Born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, near Lancaster City, February 13, 1841, the fifth child of Jacob and Catherine (Anglemire) Overholtzer. Jacob A. received a good common-school education. He remained 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 was sent to Memphis, Tennessee, spending six months there, and was mustered out of the service at Springfield, Illinois, in November, 1864. He then returned 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 on a farm in Viola Township. 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 Carroll County, Illinois. In 1883 Mr. Overholtzer was elected a member of the Twentieth 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 advocating 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 commissioners 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 member 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 willing to assist in any enterprise that will be of advantage to the community.

Born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, near Lancaster City, February 13, 1841 the fifth child of Jacob and Catherine (Anglemire) Overholtzer. Jacob A. received a good common-school education. He remained 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 was sent to Memphis, Tennessee, spending six months there, and was mustered out of the service at Springfield, Illinois, in November, 1864. He then returned 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 on a farm in Viola Township. 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 Carroll County, Illinois. In 1883 Mr. Overholtzer was elected a member of the Twentieth 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 advocating 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 commissioners 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 member 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 willing to assist in any enterprise that will be of advantage to the community.