Born in Wrockwardine in Shropshire, Overton worked as a coal miner from an early age.
He was soon elected as checkweighman, and was a founder member of Bolsover Urban District Council.
[1] In 1919, Overton was elected as vice-president of the Derbyshire Miners' Association (DMA).
[1] The union nominated him as a Labour Party candidate for both the Clay Cross and North East Derbyshire constituencies at the 1922 general election, but he refused to stand in either seat.
[2] He succeeded William Sewell as president in 1925, serving until his retirement at the end of 1938.