Page:Men of Mark in America vol 2.djvu/274

 LEE SLATER OVERMAN VERMAN, LEE SLATER, Trinity college, North Carolina, A.B., A.M., 1876; teacher, private secretary; lawyer; representative in the North Carolina legislature, 1883-85-87-93, and 1901, and speaker of the house, 1893; president of the North Carolina Railroad, 1894; trustee of the State university from 1894; president of the Democratic state convention and presidential elector from the state-at-large, 1900, and United States senator since March 4, 1903; was born in Salisbury, Rowan county, North Carolina, January 3, 1854; son of William and Mary E. (Slater) Overman. His father was a merchant, farmer and manufacturer, a man of thrift and ability who had accumulated a considerable property which the war between the states swept away. He was popular in the community, of strict honesty and upright character. His mother was the granddaughter of Major James Smith and inherited from him her strength of character and her strong religious convictions. Major Smith was a member of the Provisional congress of North Carolina, member of the state legislature for several continuous terms, a leader in organizing the committee of safety previous to the Revolutionary war and helpful in securing the passage of the Rowan resolutions declaring independence from England. On the outbreak of hostilities with Great Britain he raised a company and was made captain and soon rose to the rank of major. He was captured by the British and died in prison at Camden, South Carolina. William Overman, the first known American ancestor lived in Pasquotank county, North Carolina, about 1700.

Lee Slater Overman was brought up in his father's home in Salisbury, and received private instruction. When his father's slaves and other property were lost, he helped to support himself in preparing for college by teaching at the village high school, his father paying his college expenses. He was graduated at Trinity college, Durham, North Carolina, A.B., 1874; A.M., 1876. He taught school, 1875-76, studied law under J. M. McCorkle in Salisbury, and Doctor Richard H. Battle, in Raleigh; was private secre-