William N. Hoover, b. 1842, d. 1900

William N. Hoover was horn 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 11th 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 the third in order of birth. The mother died in 1898, at the age of eighty years. Unto 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 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 very 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 a birth right in the organization.

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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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