John H. Overton

John Overton
United States Senator fromLouisiana
In office March 4, 1933 – May 14, 1948
Preceded by	Edwin S. Broussard
Succeeded by	William C. Feazel
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's8thdistrict
In office May 12, 1931 – March 3, 1933
Preceded by	James Aswell
Succeeded by	Cleveland Dear
Personal details
Born	John Holmes Overton Sr. (1875-09-17)September 17, 1875 Marksville,Louisiana,U.S.
Died	May 14, 1948(1948-05-14)(aged 72) Bethesda, Maryland,U.S.
Resting place	Mount Olivet Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Ada Dismukes
Children	4
Relatives	Overton Brooks(nephew)
Education	Louisiana State University(BA) Tulane University(LLB)

John Holmes Overton Sr.(September 17, 1875 – May 14, 1948), was anattorneyandDemocraticUS RepresentativeandUS SenatorfromLouisiana.His nephew,Thomas Overton Brooks,was also a US representative, from theShreveport-based 4th district of Louisiana.

Family

He was the youngest son of Judge Thomas Overton and the former Laura Waddill. His great-uncle was General and US RepresentativeWalter Hampden Overton.Another distant relative wasThomas Overton Moore,thegovernor of Louisianaduring theAmerican Civil War.

Early life

Born inMarksvilleinAvoyelles Parish,Overton graduated in 1895 fromLouisiana State UniversityinBaton Rougeand in 1897 fromTulane University Law SchoolinNew Orleans.

In 1905, Overton married the former Ada Ruth Dismukes ofNatchitoches.They had three daughters, Katharine (1910–1988), Ruth (1912–1973), and Mary Elizabeth (1916–1988), and a son, John H. Overton Jr. (1914–1946).

Career

Overton was admitted to the Louisiana bar in 1898. He established a law practice with four partners inAlexandriaand was the city attorney as well. He was a member of the LSU Board of Supervisors.

In 1918, Overton ran for the US Senate but was defeated byEdward J. Gay,ofPlaquemine,inIberville Parish,nearBaton Rouge.

Overton became a staunch supporter ofHuey Longand served as Long's counsel in theimpeachmentproceedings against the governor in the spring of 1929.

I've supported every governor that has been elected in Louisiana for twenty-five years, all on promises that they have made to the people. Not one of them has been able or, if able, willing to carry out what was expected of him. The present governor is throwing out of office the clique that all other governors promised to throw out. He is backed to the wall in his efforts to redeem his campaign pledges.

In 1931, Overton was elected to fill the now-defunctLouisiana's 8th congressional districtseat in theUnited States House of Representatives,which had been vacated by the death of RepresentativeJames B. Aswell,of Natchitoches. Overton served in the House for less than a term: from May 12, 1931, to March 4, 1933.

In 1932, Overton unseated the two-term US SenatorEdwin S. Broussard,ofNew Iberia,for the Democraticnomination,then equivalent to election in Louisiana. Overton was warmly endorsed by Long, who then became his Senate colleague. Six years earlier, Long had helped Broussard turn back a challenge from aconservativeformer governor,Jared Y. Sanders Sr.,but the two had long since parted political alliances. In hisautobiography,Every Man a King,Long notes that Overton won all sixty-four parishes against Broussard, including the incumbent's ownIberia Parish.Long said that Overton had "always been very kind to me. [He] let me speak in his meetings every time he ran for the Senate."

Despite his lopsided loss, Broussard allegedfraudand voter irregularities. A Senate investigating committee held months of hearings beginning in February 1933, but Overton was nevertheless seated without opposition on March 4, the first day of the congressional session. As a senator, Overton generally voted with theConservative Coalitionof Midwestern Republicans and Southern Democrats, much like Broussard.

Overton was re-elected in 1938 and 1944, as has been traditional with incumbent Democratic senators in Louisiana. His committee memberships included Appropriations, Manufactures, Commerce, and Irrigation and Reclamation. His chief area of interest was in flood control and river and harbor development.

Overton attempted to withdraw from re-election race in 1944. However, his Louisiana colleague,Allen J. Ellender,circulated a letter urging him to run. The letter was signed by all of the Senate Democrats.

Death and legacy

Overton's last term was cut short by his death atNational Naval Medical CenterinBethesda, Maryland.His remains were buried atMount Olivet CemeteryinPinevilleinRapides Parish.In 1985, his house in Alexandria was added to theNational Register of Historic Places.In 1998, Overton wasposthumouslyinducted into theLouisiana Political Museum and Hall of FameinWinnfield.

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)
• List of United States senators expelled or censured

References

• "John Holmes Overton"A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography,Vol. II (1988), p. 623
• United States Congress."John H. Overton (id: O000146)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Alexandria Daily Town Talk,May 17, 1948
• Alcee Fortier,Louisiana(1909)
• T. Harry Williams,Huey Long(1969)
• New Orleans Times-Picayune,February 26, 1933; November 5, 1944
• Winnfield, La - Old L&A Depot, LA Political Museumat www.cityofwinnfield.com
• Biographical Directory of the American Congress: 1774-1971,p. 1500.

External links

• Cemetery Memorial by La-Cemeteries