John R. HOOVER, b. 1859
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 Mahaska 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.
John R. Hoover, the eldest, remained at home until twenty-one years of age but was married when twenty years of age, the wedding ceremony being performed on the 3rd of
May, 1879, when Miss Ella Chew became his wife. She was born in this county and is a daughter of Elijah and Sarah (Myler) Chew. Her father was born at Carpenter's Landing, New York, March 22, 1812, a son of Elisha Chew, while her mother's birth occurred in Terre Haute, Indiana, on the 1st 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 to Iowa, arriving here when Oskaloosa contained but two log houses, ad he located two miles north of the city in Lincoln township, there he owned and operated a farm of one hundred acres. He died July 13, 1890, having survived his wife for only one week as her death occurred on the 6th of July, 1890. Of nine children born to them five died in infancy. The others are: Mrs. Mattie Hedden and Mrs. Anna Elliott, both residents of Oskaloosa; Mrs. Flora Parks, of Des Moines; and Mrs. Ella Hoover, wife of our subject. In a former marriage Mr. Chew had one son, who is still living, Frank, a resident of Oskaloosa.
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 3rd 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
old 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. Harold and Ernia 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.
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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy
Iowa Genealogy
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