Week 5 "Library"

I've been interested in genealogy now for a few years and for the first part of my genealogy journey most of the information I had gotten came from either the internet or from family members. It made me feel like a phony in a way. I know that, yes, the internet can be a good place to find things now since more and more information is online. But I had heard many stories of my cousins and aunts visiting libraries and historical societies and writing letters to places far away and having documents sent back to them. I often felt like I wasn't a real genealogist because I hadn't done any of those things yet. But I was just using the resources available to me at the time.

It wasn't until 2016, I think, that my mom and I visited, in one weekend, 2 different genealogy libraries and probably 20 cemeteries. After that I finally felt like a true genealogist!! Finally being able to find hard copy proof of certain ancestors was just so much fun and very addicting!! The digging through pages and books, and hoping that what your looking for is on the next page!!

The first library we visited was in Mercer County Missouri where my dad's dad's mom's family, the Overton's, had lived. While my mom and I were at the library we were in this little room lined with books looking through obituaries and all sorts of documents trying to find info on the Overton's but not finding much.

Before we left we spoke with a librarian and she asked what the family name we were looking for and we told her. It turned out the entire time we were there she was making photo copies of a book for someone else and it was "The Overtons of Anderson County Tenneessee and their Cox cousins". We couldn't believe it! That was THE book we needed to see too!! But we had to leave to meet some cousins and didn't have time to stay to make copies ourselves. I'm hoping to go back some day and get copies of that book. I was able to find some info from a book called "Pioneer's Book, Mercer Co"

The Moses Overton family originated from Anderson County Tennessee but made there way to Missouri. They knew the Civil war was about to break out and Moses strongly opposed slavery and wanted to move to a Union state and had heard good things about the Missouri farmland. He sold his land and his distillery for $300 and in October of 1851 he and his wife and 10 of their children left for Missouri. They traveled with either horses or oxen and the family walked. They purchased 30 acres of land for $1.50 an acre just east of the Tennessee Cemetery in Mercer Co. Missouri.

Moses Overton and his Brothers. John, James, and Alfred all stayed and died in Anderson County Tennessee. 

One cool thing about the Overton's is that once they got to Missouri they didn't move around a lot, at least my direct ancestors. Within Mercer County and the county to the East of there, Putnam County, I have 5 generations of direct descendants of that line buried close together!!

My great grandmother Stella Marie (Overton) Mullins (Putnam Co.)

My 2x Great Grandfather Frank Overton (Putnam Co.)

My 3 x Great Grand parents Lucy and William Overton (Putnam Co.)

My 4 x Great Grandfather Enoch Overton (Mercer Co.)

My 5x Great Grandfather Moses Overton (Mercer Co.)

During the Civil war Moses and his sons Enoch, Alexander, and Joseph all enlisted in the war and served. Moses for 6 months and Enoch for 3 years. In records I've found online it said that Enoch joined as a Corporal in Co. G. 3rd Missouri State Militia Calvary on April 4th 1862 at Chillicothe Missouri. His father Moses Joined the same company on the same day. I found where it said that Enoch was utilized as a Teamster. In one Document I found on Fold3 it said that his horse was once captured by the enemy while they were in action in Warsaw Missouri!!

Document telling about his horse getting captured from fold3.com 

Pvt Alexander Overton joined the Co. D., 44th MO infantry. 

Alexander Overton's tombstone in the Tennessee Cemetery in Mercer Co. Missouri. 

From the Find a Grave page for Joseph Overton. It said he enlisted in the Co. F. 8th Iowa Cavalry on June 24th 1863. He was severely wounded and taken prisoner on October 30th 1864 at Florence, AL. He was released but later died from his wounds. He is buried in Kentucky at Cave Hill National Cemetery. 

Joseph's widow Elizabeth pension file discussing him being wounded in battle. 

Joseph's Tombstone

It's one thing to read about and watch movies about the Civil war. But to put it into context with your own relatives is amazing and makes it all the more real! I enjoyed learning about the Overton family and their dedication of service to our country. Plus they had such a conviction against slavery that they left everything they knew to avoid fighting for something they didn't believe in. 

Since that first day at the Mercer Co Library I've been to several other libraries and LOVE combing through books and articles and looking at microfilm to find that next piece of information to add to the family tree.