Switzer, Family

SWITZER, QUIETTS, OVERHOLTZERS, EIKERS, FOLAND, VANDERVEEN

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/9/2019 at 14:02:28

Biography ~ The Switzer Family

Reflections of Grand River Iowa 1881-1981
Page 293, Clarke Pub. Co., Osceola IA. 1981.

The Switzers, Quietts, Overholtzers and Eikers, our great-grandparents, were third and fourth generation Americans. They came from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Tennessee to settle in Decatur County. They made their homes along the Grand River from Westerville to Funk's Mill (Funktown) long before 1881 when Grand River became a town.

When the Humeston and Shenandoah Railroad decided to build their line through the south side of Richland Township instead of going north through Westerville, many plans were changed. At that time, C. E. Perkins, President of the Iowa Town Lot Co., purchased seventy acres of land from Henry Brennaman, thirty acres from Christian Overholtzer and laid out the town of Grand River.

Christian Overholtzer and Harriet Jane Eiker were married March 25, 1857. After living at Funktown for three years they moved north and purchased from John Eiker the land that later included the railroad right of way and the new town. Here they built their home and raised their family. There were six sons and two daughters but only three sons and one daughter, Nora, lived to adulthood. All of the Overholtzer families lived in and around Grand River. They engaged in farming and raising livestock while making their contribution to the growth of the town.

We have one very interesting story concerning the railroad. Our mother stood as a little girl and watched the first train come down the tracks into Grand River. In her lifetime the trains became obsolete, and the tracks were removed.

The first church was built by the Presbyterians, but they opened the building to other denominations when not in use by them. Christian and Harriet Overholtzer were very influential in establishing and building this church. Our Grandpa Overholtzer kept very detailed records of the expenses of the building and of the activities of the church. The first graduating class of Grand River High School, which included our mother, held their graduation exercises in the Presbyterian Church. The church was filled to capacity, and many were turned away even though an admittance fee was charged.

In 1865, Jacob Switzer, being wounded at Springfield, Mo., was mustered out of the Union Army. He had served the north in the Civil War for three years and came home to Richland Township. A year later, in 1866, he married Sarah Ann Quiett. They lived on a farm northwest of Grand River and had five children: three boys and two girls. However, only one son, Albert Roy, lived to manhood.

By the time Grand River was at least ten years old, Jacob had become "by hard work, good management and thrifty planning," one of the new town's most influential boosters. He divided his time between farming and business ventures, including a hardware store and later a lumberyard. The store was surrounded by sheds and yards for farm supplies and farm machinery. The hardware store became a meeting place for farmers while their wives traded the week's eggs for groceries and drygoods.

It was a fascinating time for Grandpa Switzer or "Uncle Jake" as he was known by the people in and around Grand River. The following paragraph is taken from the local paper and was printed at the time of his death in 1914.

"Mr. Switzer was ever ready with his wealth to assist in anything that was for upbuilding of his town and community, and many a poor man will miss his timely aid and cheerful admonitions. He has left as a memento of his public spirit, many buildings in the town that were erected by him for the purpose of putting the little town of his adoption in the ranks of the progressive ones."

Among the many buildings erected by "Uncle Jake" was the Opera House, which is located on the east side of Main Street. It was the center of community activity including high school graduation exercises. But through the years its uses have also included restaurants, various types of stores, the Masonic Hall, a hotel and another Switzer Hardware.

About the turn of the century, Jake Switzer, having built a large and comfortable family home, located two blocks west of the center of Grand River, moved into town. At the same time he had started the Farmers Bank and his son, Roy, our father, was made cashier. By 1910, the Farmers Bank had built their first building, a red brick, across the street from the lumberyard. The flourishing little town of approximately 500 people was able to support two prosperous banks.

Roy Switzer and Nora Overholtzer were married February 6, 1905. They had three children, Jacob Wade, Harriett and Gertrude.

Wade was a very fortunate child because he was old enough to know his grandfather, "Uncle Jake." The hardware store and the machinery yard were fascinating place for young Wade to play. He would walk around town with his grandfather and was soon known as "Little Jake." He is still called Jake Switzer.

In 1917, Roy and Nora Switzer and family moved into their new home, the large yellow stucco house, just south of town. We have always felt very fortunate to have had such a delightful home in which to spend our childhoods.

Roy (A. R.) Switzer coninuted the pattern set by his father built more commercial buildings on Main Street to accomodate the growing town and to replace buildings that had been destroyed by fire. It was in 1920 that he built his last commercial building for Grand River. The original Bank was now the Farmers State Bank and needed a larger building and a more convenient location. "This was the first commercial building in Grand River to have indoor plumbing."

Time moved on for Grand River and the Switzers. By 1939, we had all moved away. We three Switzer children and families now reside in California and in 1970 the last of the property that carried our name passed to others. As we are writing this short history of our family, we wish that we had a detailed record of our early ancestors. A record that would tell the story of their hard life and struggles, their good years and successes, their grief and sadness caused by early and untimely deaths, and the joy and happiness that they shared with family and friends. We have grandchildren and great-grandchildren who have never seen Grand River. We hope that they and our children will appreciate their Iowa heritage and that they will remember that their ancestors helped settle and built the little town we called home, Grand River.

By Wade (Jake) Switzer, Harriete S. Foland, and Gertrude S. Vander Veen.

Transcribed for IAGenWeb.org, Decatur County