Robert Carter Overton (1827-1893)
Son of Jesse Overton

Robert Carter Overton was born in Tennessee and died in Missouri.  He and his family moved from Tennessee to Smith County, Texas where several of his children were born.  Robert's brother, Dr. Samuel Overton delivered at least one of the children, making an entry in his medical journals on April 7, 1866 of a  "visit and acouchement of wife."  This was the birth date of Burdah, daughter of Robert C. Overton and wife Amanda Pace.  They evidently moved to Missouri around 1867, as their daughter Angie was born in that state in 1868.

Robert enlisted in the Confederate Army while living in Smith County, Texas, serving in the "Rusk Avengers."

According to a letter dated March 15, 1880 from his brother, E.C. Overton, to a cousin Mattie Belle Overton in Clinton, Louisiana, "Robert Carter lives in Maury County, Missouri (Corsicana is his post office) and has a large family at age 56."  At least three more children were fathered by Robert C. Overton after this letter was written, as Robert married a much younger women, Sarah Ellen Rodgers (1848-1936) after his first wife died.  At least four children were born to this union.

Below left is a photograph of one of Robert and Amanda Overton's daughters, Lillian Cassandra (1870-1955) and her husband Andrew Guy Hawks (1869-1953).  Both individuals died and are buried in Sacramento County, California, although they were married in Barry County, Missouri in 1893.

Below right is a photograph of Dr. Benjamin Franklin Overton (1855-1940), brother of Lillian Cassandra.  Dr. Overton followed in the footsteps of his uncle Dr. Samuel Overton, graduating from Louisville Medical College in Louisville, Kentucky in 1886.  He practiced medicine in the same rural area as his uncle, who died in 1897.

(Above left photograph courtesy of Melvern Graham, a direct descendant of Robert Carter Overton)

Click here to go to the Childress/Mathis Family Tree data on Roots Web for notes on the above individuals.

More Overton Ancestor Photos:

For additions, corrections or comments, please send an e-mail to Patrick Childress