Davidson-Dekalb County TN Archives Biographies.....Overall, John W. 1855 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com October 26, 2005, 3:07 pm

Author: Will T. Hale

   JOHN W. OVERALL. In public life one of the most influential Republicans of

the state and at present United States marshal for the Middle Tennessee

district, and in business affairs equally prominent as a banker and official in

large enterprises, Mr. John W. Overall is one of the men whose character and

achievement entitle them to mention among the representative Tennesseeans of the

present century.



   Mr. Overall, whose official residence is at Nashville, has many of his

business interests at Liberty, Dekalb county, where he was born on the 7th of

February, 1855. His parents were Wesley and Arena (White) Overall, his father

being a son of Jacob and Sarah (Lawrence) Overall, and his mother being a

daughter of James and Mary (English) White. The family are of English and German

descent.



   After his early training in the public schools he entered Cumberland

University, where he was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1877, and in 1881

received, the degree of LL. B. for his work in the law department. In 1881 he

was elected superintendent of schools for Dekalb county, serving four years. In

1888 he was appointed to the office of United States marshal for the middle

district, and in 1902 was again appointed to the same office, and by

reappointment in 1906 and 1910 has served continuously for the last sixteen

years, his present term expiring March 10, 1914.



   For thirty years Mr. Overall has been one of the leading Republicans of the

state. He was for twelve years member of the state central committee; was

delegate from the fifth congressional district to the national convention of

1892; was member of the credentials committee of the national convention in 1896

and 1900; and was a delegate to the conventions of 1904, 1908 and 1912. Mr.

Overall is probably the best informed man in the state on the political history

of the Republican party during the last twenty years.



   Outside of his public duties he has long been a successful business man. He

is president of banks in Liberty, his native town, and at Auburn; is president

of the Lebanon and Sparta Pike Company in this state; and president of the

Overall-Hows Hat Company. His fraternities are the Knights of Pythias and the

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he is also a member of the Hermitage and

Commercial clubs. Mrs. Overall's maiden name was Mary Oliver, and she is the

daughter of a Confederate soldier, Luther Oliver, who was killed on the field of

battle in 1863. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Overall there are two daughters:

Elizabeth and Mary John.



Additional Comments:
From:



A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans : the leaders and representative men in

commerce, industry and modern activities

by Will T. Hale

Chicago:  Lewis Pub. Co.,  1913



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