the celebrated Dr.. Priest
ly, young Ogerton joined the forces un-
der General jackson in the Seminole
war OF 1917, and became a member OF
his life guard, a body composed OF the
first young men of Tennessee.
Twas while in this service that Gen.
jackson rendered young Overton first
lieutenancy in the LIST Rifles, q famous
regimentattached to the regular army.
Unwilling, however, to adopt the mil
itary as his profession, he declined the
compliment, which, under the circnm-
stances, was most hattering one. In
this service the youthful soldier assisted
in the capture of Pensacola, was present.
at the assault on the Barancas, a fort.
which commands the water approaches
to Pensacola, and participated IN hume
rous Indian engagements.
Active hostilities ceasing, young
Overten embarked in the study OF the
law under his uncle, Judge 0verton OF
Tennessee, the eminent 4jurist OF that,
State, and author of Oyerton's Tenncs-
see Reports.
After his admission to the bar, he,
emisrated to this State, settling at Mon
roe, buacllita parish, where he proceed
ed to practice his profession. He was
not long resident there before he was
called upon to represent that intelli-
gent constituency in the lower house OF
the general assembly. 1t was in this
connection that he rendered the con-
spicnous service referred to by the
Times Democrat and other papers, in
helping to detach the vote of this State
from Adams and turning it over to his
old friend, Gen. jackson.
Judge Overton had scarcely served a
term in the legislature by the
way, was the only political position he
eEer.held- before he was called upon to
serve in another and important relation
as prosecuting attorney OF his district.
In this position he soon acquired dis
tinction, so much SO, that Gov. Robert
son rendered him, at the early age OF
twenty-six, the appointment Of Judge
Of his circuit. He filed this Office with
marked ability until the year 1885. when
he removed to this parish where he re-
sumed the practice Of his profession,
and which be made his home for nearly
fifty years.
Id 1eAO President Van Buren, rendered
Judge Overton the responsible and del
icate post of commissioner, on the part
Of the u. S. Government, to fix and de-
termine the boundary line between the
United States and the then Republic OF
Texas. In this important work he had
with him as Engineer Officers, Gen. Jo-
seph e. Johnston Of Confederate fame,
and Gen. Meade, who commanded the
Federal forces at Gettysburg. He was
for q portion of two years engaged in
this important work, which he perform
ed with entire satisfaction to the gov
III 1S45 Judge Overton was again
called to the bench, this time as Judge
Of this district, the duties of which, as
he had done in the preceding instance,
he discharged with conspicuous credit
to himself for a period OF eight years.
It was sometime about the year 1850
that Judge Dyerton first became inter-
ssted in works of internal improvement,
in the advancement of which he devo-
ed some Of the best years Of his active
life. Many OF our older citizens will
him in connection with what
vas then known as the N. O., Opelousas
md Great Western Railroad Company
II Hhich he may truly be said, in large
Measure. to be the founder and proiec-