USA > Indiana > Grant County > Biographical memoirs of Grant County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography with portraits of many national characters and well-known residents of Grant County, Indiana. > Part 62
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Politically, Clarkson D. Overman is a Republican, as are nearly all the male mem- bers of the family. Clarkson D. has always been active in advancing the interests of
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the party both in town and country, and es- pecially at the polls, and has served as a member of the Republican county central committee.
Fraternally, Clarkson D. Overman is a member of the Woodmen of the World, in which he is the principal officer in the local lodge. The religious membership of the family is with the Society of Friends.
The Overman family is one of the oldest and best known in Grant county and is traceable to Germany, but it is uncertain as to what time it was established in America, but there is every reason to believe that the family were here prior to the war of the Revolution.
SAMUEL HARLAN BECK.
In a work treating of the recognized builders of the commonwealth and espe- cially when Van Buren township, Grant county, is considered, the name of Samuel H. Beck must be given due prominence least the criticism have a basis that the true de- velopers of the strength of the community are in some respects ignored.
Mr. Beck is native to the soil of the state, being born in Hancock county on the 3d of April, 1844. His parents were Sam- uel and Sultana (Waymire) Beck, who had come from Wayne county. When young Samuel was but fourteen years of age his father died, leaving much of the burden of of the mother's and others of the family's support devolving upon him. Standing nobly to the duty he acted well his part, remaining almost the sole support of the family till he had attained the age of eight-
een, when he enlisted August 8, 1862, be- ing assigned to Company F, Eighty-fourth Indiana, and sent to join the Army of the Cumberland, after being stationed for a time at the barracks in Cincinnati. Three brothers had gone into the same regiment- Isam, Cornelius and Samuel. September 20, 1863, the first mentioned of these-Isam- was killed in the terrible struggle at Chick- amauga. He fell while standing in line of battle on the ascent of Snodgrass Hill, the first battle consecrating the family in blood. Samuel received a close call at the same time, having a musket ball strike and de- molish his belt buckle, and being struck three times in that one action. The old buckle is preserved as a memento of the struggle. The second of the brothers was yet to yield his own life in the cause, being wounded in the face by a musket ball on the 27th of June at the great charge up Kennesaw moun- tain, his death occurring in hospital at Chattanooga. His body lies in the National cemetery there, the spot bearing the number 11,851. The ball that killed him is now pre- served by his brother, it having been coughed up just previous to his death.
While the loss of his brothers had a depressing effect upon Samuel H. Beck he kept in the ranks and never failed to do his duty, participating in all the memorable bat- tles on the advance to Atlanta, the regi- ment having an honorable record placed to its credit for the part it took in that great campaign. He was wounded at Lovejoy Station on the 2d of September, 1864, a ball shattering his arm below the shoulder. He was on the skirmish line and was in the act of drawing a bead on a Johnnie when the arm was struck. He managed to run back to the lines and was placed in the field hos-
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pital at Atlanta and transferred to the fa- mous No. 13 at Nashville, being later fur- loughed home. For his gallantry on the field of battle he was promoted at Atlanta, September 29, 1864, to the rank of corporal. In the spring of '65 he rejoined his regiment at Huntsville, Alabama, after an absence of more than six months. Not still being fit for field duty the captain, Robert W. Grubbs, secured him another furlough by getting one dated that had been made out and signed by General Thomas at the time of his being wounded, but which had not been used. After spending some time at home he again joined his regiment at Strawberry Plains in east Tennessee, and was kept at Camp Harker near Nashville at the okl home of President Jackson, and was discharged with the regiment June 14, 1865. He rejoined his mother in Hancock county and during the following winter was married to Miss Clarinda Brewer, of Han- cock county, and who had been an old school- mate. After some years passed in Henry county, where he had secured a small farm, he came to Van Buren, buying eighty acres in the woods with but a small cabin on the place. This was the home till after the pur- chase of twenty acres of wooded land, when he erected the present comfortable home. Ile has cleared one hundred acres, all of which is now well tiled and in a fine state of cultivation. It is a fine grain farm, but he keeps stock enough to consume the grain grown, feeding generally some thirty to forty head of hogs and other stock in pro- portion. His family have numbered four, of whom one has not survived. Henry B. Curtis died when but two years of age: Ora E. is the wife of Frank Anderson, of Van Buren; Ira E. operates the home farm; and
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Ruth E. is a school girl. He is at present acting with the Prohibition party, though he has generally been recognized as inde- pendent. For several years he has served the Christian church as an elder. He was one of the men to organize the Wiley Anderson Post at Van Buren, becoming its first com- mander.
He is identified with all that has for its object the advancement of the community, and is looked upon as one of the most pop- ular citizens of the township.
FRANK KEEVER.
Frank Keever is one of the representative men of Upland, Grant county, Indiana, and has done his share in making the county what it is to-day-well governed and pros- perous. His ancestors were among the most widely known and honored pioneers of the state and contributed in no uncertain way to the development. As far as is known the Keever family were of English origin and have been noted for longevity. The great- grandfather was one hundred and six years old at his death, the grandfather eighty- seven and the father seventy-eight. The grandfather fought in the war of the Rev- clution and two of his brothers were soldiers on the same soil during the Rebellion.
Daniel Keever, the immediate progenitor of Frank, was born in the state of Ohio on July 3. 1816, and married Miss Nancy Asher, who was born January 17, 1817, in Virginia. Ile came to Indiana at an early day and entered a tract of land. adding to it until he had almost three hundred acres. Eight sons and one daughter, deceased, were born to
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them, the sons being .Addison, Martin, John W., George, William, Franklin, Walter and Elmer E. The family were reared to habits cf industry and frugality. The luxuries of those days are considered the comforts of to-day and will be regarded as necessities to-morrow, so it will be understood that their wants were few and easily supplied. The Christian lives of the parents made a last- ing impression on the characters of the chil- dren. The father was a member of the So- ciety of Friends, while the mother was a devout Methodist. She died September 12, 1876, the father surviving her twenty years and departing this life March 18, 1895.
Frank Keever was born near the place where he now resides on January 5. 1855. As a lad he attended the district school and there obtained the rudiments of education, increasing this stock of knowledge as time went on by observation and experience. He assisted his father with the farm work until he was of age and then began working for himself, his capital being represented by one horse. Like generations of his ancestors he was wedded to the soil and made agricult- ure the occupation of his life, adding to it stock-raising, which under his skillful man- agement has been a most profitable venture. At the age of twenty-one he was married and began his home-making on seventy-five acres of land which is included in their pres- ent homestead. They started out on a very limited scale, their house and stable being of logs, and rigid economy was necessary in order to keep things going and make both ends meet. Hard work and perservering self-denial was the order of their lives and at last a solid foundation was beneath them on which to build. It must not be supposed that their lives were devoid of pleasure, for
the amusements of that new country af- forded quite as much entertainment as is ob- tained in its more advanced state and was even more wholesome. The neighbors, be- ing fewer and more scattered, were the more ready to proffer assistance and thought noth- ing of traveling a few miles to sit up with a sick acquaintance or give needed aid. Mr. Keever increased his acreage to one hundred and seventeen acres and erected modern buildings, set out fruit and otherwise im- proved it, making it one of the most desirable farms in his neighborhood.
On November 16, 1876, occurred the ceremony which made Frank Keever and Angeline Watson husband and wife. Four children grace their fireside : Gertie May, an accomplished musician and wife of Harold Wilhelm, a native of this county, who was educated in Taylor University and is at pres- ent engaged in farming in Delaware county ; they have one little daughter, Opal. Levita Dell, the second child, is the wife of Alonzo Belleville, a barber of Upland; they have one son, Floyd G. Lora B., the third child, finished her schooling with a course in the high school at Upland and is taking music ; and Harry Clyde, the youngest child, grad- uated with the class of 1900 and is at home. Mrs. Keever was born in Blackford county, Indiana, October 28, 1858, and is a daughter of Daniel and Mary ( Balsley ) Watson. There were eleven children in the family, nine of whom are living, four of the daugh- ters are residents of this state, two of Kan- sas, two of Iowa, and one of Missouri. Father Watson was a native of Ohio and (lied at the age of sixty-three years. He was a farmer and came to Indiana at a day when the country was sparsely settled and abounded with deer, wolves and other wild
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beasts. He was a Democrat. His wife was also a native of Ohio and died in 1870, when Mrs. Keever was a little girl of eleven years. This left a heavy responsibility on her young, motherless shoulders, but she took up her part of the burden and nobly did the work which fell to her share, growing into a bright, attractive woman. She is of a jolly, sunny disposition which banishes the cloud from the brow as the summer sun dispels the mist, and to know her is to feel a new interest in life. She and Mr. Keever are members of the Friend's church, in which they are active workers, taking great inter- est in the Sunday-school as well. Their daughter, Lora, is the able secretary of the Sunday-school, which is in a flourishing condition. Education has no truer friends than they. In fact they stand for all that is good and progressive and are among the best citizens of Grant county. They are lib- eral with their means and place it where it will acomplish the greatest amount of good. In politics Mr. Keever is a Republican.
ISAIAH WALL.
The name of Wall has been so closely associated with the growth and development of Grant county, Indiana, as to become al- most inseparable from the history of this section. Coming here at an early day, the family has been an important factor in changing the wilderness into broad, fertile fields, and spreading civilization over an ex- panse once inhabited by the savage red man. Although belonging to a younger genera- tion, Isaiah Wall, a prosperous and pro- gressive farmer of Monroe township, sus-
tains the reputation established by his an- cestors and is an advocate of broader edu- cation and higher civilization. He was born December 24, 1844, and is the second in a family of three sons. His parents were David and Sarah (Dwiggins) Wall. The father, a brief sketch of whose life pre- cedes this, was of English extraction, but a native of Ohio, having first opened his eyes to the light of day in Clinton county, that state, on May 1, 1815. Mahlon was the youngest and is a practicing physician and surgeon of Marion; Isaiah, the subject, was the second son; and Mills, deceased, the oldest. He was a member of Company M, Fifth Indiana Cavalry, was made pris- oner at Resaca, Georgia, taken to the loath- some pen called a prison at Andersonville, but later, when Sherman began his famous march, was moved to Florence, South Car- olina, where he died. During the two years and a half that he was carrying arms for his country he took part in many important battles and was one of the participants in the Morgan raid.
Isaiah Wall obtained a good practical education in his boyhood when learning was not as easy to acquire as it is at the present day. His first school was a rude log house, about 18x20 feet in dimensions, the chim- ney constructed of sticks and mud, where the old-fashioned wide fireplace roasted one side of the scholar while the other side was freezing. The building was lighted by removing a log from the side and inserting in the opening thus made small panes of glass about eight by ten inches. The fur- niture was in keeping with the exterior. The seats were made from split poles with wooden pins for legs, while the desks were made of broad boards resting on wooden
ISAIH WALL. CATHARINE WALL.
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pins driven into the walls. The seats were without support for the back, and often the poor scholar was too small to even have the comfort of resting his feet on the floor, and with these conveniences and books that were dry and hard to correspond, was education courted. However, judging from the num- ber of brilliant men America has produced from the old log school-house, it was a suc- cess. The school at that time was both public and by subscription, while the birch rod held an important place as a most po- tent factor in quelling any insubordination that might arise. But the dainty brick buildings have replaced those of olden time, and the youth of this age has every modern aid to assist the development of the mental faculties.
Mr. Wall was reared on a farm and early trained to habits of thrift and indus- try. These principles have since been an important element in his life and are the cor- ner-stone of his present prosperity. He re- mained at home with his parents until his marriage, when his father presented him with eighty acres of partially improved land. This property lies in Monroe town- ship immediately east of their present resi- dence. He added to this, by purchase, one hundred and fifty-seven acres, which, with land inherited, gives him a fine farm of three hundred and seven acres. This land is in Grant and Blackford counties, and is all well improved. It lies in the gas belt, and the Blackford county farm has three oil wells, which net him a neat income. About the spring of 1871 he took up his residence on the Marion, Arcana and Soldiers' Home pike, and this he has beautified with large modern buildings, roomy and convenient, making for his family an ideal home. The 30
clean, orderly appearance everywhere no- ticed adds much to the pleasing effect. His farming interests engross the greater part of his time, as he has a high ideal in this particular science and he endeavors to live up to it. A visit to his cow barns would give delight to a lover of Short-horns, as he has some excellent specimens of this breed of cattle. Not less attractive are his pig and sheep pens, the famous Shropshire sheep being his specialty.
On November 8, 1866, occurred the mar- riage of Isaiah Wall and Miss Catherine Strange. She was born in this township February 18, 1847, and is a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Duckwall) Strange. Seven children have blessed this union, three sons and four daughters. Five of this number are living, viz .: Carrie E., wife of F. F. Segar, a prominent merchant of Greentown, Howard county, Indiana. Grad- uating from the public schools in 1889, she attended the Marion Normal school four terms, the State Normal two terms, and then entered the ranks of Grant county teachers, where she was very successful. Ada L., a teacher of vocal culture, who re- sides with her parents. After receiving her diploma in 1894 she became a student in the Marion Normal, and then engaged in teaching in her native township. Della S., also residing with her parents, finished the common-school course in 1896, the Marion high school in 1900, and is now devoting her time to music. Claude D., the youngest son, has a strong inclination towards com- mercial life. He is yet a student, having graduated from the common schools in 1899, taken one term in the Muncie Nor- mal and two in the Marion. Clinton M., the oldest, is also a student and resides at
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home. Mr. Wall and his wife have passed their entire lives in this vicinity, and for thirty-four years have been the sharer of each other's joys and sorrows. Their ac- quaintance extends over a wide territory, where they are respected and esteemed. They are prominent members of the United Brethren church, in which he has for years served as trustee. They are great workers for the church, gave valuable aid in erecting the present structure, and take an active part in the Sunday-school, which is in a flourishing condition.
Mr. Wall has always been a Republi- can since casting his first presidential vote, which was for Grant; has repeatedly served his party as delegate to county, state, con- gressional, senatorial and judicial conven- tions, and is a man who has the courage of his convictions. He is a friend of advanced education and believes the best is none too good when a teacher is to be employed, and that the only firm foundation for the improvement of the masses is by educating them.
HOMER SCOTT JEFFREY. M. D.
Homer Scott Jeffrey, M. D., is a young man of marked ability in his chosen pro- fession and one who is earning for himself a position which well repays him for his ef- forts. Dr. Jeffrey is a native of this state, having been born in Henry county October 12, 1872, the son of Russell and Mary A. (Johnson) Jeffrey, natives of North Caro- lina and Kentucky, respectively, but who were married in Randolph county, Indiana, and located in Henry county on a farm near Blountsville, where they passed the remain- der of their lives, the father passing away on . August 18, 1893, and the mother on De-
cember 18, 1891. They were both devout members of the Baptist church and lived lives befitting that of thorough Christians. To this union were born five children, viz. : Homer S., whose name opens this bio- graphical sketch; Daniel W., deceased; Herschel and Elmer, who are still living on the old homestead; and Amanda, deceased :
Russell Jeffrey had been formerly wedded to Sarah Hodson, by whom he became the father of four children, named in the order of birth as follows : William E., an attorney at New Castle, this state ; James, who is also an attorney and located in Eau Claire, Wis- consin; A. L., of Canyon City, California ; and Ella, wife of Joseph Swearingen, who is principal of the Manuel Training School of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Mrs. Mary A. Jeffrey had also been for- merely married and was the widow of James Ruth, to whom she bore three children, viz. : James, a resident of Losantville, Indiana ; Sarah, who married Elijah McColloms; and Leora, the wife of C. Medsker.
Russell Jeffrey was a successful and con- servative business man and at the time of his death was in possession of a six-hundred- acre tract of fine land laying in Henry and Madison counties. While Mr. Jeffrey was not an elucated man, he was a great reader and prided himself in ever being ready to converse on the topics of the day and was thoroughly abreast with the times. He was a member of the Masonic order, in which he was an active member.
Homer S. Jeffrey received his early ed- itcation in the schools of Blountsville, com- pleting the course there at the age of seven- teen, finishing his literary education in the high school of Farmland, where he attended for three years or until twenty years of age.
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He then took up the study of his chosen profession and entered the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, from which he was graduated with the class of 1894. Mr. Jeffrey was a diligent student, thus gaining the respect and confidence of not only his fellow classmates but also the instructors, and graduated at the age of twenty-two.
After leaving college Dr. Jeffrey at once became engaged in regular practice, locat- ing at Reed P. O., in Delaware county, In- diana, where he met with marked success and remained at that place until 1899, when he removed to Upland, where he enjoys a large and remunerative practice.
Dr. Jeffrey was united in marriage on May 12, 1896, to Miss Alta Van Mater, who was a native of Delaware county, Indiana, born in that county January 15, 1878, the daughter of Richard and Mary (Ruther- ford) Van Mater, both of whom were natives of the Hoosier state and resided on a farmi in Delaware county. To the union of Dr. Jeffrey and wife have been born two chil- dren, Goldie and Mary. The parents are devout members of the Methodist church, and fraternally Dr. Jeffrey is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Blountsville, No. 305; the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Upland, No. 482; the Red Men, White Feather Tribe, No. 78, of Cammack, Indiana, and is also a member of the Grant County Med- ical Society and the Alumni of the Ken- tucky School of Medicine. Politically, the Doctor is a stanch Republican, and while he is not an office-seeker, having no time to devote to such folly, he is an ardent worker in the party. Socially, Dr. Jeffrey and wife are favorites among a large circle of friends and their home is the scene of many pleasant gatherings.
MRS. AMELIA BALLINGER.
Mrs. Amelia Ballinger is one of the well known residents of Monroe township, Grant county, Indiana, where she has large landed interests and is a highly respected woman who has demonstrated her ability in prac- tical business in the management of her es- tate. She was born May 23, 1851, near the banks of the Weser river in the German Empire, in the vicinity of the city of Rintel, Prussia. She was the third child in a fam- ily of five, all daughters, born to Christian and Henrietta (Pike) Fisherbock. Three of these children are living and worthy resi- dents of this state, namely : Frederica widow of John Wentz, resides in Blackford county ; Henrietta, wife of John Hess, a farmer of Van Buren township; and Amelia, our subject. Christian Fisherbock was born in Germany July 24, 1819, and was a manufacturer of brick in the fatherland. His wife was a native of the same locality and was born April 20, 1820. In 1868 they took passage in a sailing vessel at Bremen and after a tempestous voyage of nine weeks and three days in which winds took them from their course they landed in New York city. When their objective point, Upland, was reached, Father Fisherbock had just four cents left in his pocket. It will be readily seen that the only salvation of the family was immediate employment and this the father secured without delay. He was industrious and willing to work and soon became established in the locality of his adoption as one of its most worthy citizens. He did not work at his former occupation ot brickmaking, but turned his attention to farming, in which he was eminently success- ful. He suffered a sad blow in the death of
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his wife on July 15, 1882, and now makes his home with his daughter. They were members of the German Reformed church, from which he still obtains much comfort.
Amelia Fisherbock was educated in her native country, and as the German laws are very strict in regard to school attendance it is unnecessary to add that her training in this particular was of the most superior character. She was a young lady of about seventeen when her parents sought a home in America, and she at once took upon her- self the task of mastering the English lan- guage. This has been accomplished so ef- fectually that she speaks the tongue as read- ily as a native-born citizen. It was in this county she became acquainted with David Ballinger and the mutual friendship soon ripened into a warmer feeling which cul- minated in their bethrothal. They were mar- ried in April, 1879, and for nine years en- joyed the mutations of life before their paths diverged and he was called to enter the portals of life everlasting. Two chil- dren blessed their union, both of whom make their home with their mother and scatter sunshine in her path. Albert has completed the seventh grade in the Upland schools and is remarkably bright in mathematics. He is an industrious youth and shows a most commendable spirit in the manner in which he takes hold and assists his mother in the care of the estate. Stella May grad- uated in the class of '98 from the Upland schools and has decided literary talent .. The family are very popular in social circles and their home, a most pleasant one, is always open to their friends.
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