Ove Ephraim Overson (1879-1950)

Portrait from the New Mexico Blue Book, 1917.

  One term New Mexico state representative Ove Ephraim Overson is another unusually named legislator from that state located recently, and it is worth noting that, in addition to political service, he attained further distinction in the Church of Latter-Day Saints, where he was an elder and missionary. The son of Ove Christian and Maren (Christensdotter) Overson, Ove Ephraim Overson was born in Brigham City, Arizona on July 17, 1879. While still in infancy Overson removed with his family to St. Johns, Arizona, where he attended the common schools.

  Baptized into the Church of Latter-Day Saints in 1887, Overson subsequently held various offices in the church and for a three year period (1902-05) undertook a mission through the southern states, visiting Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. He would baptize Mormon converts in Key West and in June 1905 was appointed as stake clerk for St. John's stake. In November of the following year, he was named as bishop for the St. John's ward, and in 1905 married to Lillian Sorensen in Salt Lake City, Utah. The couple's four decades of marriage saw the birth of five children: Ove Parker (1908-1958), Alonzo Ephraim (1910-1981), Josephine Lillian (died in infancy in 1912), Claude Leon (1913-1989), and Leora (died in infancy in 1915).

  Following his marriage, Overson was affiliated with the Northern Arizona Real Estate and Investment Co. as an agent, and by June 1912 had gained his law license, establishing his law office in St. Johns. His practice would take him into courts located in New Mexico, and by early 1915 had removed to the city of Gallup in McKinley County. Here he would form the law firm of Ruiz and Overson with Alfred Ruiz, and in 1916 announced his candidacy for a seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives.

  Overson would win a legislative seat in November 1916 as a Republican and took his seat at the start of the 1917-19 session. Representing McKinley County during this session, Overson was a member of the committees on Banks and Banking, Constitutional Amendments, Libraries, and Public Property. This term also saw Overson and fellow representative G.W. Stroud introduce legislation for the "teaching of high grades in the rural schools of the state", which would pass in the house, 39 votes to 2.

  Little information could be found on Overson's life following his time in state government. He is recorded as having served as city attorney for Gallup, and prior to his death relocated from Gallup to Hot Springs, New Mexico, where he was an assistant district attorney. Overson was last a resident of Reserve, New Mexico, where he died on February 28, 1950, at age 70. He was survived by his wife and was later returned to Arizona for burial at the St. Johns Cemetery in Apache County.