Hon. Jacob A. Overholtzer

OVERHOLTZER, ANGLEMIRE, FERRIN, PIESTON

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/13/2009 at 15:28:46

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 772-773

HON. JACOB A. OVERHOLTZER. --
Among the farmers of Viola Township
who have contributed to its wealth and
influence, we mention Jacob A. Overholtzer.
He is the fifth child of Jacob and Catherine
(Anglemire) Overholtzer, and was born in
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, near Lan-
caster City, February 13, 1841. Jacob Over-
holtzer, the father of our subject, was a Penn -
sylvania farmer of prominence, and his father
Jacob Overholtzer, was from Germany.
Jacob Overholtzer, the father of Jacob A.,
removed with his family from Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania, to Ogle County, Illi-
nois, in which place he made his home until
his death, which occurred in 1866; his wife
died March 20, 1875. Jacob A. received a
good common-school education. He re-
mained with his parents until his twentieth
year, when there was a call for men to defend
the flag of this nation. He enlisted in the
Seventh Illinois Cavalry, Company B, and
was assigned to the western army, serving
three years and four months. He took part
in the following skirmishes and engagements:
Second battle of Corinth, siege of Corinth,
battle of Inka, Island No. 10, Fort Macleid,
Coffeeville, battle of West Point, Missis-
sippi, Colliersville and Bolliver, and took part
in the Greason raid, which started from La-
Grange, Tennessee, and ended at Baton
Rouge, Louisiana, known as the first raid of
the western army. In the last he was
wounded in the foot and disabled for three
months. He was sent to Memphis, Ten-
nessee, spending six months there, and was
mustered out of the service at Springfield,
Illinois, in November, 1864. He then re-
turned to Ogle County, Illinois, and engaged
in the more peaceful pursuit of farming. In
June, 1879, Mr. Overholtzer removed his
family to Audubon County, Iowa, locating
upon his present farm in Viola Township.
He first purchased 160 acres, on which he
built a comfortable residence and other neces-
sary buildings. He has added to the farm
at different times until his estate covers 680
acres. The home farm is watered by the
Nishnabotna River, and all the land is in a
high state of cultivation. Mr. Overholtzer
devotes special attention to the raising and
feeding of live-stock, shipping from one to
five car-loads annually. September 6, 1868,
he was married to Clarissa F. Ferrin, of Car-
roll County, Illinois, the third daughter of
Joseph and Elizabeth (Pieston) Ferrin. Six
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Overholtzer -- Alice L., formerly a student at
Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, now a
teacher in Stuart schools; Oscar L., a student
at Drake University, Des Moines; Katie M.,
Merritt P., Ralph F. and Lavisa. In 1883
Mr. Overholtzer was elected a member of the
General Assembly of the State of Iowa, and
in 1885 he was re-elected, both times on the
Republican ticket. He acquitted himself
with credit, taking an active part in advocat-
ing and passing some important bills, among
which was the bill appropriating money and
locating the Soldiers' Home at Marshalltown,
Iowa. In the last session he assisted in the
introduction and passage of bills providing
for the election of the railroad commission-
ers by the people, and the public distribution
of school-books in the several counties. Mr.
Overholtzer is an active member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and is a mem-
ber of Allison Post, No. 34, G. A. R. In
the fall of 1888 he was elected president of
the Audubon County Agricultural Society.
He is a public-spirited man, ready and will-
ing to assist in any enterprise that will be
of advantage to the community.