Marion County >> 1915 Index

The History of Marion County, Iowa
John W. Wright and W. A. Young, supervising eds. 2 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1915.

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Edgar M. Osborn - page 296

Edgar M. Osborn is successfully engaged in merchandising at Tracy, having there conducted a general store since February, 1912. His birth occurred in Dallas county, Iowa, on the 13th of October, 1881, his parents being J. P. and Alice S. (Sumner) Osborn, both of whom were natives of Indiana. They removed to Dallas county, Iowa, in an early day, settling on a farm whereon the mother eventually passed away. The father survives, however, and now makes his home in Arkansas. They had three children, all of whom are yet living.

Edgar M. Osborn had the advantage of a high-school education in his youth and remained at home until he was seventeen years of age. Subsequently he was employed in a grocery store for some time and in February, 1912, embarked in business on his own account, opening a general store at Tracy, where he has carried on merchandising continuously to the present time. He displays a large and well selected stock of goods and is accorded a liberal and gratifying patronage because of his reasonable prices and his courteous treatment of customers.

In November, 1908, Mr. Osborn was united in marriage to Miss Leora M. Hanna, a daughter of William R. and Julia (Rouze) Hanna, who were born in Ohio and Iowa respectively. Their three children all survive. Mr. and Mrs. Osborn are the parents of a daughter, Alice J., who was born on the 26th of November, 1911. Mr. Osborn gives his political allegiance to the republican party, while both he and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal church. He is one of the progressive and enterprising citizens of the community, as well as one of the substantial merchants, and has many friends who accord him the esteem he well merits.

Asbury Sheridan Overton - page 158

Asbury Sheridan Overton is a well known farmer and stockman of Knoxville township who owns and cultivates two hundred acres of land on section 34, about seven miles southeast of the city of Knoxville. The farm presents a neat and attractive appearance and indicates the careful supervision and practical, progressive methods of Mr. Overton, who is one of the native sons of the county. He was born on the 24th of April, 1865, his father being Tyler Overton, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.

The youthful days of Asbury S. Overton were spent on the old homestead where he was born, and between the ages of six and fifteen years he was a pupil in the district school not far from his home. He then started out to earn his living and since that time has depended entirely upon his own efforts. He has always followed the occupation to which he was reared, nor has he had any desire to make a change in his life work. More than a century ago George Washington said: "Farming is the most useful as well as the most honorable occupation of man;" and it is to this line of labor that Mr. Overton has directed his efforts. In the spring of 1902 he took up his abode upon his present farm, comprising two hundred acres of rich and productive land on section 34, Knoxville township, pleasantly and conveniently located about seven miles southeast of Knoxville. Upon it are found fine modern improvements. He carries on general agricultural pursuits and for about ten years was engaged largely in the raising of thoroughbred shorthorn cattle but sold his herd in 1897. For a long period he has bred Shropshire sheep and is still a member of the Shropshire Breeders' Association. Sound judgment has characterized all of his business undertakings and energy and enterprise have led him constantly forward toward the goal of success.

In 1902 Mr. Overton was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Bender, who was born in Knoxville in 1879 and was here reared. She is a daughter of Charles and Mary (Welsh) Bender. Her father came to Marion county in the fall of 1872 and for forty-two years was a resident of this part of the state, his death occurring September 28, 1914, when he was sixty-eight years of age. His widow, who was born in Marion county, still resides here at the age of sixty-four years, her home being in Knoxville. In the Bender family were four children, three of whom reached adult age: Mrs. Jessie Miller, living in Knoxville township; James Calvin, a farmer who is married and resides in Oklahoma; and Mrs. Overton. To Mr. and Mrs. Overton have been born seven children, as follows: Lois, who is eleven years of age; Maria, ten years old; Marion, Karl, Wayne and Merle, who are nine, seven, five and four years of age respectively; and Charles, whose natal day was November 1, 1913.

Politically Mr. Overton is a republican and broad reading and deep thought keep him in touch with the significant political problems of the day, so that he is able to support his position by intelligent argument. He does not seek nor desire office, however. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church and both are highly esteemed, having many warm friends in the community where they have always lived. Those who know them speak of them in terms of high regard and they are representative residents of Knoxville township.

Tyler Overton - page 309

The pioneer history of Marion county bears the name of Tyler Overton, for he was one of the first settlers in this part of the state and aided in laying broad and deep the foundation for the present prosperity and progress of the community. He continued to reside within its borders until death called him on the 24th of September, 1878. He was then about sixty-five years of age, his birth having occurred in North Carolina on the 10th of November, 1813. His parents were Asa and Katura (Tyler) Overton, who resided in Randolph county, North Carolina, until their son Tyler reached young manhood. About that time the family removed westward to Lee county, Iowa, where the parents remained until called to their final rest.

In 1843 Tyler Overton, then about thirty years of age, came to Marion county and secured a claim of three hundred and twenty acres which is still in the possession of the family. The work of progress and development had scarcely been begun here at the time of his arrival and a number of years passed ere the county could be said to have emerged from the conditions of pioneer life. The land which came into his possession was all wild, not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made, but with characteristic energy he began its development and the result was soon seen in well cultivated fields from which he gathered good crops. He shared in the hardships and trials of pioneer life and bore his part in the work of early development and improvement. At the time of his arrival wild game of all kinds was plentiful and it was no difficult thing for a hunter to return home with a plentiful supply of meat for the family larder. The prairies were covered with the wild native grasses, starred with a million wild flowers in June, while in December they were covered with a dazzling, unbroken sheet of snow. One could ride for miles without coming to a fence to impede his progress and all of the early homes were log cabins or other primitive dwellings.

On the 19th of December, 1844, Mr. Overton was married to Miss Rebecca May, who was then in her sixteenth year, a daughter of Alexander and Hessie May, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of North Carolina. The family is of English and Dutch lineage and was established in Indiana in pioneer times. Mrs. Overton was born in Fountain county, Indiana, January 30, 1829. In her girlhood her parents removed with their family to Montgomery county, Indiana, where they resided until 1843 and then came to Iowa. The following year she became the wife of Tyler Overton and for thirty-four years they traveled life's journey happily together but were separated by the death of the husband on the 24th of September, 1878, while Mrs. Overton did not pass away until December, 1901. In their family were nine children, as follows: Mrs. Frances Beebout, who died about thirty years ago; Mary Elizabeth, who is the wife of Francis May; Henry Alexander, a prominent farmer and orchardist of Knoxville township, this county; Benjamin Franklin, who is deceased; Hester Helen, who gave her hand in marriage to William Robuck; Sherwood, who has passed away; John W., an agriculturist of Knoxville township, this county; Asbury S., a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work; and Laura Rebecca, who is deceased.

Mrs. Overton survived her husband for many years or for almost a quarter of a century and resided in one of the finest homes of the township upon the farm which had been developed and improved by her husband. Upon the place is one of the fine orchards of the county and many other modern improvements which indicate the care and labor that have been bestowed upon the farm. Both Mr. and Mrs. Overton were members of the Christian church and took an active part in its work from 1851, assisting materially in advancing its growth and extending its influence. Both were highly esteemed and no history of Marion county would be complete without mention of this worthy pioneer couple.

B. W. Owen - page 416

B. W. Owen, who carries on general farming, his home being on section 24, Liberty township, has a large and valuable property and in addition to the cultivation of the fields he is engaged in the raising of shorthorn cattle. He is a man of determined purpose who formulates his plans carefully and then carries them forward to successful completion. He was born in Liberty township, Marion county, on the 16th of March, 1870, a son of John E. and Elvira (Berry) Owen, natives of Ohio and Iowa respectively. The father removed westward to this state and in Mahaska county was married. To them were born three children: William E., Quilla A., and B. W. The mother passed away in 1871, when her youngest son, the subject of this review, was but a year old, and her grave was made in Mahaska county. The father long survived and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Hamilton.

John E. Owen came to Marion county in the year 1857, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers, and from that time until his death he was much interested in the development and progress of this section, taking an active part in advancing the public welfare. Following the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted as a piper in Company H, Eighth Iowa Infantry, and served until honorably discharged on account of ill health before the close of the war. He then returned home and began farming, continuing actively in that pursuit throughout his remaining days. He also engaged in the raising of graded stock and had good horses. His political allegiance was given the republican party and he kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day and was ever ready to support his position by intelligent argument. He accumulated considerable property through dint of hard work and capable business management and so honorable and upright was he in all his dealings that he enjoyed the highest respect and confidence of those with whom he came in contact. His death occurred in 1890.

B. W. Owen was educated in the local schools and in his youthful days started out in business on his own account, always following the occupation of farming, to which he was reared. He erected all of the buildings upon his place and in many ways has improved the property, which is today one of the valuable farms of the county, comprising three hundred and thirty-nine acres of valuable and productive land, all of which is under cultivation and is free from all indebtedness. He carries on general farming and is also engaged in the raising of shorthorn cattle. The place is pleasantly and conveniently located not far from Hamilton, on sections 24, 25 and 26, Liberty township.

On the 16th of June, 1892, Mr. Owen was united in marriage to Miss Louisa McGee, her parents being J. A. and Luda (Grass) McGee, who have resided in Monroe county, this state, since pioneer times. Mr. and Mrs. Owen have five children, namely: Beulah, who was born July 21, 1893, and is the wife of Chester Bailey; Blanche, whose birth occurred November 19, 1895; Clyde, whose natal day was October 7, 1898; Elmer, born November 30, 1906; and Donald, who was born on the 24th of October, 1909.

Mr. Owen has never sought to figure prominently in any public connection outside of business, feeling that his farming interests demanded his best efforts. He has closely studied the problems of the farmer and carries on his work according to modern, scientific methods and ideas. That his plans are characterized by sound judgment is indicated in the success which has come to him and which has placed him among the representative agriculturists of this part of the state.