John Clarence Overton was born January 14, 1856 in Dane County, Wisconsin to John and Lucinda L. (Otto) Overton. John futhered his education and attended the University of Chicago. 

He appeared in Turner County, Dakota Territory on the 1880 census and by June 30, 1884, he received his Homestead Patent for the SW 1/4 of section 19, township 099N and range 053W living near the Blake family. Sometime in 1882, he and Eliza Thayer Blake were married although, no marriage record has been located. John and Eliza lived on their homestead for a number of years and John supplemented their income teaching a number of sessions as reported in the newspaper "The New Era."

Between 1900 and 1905, he and Eliza moved from Parker to Hennessey, Oklahoma with his brother-in-law, William J. Blake. They lived in the Hennessey area until Eliza's death in June, 1915. 

Source: 1900 Federal Census, Parker Township, Turner, South Dakota, Roll: 1554; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0322;

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Shortly after Eliza's death, John went to Denver, Colorado where he had a number of siblings living. His sister Adele (Overton) Brown passed away on February 12, 1916 with a sizable estate. 

He then moved to King County, Washington, where he had some nieces living. On May 4, 1916, he married Jennie (Turner) Hawgood in Woodland, Oregon. Each of them stated it was their 2nd marriage. They lived in Oregon until Jennie's death on Feb. 1, 1933. 

On November 1, 1933, John married Jennie (Heath) Plowman in Vancouver, Washington. Each stated it was their 3rd marriage. Jennie passed away on May 30,1936 in Marion County, Oregon where she is buried. 

John passed away on January 8, 1939 in Hubbard, Marion County, Oregon. According to his death certificate, he was buried in Newport, Oregon. 

Source: Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon; Oregon, Death Records, 1867-1971; Klamath & Marion, 1939, Ancestry.com.