OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE : ANTOINE OVERTON, aka Anthony Overton Sr., The Colored Man rumored to have purchased the land where the "WISNER SCHOOL" was built on in Monroe,Louisiana, in1866 "WE Are BORN into This WORLD ; We GRADUATE from SCHOOL ; but We TRANSITION To The HERE AFTER!" -Garry Blanson. Sometimes when I am conducting my research, and going through the "FUNERAL PROGRAM BOOKS," which are located in the main library on Stubb's Ave in Monroe, Louisiana, I think about how a person's entire life gets reduced to just a few paragraphs on a few pieces of paper! Also, as I am sitting in my chair, I sometimes contemplate the many times how somebody's name is inadvertently left off of the Funeral Program, and how it isn't discovered until it's too late to be properly rectified. Additionally, I am surprised to discover and learn about how some people who I didn't know were even related to one another were in fact close cousins!!! Well come to find out, it seems that you certainly can run across some interesting information about a person's family history, by reading their obituaries. Yes, I must say that I am truly grateful that someone decided to have those Funeral Program Obituary Books placed in the Geanology Department, so that we can go and research the history of our family as well as the history of other families living in the Monroe/Ouachita Parish Area. Now, on to this week's Black Pioneer! While much as been written about his famous son, Anthony Overton Jr., the first Negro to Head A Major Conglomerate Business Corporation in America, little has been written about his father, who happens to be this week's BLACK PIONEER, ANTOINE OVERTON, aka Anthony Overton Senior. Antoine was born on March 10, 1823, in the state of Louisiana. Well, I'm guessing that sometime around 1861, or just after the end of the American Civil War, Antoine and his wife, Martha Deberry Overton, somehow ended up here in Monroe, Louisiana. To this union was born one son, Anthony Overton Junior. Shockingly, in 1869, an unprecedented event took place in Ouachita Parish that was unheard of at the time. During the Period known as Reconstruction is, "ANTOINE OVERTON, A COLORED MAN BECAME THE FIRST BLACK MAN TO BE ELECTED TO AND HOLD A POLITICAL OFFICE IN OUACHITA PARISH,'' WHEN HE WAS ELECTED TO SERVE AS PARISH CORONER!" Additionally, Antoine must have been blessed with money and business savvy too, because not only did he "OWN and OPERATE" a grocery store in Monroe, but he also "OWNED and OPERATED" A SMALL HOTEL for COLORED PEOPLE, as well. Furthermore, it was reported that Antoine's business interests even extended over into the downtown area of Monroe, possibly where the 141 building is located on Desiard Street in Monroe. Antoine is said to have "OWNED and OPERATED" a business at this site. By the way, it may interest you all to know that during the period of 1871 and 1874, "WHICH INCLUDED WHEN GEORGE HAMLET WAS APPOINTED AS THE FIRST BLACK MAYOR OF MONROE," Antoine was elected and served as a State Representative in the Louisiana State Legislature. Interestingly enough, a rumor says that one day in Monroe, a White Man from Mississippi and a Colored Man, named Mr. Mason, who was staying at Antoine's Hotel got into a heated argument, and Mr. Mason attempted to shoot the White Man, but his gun jammed! Well, when some of the White Citizens of Monroe found out where Mr. Mason was staying, they went and approached Antoine. Anyways, not long after this incident, Antoine decided to sell his businesses in Monroe and move his family to Topeka Kansas, in 1879, and the rest, as they say is BLACK HISTORY!!! Sadly on April 4 1884, Antoine Overton passed away quietly, at his home in Topeka Kansas. In closing, I would like to note that Black People in Monroe, and all over America are forever indebted to Antoine Overton for helping to successfully create thousands of opportunities for Blacks in Education and Business as well as other areas!
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