My Genealogy Hound

FRANCIS CONRAD HOOVER, a competent and experienced farmer whose home, “The Pines,” at Blue Bell, is one of the attractive country places of Whitpain township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is descended from some of the earliest of the German settlers of the Lehigh Valley. The family is now widely represented in the professions and in many lines of business throughout the state, and the present generation is sustaining the honorable record which was the bequest of the forefathers.

Philip Hoover, grandfather of Francis Conrad, was a sturdy and energetic farmer, a man of large capacity and uncompromising principles. He was a leader of public opinion in his township, and a generous supporter of every good cause. Among his children were Hiram, now Judge Hoover of Hooverton, and Frederick William, who was the eldest son and the father of Francis Conrad Hoover.

Frederick William Hoover, was born January 17, 1806, and was reared to the varied activities of his father’s farm. He attended the country schools, and after finishing his school work, succeeded to the management of the homestead farm. He was a capable man and a worthy citizen. His industry and frugality enabled him to provide the comforts of life for a large family. His wife was Maria Fleck, who died June 11, 1878, and his death occurred March 20, 1859. (For full history of the Hoover family see sketch of Judge Hoover in this work.)

Francis Conrad Hoover, seventh son and eighth child of Frederick William and Maria (Fleck) Hoover, was born January 22, 1845, in Warrington township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He attended the district school until he was fifteen years old, when he went to live with an uncle, Andrew Jackson Hoover, a farmer of Gwynedd township, Montgomery county. He remained here as assistant farmer, teaching country school during the winters, until his marriage in 1870. For two years after this he was established on his uncle’s farm as dairyman and manager, in which capacity he developed much skill. Following this engagement, he moved to the farm of B. P. Mertsner of Whitpain township, Montgomery county, known as The Evergreen, which he worked on shares for twenty-three years. His record as tenant of this farm is most unique, for during the whole time of his residence there, no written agreement between him and the owner of the property was ever made concerning a division of profits or of crops and their relations were always most friendly and harmonious. No better testimonial as to the character of both men could be given than this simple statement. It implies a living up to the golden rule that is most unusual in the fierce business, competitions of our times. In the spring of 1895, having purchased the William Dull property, known as The Pines, below Blue Bell on Skippack pike, Mr. Hoover left the Evergreen farm, which he had conducted so successfully for so many years, for comparative ease and retirement. At The Pines he has only twelve acres of land, highly productive, but it furnishes him occupation and interest, while affording a leisure earned by years of arduous labor.

Mr. Hoover has always maintained an interest in public affairs, and he has been school director in his township for twenty years, as well as for several years justice of the peace. He and his family are prominent members of the Reformed church, belonging to the congregation of Boehm’s church at Blue Bell, where Mr. Hoover has been superintendent of the Sunday-school for twenty-five years, as well as for many years an elder and the director of the choir. He is a Democrat, though he has ever held to principle before party. His fair-mindedness, kindliness, and integrity, have won universal esteem.

He married Marietta, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Wilson) Danehower, of Spring House, Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, on March 15, 1870. She was born November 18, 1833, being one of five children. The children born of her marriage with Mr. Hoover are as follows: Bertha Elizabeth, born September 25, 1875, who married Abram A., son of John and Priscilla Nash of Warrington township, Bucks county, on October 4, 1900, and has two children, Muriel Frances, born October 10, 1901, and Eleanor Ruth, born January 3, 1903; Marie and Ada Emily. The two youngest daughters are living at home and Ada Emily is attending the high school.