John R. Hoover

As printed in 1906

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.

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

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 Past and present of Mahaska County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.