Bio-Overfield, GeorgeL

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George L.P. Overfield
(1857-1921)

George L.P. Overfield was born in November 1857 (or 1855) in either Barbour or Preston County, VA (later WV), the son of John Edgar and Sarah (Hanshaw) Overfield.

As an unmarried man, George migrated to Canada to work with livestock. In September 1890, George made his home in Port Macleod, Canada. That month, he paid a visit to his parents in Reedsville, with the news covered in the Preston County Journal.

Later, by 1900, he moved again, to Montana, settling in Fort Benton, the county seat of Chouteau County. There, he continued his life's calling as a stockman.

George married Alice M. (?) (1873-? ), a native of Ireland, in about 1901. She was 17 years younger than her husband.

They had three children, of whom two are known -- Alice Hanora and Basham D. Overfield. The other died in childhood during the 1900s.

Local landmark George and Alice would have known well -- the ruins of old Fort Benton, Montana, a onetime fur trading center dating to the 1840s.

Circa 1908-1920, when the federal censuses were taken, the Overfields lived on Baker Street in Fort Benton. George was employed in 1910 as a stockman on a ranch, but had no occupation in 1920. They lived next to the St. Clare Hospital, also known locally as the County Poor House.

At the death of his uncle Dr. Guy Hanshaw in 1908, George was entitled to receive 1/48 of the estate, which included lucrative oil and gas wells. He received an immediate payout from the estate of $38.54 in 1909. At intervals over the years, through 1942, he and his heirs received royalty payments from the oil and gas wells. The high point was in 1918, when he was paid $16.36. In total, he received $171.74 in inheritance.

Sadly, George died on June 21, 1921, in Chouteau County. He was age 64.

Alice's fate is not yet known.

Daughter Alice Overfield (1905- ? ) was employed as a public school teacher in Clarkdale, Yavapai County, AZ as shown in the federal census of 1930. That year, she roomed with other teachers in a house on First Street South. She later married (?) Hanora.

Son Basham D. Overfield (1907- ? ) is lost to history after 1920.