My Genealogy Hound

JOHN H. COOVER, a successful agriculturist and stock raiser near Shippensburg, and manager of the Stoner & Echelman Dairy, was born Aug. 5, 1861, on the old homestead known as the Jacob Coover place, in Cumberland county. His grandfather, Jacob Coover, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., moved thence to Cumberland county, and settled in Southampton township, where he cleared and improved a farm.

Jacob Coover, father of John H., was born Oct. 15, 1816, in Cumberland county, near Harrisburg, came to this part of Cumberland county with his parents in pioneer days, and was reared on the old homestead, where he passed the remainder of his life. The place contains 115 acres, and here he was profitably engaged in general agriculture during his active years. He was an intelligent man, and took an active interest in local public affairs, serving two years as ligious connection he was a member of the township. His affiliation was with the Republican party after its formation. In religious connection he was a member of the Bethel Church at Shippensburg. Mr. Coover married Mary E. Renshaw, who was born in 1825 in Hopewell township, Cumberland county, and died in 1871. Mr. Coover survived her, dying in February, 1900, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. This worthy couple were the parents of nine children, namely: Anna Ruth is the wife of David Shell, and resides in Marion, Pa.; Houser G. is a farmer in Shippensburg township; Catherine E. still lives at the old home; Mary Ellen married G. F. Cressler, of Shippensburg; Jennie S. is the wife of Samuel Houston, of Glen Campbell, Indiana Co., Pa.; Alexander S. is a farmer in Southampton township, Cumberland county; Emma Bell, now deceased, was the wife of Daniel Stouffer, and resided at Chambersburg; Jacob is in the employ of a railroad Company; John H., the youngest, is the gentleman whose name introduces these lines.

John H. Coover spent his youth on the farm, and received the greater part of his education at the Oak Grove schoolhouse. Leaving school in his nineteenth year he returned to the farm, assisting his father until his marriage, in his twenty-first year. He has since carried on farming on his own account, on the old homestead, and in addition to general agriculture he is interested in the breeding of fine cattle, his herd consisting of well-bred Holsteins. The dairy business is another branch of farming to which he has turned his attention with gratifying success. He is manager of the Stoner & Echelman Dairy, which receives milk from the surrounding country, and they have a separator in the receiving room. Like his father, Mr. Coover finds time aside from business to interest himself in local affairs, especially as he believes the public welfare to have much influence on individual advancement and well-being. He is a Republican in political sentiment, and takes a lively interest in the workings of the party.

Mr. Coover’s first marriage, on Nov. 24, 1880, was to Miss Elizabeth Renshaw, who was a native of Cumberland county, and a daughter of William and Mary (Reese) Renshaw. She died leaving four children, George, Lulu, Kate and Walter. In 1895 Mr. Coover married Miss Annie Wonders, of Cumberland county, daughter of George and Sarah (Milligen) Wonders, and to this marriage has come one daughter, Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Coover are members of the Bethel Church at Shippensburg.