The Hoover Family of Mahaska County, Iowa

W. A. HOOVER.

W. A. Hoover, devoting his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits on section 4, Spring Creek township, is one of the prosperous farmers and prominent stock-breeders of the county, dealing in pure blood Chester White hogs. His farm is an attractive property, forming one of the pleasing features of the landscape. It comprises two hundred and thirty-eight acres of well improved and valuable land, and in his work of cultivating it Mr. Hoover displays an enterprising spirit, which enables him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path. He was born in this township, March 7. 1855. His father, James M. Hoover, was a native of Indiana and a son of Jonas Hoover, who came to Iowa from Indiana, being one of the first settlers in Mahaska county. He is said to have built the first log house in Oskaloosa and at all events he was closely associated with the pioneer movement that resulted in laying die foundation for the present progress and upbuilding of the city. He was a shoemaker by trade and also a tanner and currier and before coming to Oskaloosa conducted a tanyard at Pleasant Plains.

James M. Hoover, fader of our subject came with his father to Mahaska county and was here reared amid the wild scenes of frontier life. He was also married here to Miss Eunice Cox, native of Indiana, in which state her girlhood days were passed. He settled on a farm in Spring Creek township, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land. He broke, fenced and improved the place, transforming the wild tract into productive fields and as his crops brought to him a good return he added to his land from time to time, owning several hundred acres. Subsequently he went to Kansas with a daughter and became ill. There he died September 5, 1885. His wife survived him for several years, passing away August 29, 1890.

Mr. Hoover was the only son and had but one sister, Delpha A., now the wife of H. H. Glasscock, who is mentioned on another page of this work. '. A. Hoover was reared in Spring Creek township and is indebted to the common-school system for the educational privileges he enjoyed save that he has learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience. In his youth he broke the virgin soil and he has also broke and cleared three timbered farms, cutting away the trees, grub)ing out the stumps and clearing away the Ijrush, so that the breaking plow might make unimpeded progress in turning the furrows in the fields. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he those Miss Susan Ballenger, to whom he was married in Spring Creek township (in the gth of December, 1880. She is a nati\e of Adams township, Mahaska county, and a daughter of Jeremiah Ballenger, a native of Illinois, who was born September 21, 1826, and was reared in that state, after which he came to Iowa in early manhood, settling in Maliaska county about 1856. He was married here to Miss Christena Starlin. a native of Ohio, and their daughter, Mrs. Hoover, was reared in Mahaska county. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover began their domestic life upon the farm where he now resides. He began here with one huniired acres of land which he had to clear of stumps, but as fast as possible he transformed the place into fields of rich productiveness. He later lii>u.L;ht more land from time to time and upon his farm has erected a good nent residence, three sulistantial barns and outbuildings. He has fenced and cross fenced his jjlace and now lias a valuable property, harvesting golden grain as a reward for his earnest and persistent labor in cultivating the fields. In 1880 he began the breeding of Chester White hogs, in which he has since dealt, and has built up a very extensive business. In 1904 he won twenty-three premiums at the St. Louis Exposition and in 1905 he won twelve premiums and the championship at the Iowa State Fair, a fact which indicates that he is one of the prominent breeders of Chester White hogs in the country, his stock being of the highest grade. He has also carried ot a large number of premiums at the Illinois State Fair, and has a reputation that has made him known throughout the United States and Canada as a breeder and dealer in pure-blooded Chester White hogs. He received at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis a diploma — the only one given — for the best Chester White sow of any age, such diploma being awarded to no other exhibitor. Mr. Hoover receives orders and ships his hogs to all states of the Union, and is widely known as a most reliable and enterprising business man, whose ability and energy have won him success, while his honesty has become proverbial with all who leal with him. His place is regarded as head(quarters for breeders who want to olitain the best grades of Chester White swine. He makes a business of exhibiting stock at the leading fairs, a custom which he has followed for years.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN R. HOOVER.

John R. Hoover, living on section 27, Spring Creek township, is the owner of one of the neat and valuable farms of the county, comprising two hundred and fifteen acres of good land. He is classed, with the prominent agriculturists and stock-raisers of his community and is numbered among the native sons of this county, his birth having occurred in Spring Creek township on the 24th of May, 1859. He is a son of Samuel Hoover, a native of Indiana, and a grandson of Jonas Hoover, who was born in North Carolina, June 13, 1802, and died at the age of ninety-three years. He came to Alahaska county in pioneer days, arriving here in 1840, and assisted in building the first log cabin erected in Oskaloosa. He wedded Mary Newby, of North Carolina.

Samuel Hoover came from Indiana to Iowa with his parents when a youth of eight years and was practically reared in Mahaska county amid the wild scenes and environments of pioneer life. He spent his youth upon the home farm and attended the common schools of the neighborhood. He was married here to Miss Sarah Howard, a native of Vermilion county, Illinois, and a daughter of John Howard, who was born in Kentucky and removed to Illinois when seventeen years of age. He had studied for the ministry and engaged in preaching the gospel in both Illinois and Iowa, advocating the doctrine of the Society of Friends. For some years he made his home in Mahaska county and his influence was a potent factor in the moral development of his community. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hoover settled in Spring Creek township, where at one time he owned nine hundred acres of valuable land, making extensive and judicious investments in real estate as his financial resources increased. His death occurred in the year 1900, and his widow is still living on the old home farm with her son Ernest at the age of sixty-nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hoover became the parents of eleven children, of whom five died in infancy, while Edward died at the age of thirty years. Five of the number are still living.

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Ma\ 1879. when Miss Ella Chew became his wife. Slie was born in this county and is a <laui;lUcr of Elijah and Sarah (Myler) Chew. Her father was born at Carpenter's Landing, Xew Work. March 22, 1812, a son of Elisha Chew, while her mother's birth occurred ii: Terre Haute, Indiana, on the ist of February, 1820. The father was reared in his native state and from there removed to Indiana, later becoming a resident of Illinois. In the '40s he came tn Iowa, arriving here when Oskaloosa contained but two log houses, and he located two miles north of the city in Lincoln township, where he owned and operated a farm of one hundred acres. He died July- 13, 1890, living survived his wife for only one week as her death occurred on the 6th. of July. 1890. Of the nine children born to them five died in infancy. The others are: Irs. Mattie Hedden and Mrs. Anna Elliott, both residents of Oskaloosa; ]Mrs. Flora Parks, of Des Moines: and Irs. Ella Hoover, wife of our subject. By a former marriage Mr. Chew had one son, who is still living. Frank, a resident of Oskaloosa.

I'following his marriage Mr. Hoover engaged in farming on his own account, having received from his father eighty acres of land as had the other members of the family. Upon that tract he built a house and resided for a number of years but his residence was destroyed by fire and he then sold that property and purchased his present farm on section 27, Spring Creek township. Here he has since built a good two story residence, also a substantial barn and other outbuildings necessary for the shelter of grain and stock. He has today a comfortable home and valuable property, and in connection with the tilling of the soil he raises some fine stock, making a specialty of Poland China hogs and keeping good registered animals. He is also engaged in the raising of fancy poultry and has four different varieties which are also registered. In all his work he has been practical, has carefully watched results and has adopted those methods which lead to success.

On the 3d of May, 1904, Mr. and Mrs. Hoover celebrated their silver wedding. Unto them have been born nine children, of whom one died in infancy. Lennie. now living on the I lid homestead, married Eva Greenway. a native of Mahaska county and a daughter of William Greenway. They have one child, Myron. Earl, the second member of the family, lives upon a farm adjoining the home property. He married Iva Reed, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Bert Reed, and they have one child, Helen. Lura is the wife of James Evans, of Oskaloosa. Harokl and Erma are at home. Paul and Pauline, twins, and John Samuel are yet under the parental roof.

The parents are members of the Society of Friends and its teachings find exemplification in their honorable, upright lives. Politically Mr. Hoover is an ardent republican and is deeply interested in all that pertains to the county's progress and improvement. He has made a creditable record in business circles by reason of his integrity and his success, and he well deserves mention among the representative men of his native county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM N. HOOVER.

William N. Hoover was born in Jefferson county, Iowa, August 2, 1842, and died in Oskaloosa, October 16, 1900, at which time the community mourned the loss of a representative and valued citizen. He was of German descent and a son of Jonas and Mary Hoover, who came to Iowa at an early day in the development of this state, the father following the occupation of farming here.

William N. Hoover obtained a common-school education and in his youth worked at farm labor. He also became a mechanic, possessing much natural ingenuity and skill in that direction. He also engaged in prospecting for coal and as a promoter of the coal industry of the state gained a very gratifying competence.

About 1875 he established a distillery upon his farm and in connection with this operated a grist mill, conducting the business for some time, having the only distillery of the kind in Iowa. He possessed excellent business capacity and enterprise and won more than an ordinary measure of prosperity.

On the nth of May, 1864, Mr. Hoover was married to Miss Mary J. Whittaker, who was born in Spring Creek township, this county, September 7, 1843, a daughter of Samuel L. Whittaker of McLean county, Illinois, who was of Scotch and German ancestry. Her father came to Iowa about 1840, settling in Mahaska county among the Indians. He took up a claim and became prosperous, devoting his attention to general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1852, when he was but thirty-seven years of age. He lived an honorable and upright life in consistent harmony with his professions as a member of the Christian church. He married Jane Parker, of Indiana, who was of Scotch and English descent and was also a member of the Christian church. They became the parents of six children, of whom Mrs. Hoover was th'e third in order of birth. The mother died in 1898, at the age of eighty years. LTnto Mr. and Mrs. Hoover were born two children. Perry H., the elder, born in 1865 and now following farming in Spring Creek township, married Mollie Roberts and has two children. Elsie B. and Alvin, aged respectively twelve and four years. Charles A.Hoover, born in 1867, is the younger son. The boys attended the country schools and also Penn College, after which they worked upon the home farm.

Mr. Hoover continued actively in business up to the time of his death. He was highly esteemed by his neighbors and friends and was a loving husband, a kind and indulgent father. In manner he was very unostentatious and unassuming but yet he did benevolent acts and was generous to a fault, though he never cared to let his left hand know what the right hand had done. He was a valued member of the Society of Friends and he leaned toward democracy. A gentleman of good personal appearance, he was energetic in his business affairs and whatever he undertook carried forward to successful completion. Mrs. Hoover is also a member of the Society of Friends and the sons have liirthri.<,dit in the organization.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.