Obituaries from the Lee Overton Family
Compiled by Karen Hansen, WGS Secretary
Calvin Clyde Overton (Lee’s paternal grandfather) was born in Walnut, Iowa, November 29, 1884, where he spent the greater part of his life. He died at his home in Centerville, Iowa, October 26, 1918, where he has conducted an undertaking parlor for the past two years. He was at the time of his death 33 years, 10 months and 27 days old.
On December 18th, 1907, he was united in marriage to Miss Arminta Brindley, and to this union were born two children: Arminta, aged 8 years, and Milford, aged 4.
He leaves to mourn his death, his wife and children, two brothers, H. E. Overton of Webster City, Iowa, L. A. Overton of Oakland, Iowa, and four sisters: Mrs. T. D. Ames of Kirkman, Mrs. Bert Lanphere of near Atlantic, Miss Bessie of Walnut and Miss Gladys of Atlantic.
Clyde, as everyone knew him, was a kind and loving husband, father, son and brother. His friends were his acquaintances.
The body was brought to Walnut, Monday morning, and at 2 o’clock in the afternoon short funeral services were held at the cemetery where the body was laid to rest.
The family have the heart-felt sympathy of the entire community in this their hour of sorrow.
(The article has a detailed description of his illness of about a week with pneumonia.)
[The Walnut Bureau, Thursday, October 31, 1918, p. 1]
A
rminta Belle Brindley (Lee’s paternal grandmother) was Arminta Pond when she died. [After the early death of her first husband, she married Sol S. Norris. After his death, she married Birt C. Pond on May 25, 1942 in Papillion, Nebraska.]
Memorial services for Arminta B. Pond were held at the Overton Funeral Home in Dysart on Friday, November 4, and at the Roland Funeral Home on Saturday at 3:00 p. m. with the Rev. Robert McBlain in charge of the service at Atlantic. At Dysart, the Rev. Don Griffin was in charge, and Duane Heller sang, accompanied by Mrs. Howard Barnes.
Mrs. Pond was born Arminta Brindley and was a resident of the Walnut area for many years. She was a sister-in-law of Mrs. Bessie Sievers of Walnut.
Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Virgil Caughlin of Cumberland, and a son, Milford Overton of Dysart, with whom she made her home for several years until she entered a nursing home.
Interment was in the Walnut Cemetery. Casket bearers were Marvin Brindley, Tom Brindley, Clair Brindley, Claude Brindley, Kenneth Brindley and Gail Harris.
[The Walnut Bureau, Thursday, November 10, 1966, p. 1]
U
sebius Overton (Lee’s great-grandfather) died Sunday, May 5th, 1918 at 1 p.m. Altho being in poor health the past five years, Mr. Overton’s death came as a shock to his children and friends.
U. Overton was born in Jasper County, Indiana, September 16th, 1854 and died at Walnut, Iowa, at the age of 63 years, 7 months and 19 days.
Deceased was married November 25, 1874 to Martha E. Coppess, who preceded him in death 5 years. To this union were born 9 children, 2 dying in infancy.
The living children are Mrs. Mabel Ames of Kirkman, Iowa; Edgar of Milford, Iowa; Clyde of Centerville, Iowa; Dorothy Lanphere of Atlantic, Iowa; Lewis of Walnut, Iowa; Bessie and Gladys of Atlantic, Iowa.
Besides the children, deceased leaves nine grandchildren, four brothers and one sister; his father, mother and one brother preceding him in death.
Mr. Overton was a kind father, a good neighbor and a friend of every child that knew him.
Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, Rev. F. L. Shepherd officiating and paying a beautiful tribute to the memory of the deceased. The casket was covered with beautiful floral designs, all of which spoke of purity and immortality. At the close of the services a long procession followed the funeral car to our silent city. At the open grave we say “farewell.” May God’s purest angels guard his slumbers.
[The Walnut Bureau, Thursday, May 9, 1918, p. 1]
M
artha E. Overton (Lee’s great-grandmother) , wife of U. Overton, died at her home in Walnut, Thursday, November 21, 1912, at 1 a.m., after a long illness with cancer, being bedfast the last 4 months. At her death her age was 56 years, 9 months, and 25 days.
Martha E. Coppess was born January 26, 1856 in Jasper County, Indiana. Her parents were Adam and Elizabeth Coppess, who, with two sisters, preceded her in death. When a girl, deceased united with the Methodist Church at Independence, Indiana.
Deceased was married November 25, 1874 to Ucebius Overton. In the fall of 1881 they moved to Walnut, where they have since resided. Mrs. Overton was the mother of 9 children, 2 dying in infancy. The living are Mabel Ames of Kirkman, Ia., Edgar and Clyde of Walnut, Ia., Dorothy Lanphere of Atlantic, Ia., and Lewis, Besse, and Gladys, who are still at home.
Besides the husband and children, deceased leaves five grandchildren, three brothers, Calvin and George Coppess of Medaryville, Indiana, Harvey Coppess of Stanwood, Iowa, and four sisters, Mrs. Adam Hess of Edorado, Kansas, Mrs. George Cloud of Ft. Dodge, Mrs. John Gray of Washington, and Mrs. S. R. Comer of Walnut, Iowa.
Mrs. Overton was a loving wife, a kind and affectionate mother, who devoted her life to her home and her family.
Funeral services were held at the M. E. Church, Saturday afternoon at two o’clock. Interment was made in the Walnut cemetery.
[The Walnut Bureau, Thursday, November 28, 1912, p. 1]
L
ewis Overton (Lee’s great-great-grandfather) died at his late home in this city Friday morning August 1, 1902, at the advanced age of eighty years, three months and seventeen days.
Mr. Overton was born in Campbell County, Kentucky, April 15, 1822 and at the age of four years moved with his parents to Rush County, Indiana. On June 6, 1847 he was united in marriage with Harriet L. Sack and to them were born seven children, six sons and one daughter, all of whom with the aged wife survive him. During the active years of his life he was engaged in farming, which occupation he followed, with the exception of the years spent in the Union Army with the Fifth Indiana during the War of the Rebellion, until his removal to this city in the spring of 1887.
Mr. Overton was a loving husband and a kind father, a most exemplary citizen, always held in the highest esteem by his fellow townsmen. Despite his advanced age he enjoyed comparatively good health until last Christmas when the weight of declining years and the ravages of Bright’s disease gained the ascendancy and during the last seven months was almost constantly bedfast suffering with patience and fortitude, calmly awaiting the end that came on Friday morning.
Eighty years—his life spanned perhaps one of the most remarkable periods of the world’s history, an epoch of the world’s greatest progress. With him, his country grew from an insignificant nation to the world’s greatest power, expanding its territory and sphere of influence from the Mississippi valley to the Pacific and to the distant isles of the sea; commercial progress has made its greatest strides and inventive genius has kept apace with its needs. His life certainly spanned a remarkable age.
Short services were conducted at his late home Sunday morning at ten o’clock by Rev. Aten of the Methodist Church and the remains were followed to their last resting place by a large concourse of friends and neighbors. At the grave short services were conducted by John A. Dix Post G. A. R.
[The Walnut Bureau, Friday, August 8, 1902, p. 5]
H
arriette L. Sack (Lee’s great-great-grandmother) was born at Little Rock, West Virginia, October 31, 1830 and died after a short illness at Baldwin, Kansas, February 17, 1915, being 84 years, 3 months and 17 days old.
She was united in marriage to Lewis Overton at Rushville, Indiana, June 6th, 1847. To them were born seven children, six sons and one daughter. Those surviving her are: Robt. B. Overton of Baldwin, Kansas; C. W. Overton, Albert Overton and Mrs. V. A. Dash of Smithville, Minnesota; U. Overton of Walnut, Iowa; and E. E. Overton of Lane, Kansas. These with a host of near relatives and close friends feel keenly the loss of a Christian mother and true friend.
The husband and oldest son, James Overton, preceded her in death.
Mrs. Overton came to Walnut with her family in 1887 and lived at Walnut until four years ago, when she went to Kansas and since has made her home with her son, Robert, at Baldwin.
About 1858 she accepted Christ and united with the Christian Church. Under the pastorate of Rev. Glassburn she placed her letter in the Grace M. E. Church at Walnut and later transferred her membership to Baldwin, Kansas.
The testimony of her Walnut friends is that she lived a consistent Christian life, loved the church and its mission, followed the example of the Master everywhere doing good and was ready when a door was opened in Heaven and the summons came to her to “Come up Hither”.
Rev. E. R. Stroud, pastor of the M. E. Church, conducted the funeral services from the Walnut M. E. Church and interment was made beside her husband in the Walnut cemetery.
The bereft ones have the sympathy of all in this sad hour of life.
[The Walnut Bureau, Thursday, February 25, 1915, p. 1]
J
oshua Brindley Jr. (Lee’s great-grandfather) was born in New Diggings, Wisconsin February 14, 1848 and died at his home, Monroe Twp., Shelby County.
Deceased came to Iowa in 1873, locating northeast of Walnut, and has resided continuously since in Monroe Township, where, by industry and thrift he accumulated a competence and was the owner of one of the finest tracts of land in this locality.
In physique he was strong and robust, of rugged form and athletic, and one whom it would be supposed would not so quickly succumb to the Grim Visitor.
Mr. Brindley had attained much prominence in his community, taking an active part in politics, and at one time elected supervisor from the south district. His force of character and positiveness of convictions made him a force among men.
Though of blunt and outspoken ways he was a man with a kind and gentle heart and a tender, charitable nature. In business he was honorable and upright, his integrity being unimpeachable. As a neighbor and a friend he was true, faithful and beloved. As a father and husband he was devoted and constant.
To his sorrowing wife and children—five in number, are extended the tenderest sympathies of the people.
The funeral was held Saturday, Dec. 1, from the Monroe Church, Rev. Hickock, of Bowmans Grove, preaching the funeral sermon, and under the auspices of the Masons of Harlan and the Odd Fellows of Walnut, with whom he held membership. The funeral cortege was made up of 160 teams, the largest attendance ever known in the community. The remains were interred in the Monroe Cemetery.
[The Walnut Bureau, Friday, December 7, 1894, p. 2]
M
rs. Isabelle Clark Brindley (Lee’s great-grandmother) , 85, a pioneer resident of Walnut and vicinity, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Sol Norris, near Massena Sunday morning at 10 o’clock. Death was due to infirmities of her advanced age.
She was born in Barren County, Kentucky, August 2, 1851, the daughter of John and Sarah Clark. When she was a year old the family moved to Boscobel, Wisconsin, and it was there she grew to young womanhood. On September 19, 1869 she was married to Joshua Brindley at Fennimore, Wisconsin.
In the year 1873, she and her husband migrated to Iowa, making the long journey by covered wagon, and located on Wisconsin Ridge, north of Walnut. Her husband died in 1894 and since his death Mrs. Brindley has lived with her children.
Mrs. Brindley united with the Baptist Church when a small child. She was a charter member of Mignon Chapter No. 286 O. E. S. of Walnut.
Surviving are five children, Mrs. Martha Fraser, Thomas J., William and Robert Brindley, all of Walnut and Mrs. Arminta Norris of Massena. There are twenty-one grandchildren and thirty-four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the Monroe chapel on Wisconsin Ridge Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, the Rev. C. F. Curtis, pastor of the M. E. Church, officiated. “Abide with Me”, “Rock of Ages” and “Sweet Bye and Bye” were sung by Mr. and Mrs. Parker, with Mrs. W. S. Smathers accompanist. Interment was made in the Monroe Township Cemetery. Pall bearers were her six grandsons, Marvin, Claude, Tom, Boyd and Clark Brindley, and Milford Overton.
[The Walnut Bureau, Thursday, April 22, 1937, p. 1]