My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE HOOVER. For the past fifty years George Hoover has lived upon the farm he now occupies in Silver Spring township, Cumberland Co., Pa., and for as many years has taken an active part in the affairs of his community. He was born one and one-half miles southwest of Mechanicsburg, in Upper Allen township, June 29, 1827, a son of Christian Hoover, who was born at Middletown, Dauphin Co., Pa., in 1792.

Christian Hoover, the paternal grandfather, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., and thence moved to Middletown, Dauphin county, where he lived until he was thirty years old, moving at that time to Cumberland county, which was his home from 1795 until his death. He married Susan Spidel, and they had six children: John, David, Christian, Elizabeth, Catherine and Susanna, all now deceased. George Hoover’s maternal grandfather was Joshua Myers, who came of a family prominent in the Revolutionary war. Four of the brothers of Joshua participated in the stirring events of the time, but as he was the youngest, it fell to his share to remain at home and care for his mother. Mrs. Rebecca Myers. His twin brother, Jacob, went as a substitute for his brother-in-law, a Mr. Morx, and was killed at the battle of Brandywine. Capt. Mathias Saylor, of the Company in which Jacob enlisted, was also a brother-in-law of Mr. Morx. This Company suffered great losses, as it went into the conflict with the full quota of men and came out with but seven. Joshua Myers was married to Rosanna Mark, and six children were born to them: Jacob, John, Abraham, Catherine, Mary and George.

Christian Hoover, Jr., son of Christian, Sr., and father of George Hoover, married Mary Myers, who was born on the same farm as our subject, and they had two children: George and Rebecca, twins. Rebecca remained unmarried, and died April 15, 1900.

George Hoover was educated in the common schools, which he attended in the summer until he was nine years of age, and thereafter he went in the winter. Before he was twenty years of age he went to the Bloomfield Academy, but was unable to finish his course on account of the delicate condition of his father’s health. Besides receiving instruction in the common school branches he studied philosophy, astronomy, higher mathematics and the rudiments of surveying. His schooling ended at this point, but his natural inclinations led him to pursue a course of reading and to keep thoroughly posted in matters of popular interest and current events. Until he was almost twenty-seven years of age he worked for his father on the farm, and then began life for himself, locating on the place he now owns. For a number of years he was engaged in cattle and horse raising, but changed conditions having made this unprofitable he now devotes his time to ordinary farming, and is very successful. Mr. Hoover has held every office of honor and trust in his township, having been school director, assessor and treasurer. For thirty-five years he served as justice of the peace, and was elected to his eighth term, but feeling he had devoted the best years of his life to the welfare of his township, and that he was now entitled to some rest, he refused to accept. He has always been public-spirited in aiding every enterprise he felt was calculated to prove beneficial to his community. His political views have been such as to make him a stanch Democrat, and he has devoted his energies and talents to the welfare of his party with unfailing loyalty. In religious matters Mr. Hoover is a consistent member of the Lutheran Church, and is one of its most liberal supporters in every way.

On May 16, 1854, Mr. Hoover married, at Harrisburg, Pa., Mary Martin, daughter of David and Barbara Martin, of Hampden township, Cumberland Co., Pa. Seven children have been born to them: George; Samuel; Benjamin Franklin; Tolbert, who married Anna C. Cornman, a charming young lady of Mechanicsburg, who has borne him one son, George C.; Elizabeth; Rebecca; and Ida, who married Emory W. Rupp, a retired educator, now engaged in a large mercantile business at Shiremanstown, Pa., and has two sons, George Hoover Rupp, namesake of his grandfather, and Raphael E. Rupp.

Mr. Hoover has long been recognized as one of the representative men of his township and county, and he has lived to see wonderful changes take place, many of which he has been instrumental in bringing about. He has been particularly interested in improvements in educational matters, and rejoices that his children and grandchildren possess advantages which never fell to his lot.