My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Morgan County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Maj. George H. Stover, retired, has been a resident of Morgan County, Mo., since 1866, having been born in Aaronsburg, Centre Co., Penn., on January 3, 1823. His parents, Jacob E. and Catherine (Hubler) Stover, were born in Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. George H. was reared on a farm, and in addition to learning the details of farm work, learned the currier and tanner’s trade, which occupation his father followed. After attaining his majority he left home and worked at the miller’s trade three years, then returned to his native town, and was occupied in building threshing machines a year and a half, then farming his father’s farm several years. After that he bought a hotel in Bellefonte, the county seat of Centre County, and kept hotel three and a half years. Again going to his native town, he bought a half interest in a coach shop, and was in that business two years. He was then appointed, under the administration of James Pollock, Governor of Pennsylvania, as first assistant leather inspector at the port of Philadelphia, Penn., and held the position six months longer than the administration expiration. In 1861 he answered to the call of Gov. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, for 75,000 men to suppress the then rising rebellion by the Southern States. He then enlisted for three months, according to the call, and was mustered as orderly sergeant of Company F, Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was promoted after one month as second lieutenant of the same company, and after the expiration of his term of service he returned home, but soon responded again to the call of his country for more troops, for three years or during the war. He helped to enlist Company F of the Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, by order of the governor, and was commissioned first lieutenant, serving as such till August, 1862, when on the march and line of extra duty he was stricken down by sun stroke. He, however, recovered some and stayed with his company and regiment, and took part in Gen. Pope’s campaign from Cedar Mountain, via Gaines Hill and Bull Run, to Washington City. After his command left the entrenchments of Washington City to follow the enemy, he, being unable to raise his body or head from his blanket, was left, and was found the next day by an ambulance, and was taken to Washington City, and after strict examination by the doctor, he was sent home either to die or recover. The chances were only one out of ten for recovery, but, by good nursing, he recovered sufficiently after six months’ sickness, so that with his brother, John H. Stover, by order of the War Department, he re-enlisted, and helped to enlist the 184th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was commissioned as quartermaster of said regiment (as he could not, on account of his disability, serve on hard duty), and served in this capacity until the close of the war. In 1866 he moved from his childhood home to Versailles, Morgan Co., Mo., where he was engaged in the dry goods business for about two and a half years, afterward embarking in the hardware business with his son-in-law, L. Walter, and after several years in this business he sold out his interest, and engaged in lead and coal mining very successfully, and helped to develop both the lead and coal of Morgan County. In 1881 he had to retire from active business on account of his health, and has not been able to do any business since. He is a Republican in politics, and served as county judge some two years, and various other positions of honor and trust. He is a stanch temperance man, and is a member of the A. F. & A. M. In 1847 he was married to Harriet M. Zellers, a native of Pennsylvania, and by her is the father of five children: Candace E. C., wife of George Decker, of Versailles; Mary A., wife of John D. Neilson, an attorney at law of Versailles; Annie M., wife of Lewis Walter, a tinner; Laura V., wife (deceased) of I. P. Adams; Edward C., who died at the age of five years. The children were all born in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Stover were members of the Lutheran Church in the East, but having no Lutheran Church in Versailles, Mo., they joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. While a resident of his native State, and prior to the late war, he held various commissions, from second lieutenant to major of cavalry of the State Militia of Pennsylvania. He holds now nine commissions, expired, signed by the governors at the time he was elected to the various places of trust and honor. He has two brothers yet living, one in the East and one in Missouri, and three brothers and one sister dead. With all the ups and downs in life, he has had, with his family and all around a happy life, hoping sooner or later to inherit that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. So mote it be.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 120 biographies included in The History of Morgan County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Morgan County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Morgan County, Missouri family biographies here: Morgan County, Missouri Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.