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Adair County Iowa

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Charles H. and Jennie M. (Sparling) Overholt
Charles H. Overholt who owns and cultivates two hundred acres of land on sections 29 and 30, Grove Township has been successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits in Adair County during the past third of a century. His birth occurred in Livingston County, Illinois on the 23rd of December 1855, his parents being J. S. R. and Susan K. (Hugus) Overholt, who in the year 1855 took up their abode in Illinois and spent the remainder of their liveds in that state. Their seven children are all yet living.

Charles H. Overholt attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-seven years of age. In 1882 he came to Adair county, Iowa, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Grove township, while subsequently he bought an additional tract of forty acres, so that his farm now embraces two hundred acres. He has erected substantial and modern buildings and has also enhanced the value of the property by making other improvements, the place now lacking none of the conveniences and equipments of a model farm of the twentieth century. In connection with the cultivation of cereals he makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock, which branch of his business adds materially to his annual income. In 1884 Mr. Overholt was united in marriage to Miss Jennie M. Sparling, a native of Putnam county, Illinois, and a daughter of George and Sarah (McClung) Sparling, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Overholt have two children, namely: Ralph S., who is a college graduate and still lives with his parents; and Jennie S., who completed her studies by graduation in Greenfield and is now teaching school. Our subject and his wife have also reared and educated a boy named Earl Dixon.

In his political views Mr. Overholt is a republican and for some years he has served in the capacity of school director. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is one of the trustees and to which his wife and children also belong. He enjoys a wide acquaintance in this county and has won uniform trust and goodwill by reason of a life which in all of its phases has been straightforward and honorable.

(Transcribed from "History Adair County Iowa,Vol 2, 1915)

Four cabinet cards from the OVERHOLT FAMILY in GREENFIELD IOWA. The first one is of a woman in a white dress. It's from the R C OTIS STUDIO in GREENFIELD. On the back is the following history. "SARA B OVERHOLT - BORN 4-22-91 CASEY IOWA - GRAD FROM GHS 1910 - CHTS 1910 - 3 YEARS R.N. 1914 - REG DES MOINES IA STATE BOARD MPLS MINN - LABORATORY TRAINING 1916-17 RES 6 MOS - PAEM 6 OS SEYELL - LOS ANGELS DEC 1917 LAB WORK 20 YRS - MADAME DES LOURIERS 20 YEARS." The next cabinet card is of a woman on black cardboard. She is from the same studio. On the back is written, SARA B OVERHOLT.( I believe the same woman.) The next photo is of young girls in curls. It's from the MCMULLEN STUDIO in GREENFIELD AND FONTANELLE in IOWA. On the back is written "MARTHA & SARA OVERHOLT APROX 7 AND 4 YRS. There's also a "B H OVERHOLT" written in pencil at the back top of photo. The last cabinet card is a mystery. It's a photograph of a building under construction. I cannot tell you for sure if it's IOWA or another state. This photograph came with the rest of the pictures. Some type of public building.

 

 


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