My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM McCLELLAN HOOVER, one of the active and enterprising young farmers of Pettis County, resides on the old homestead, occupying a portion of section 1, township 43, range 23. It is a highly cultivated farm, upon which his father took up his abode over twenty-eight years ago.

Our subject was born in the state of Iowa, the date of this event being April 9, 1864. His parents were Jacob and Annie E. (Border) Hoover, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania. He spent his early life in that state, and later emigrated to Iowa, where he made his home until 1866, the date of his advent into Pettis County. He immediately selected as his future abiding-place the tract of land now occupied by his son, our subject, and lived upon the same until his retirement from active work, in 1892. Having been very successful and prosperous in his farming ventures, he determined to enjoy some of his hard earnings, and consequently moved into the village of Windsor, where he has a comfortable home. He has now passed his seventy-third birthday, but is still hardy and strong and gives promise of many more years of life.

Our subject passed his boyhood days on a farm and received but a very meager education. When nineteen years of age he left the parental roof, and, going to Kansas, located at Piqua, Woodson County, where he invested his means in a stock of merchandise, and for three years successfully conducted a good trade. At the end of that time he sold his interest there, and, moving to southwestern Kansas, took and proved up a claim in Morton County. One year later he established an office in Richfield, the county seat, and was engaged in loaning money. For three years he was classed among the representative business men of that place, but in 1892, it being his father’s desire to retire from farm work, he returned to the old place, and has since been occupied in its management. The tract is one hundred and eighty acres in extent, and is devoted principally to stock-raising, it being peculiarly adapted to that branch of agriculture. It is beautifully located, well watered, and is in fact one of the ideal homes of the locality. Although Mr. Hoover is a young man, he has a good knowledge of farming, and bids fair to soon take his place in the front rank of the substantial farmers of the county.

William McClellan Hoover and Miss Susanna Malcom were united in marriage December 29, 1892. The lady is the daughter of Ferguson and Nancy (Roush) Malcom, natives of Grant County, Ind. Mrs. Hoover was also born in that state, the date of the event being November 6, 1867. By her union with our subject there have been born two children, Percy Ferguson and Otto Earl. Mrs. Hoover is a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and although never aspiring to office-holding, is interested in the welfare of his community and gives his support to all worthy enterprises.