| Notes |
- Page 321 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
A. J. STOVER, a prominent citizen of Coburn, Centre county, is a retired agriculturist who after many years of well-directed labor can gather the rewards thereof at leisure. He was born January 27, 1846, in Haines township. Centre county, where his ancestors settled at a very early day, his grandfather, Adam Stover, having been a pioneer farmer.
Andrew Stover, our subject's father, was born and reared there and learned the carpenter's trade. His parents having a small farm and a large family, he was obliged to make his own way in life from the start. He was industrious and frugal, and won a high place in the esteem of the community. In politics he was a Democrat, and he was a leading member of the Lutheran Church. At an early age he married Miss Polly Moyer (or Meyer, as the name was originally spelled), a daughter of George Moyer, a well known farmer. They began housekeeping near Coburn, and for a number of years Andrew Stover was engaged in general carpenter work, but when nearly forty years old he purchased forty acres of land in Haines township, Centre county, and followed farming until his death. He died at the age of fifty-four, and his mortal remains were laid to rest in Wolfe's Chapel cemetery. His widow, who was born January 20, 1814. and is consequently eighty-four years old, is now living with our subject.
They reared a large family, as follows:
Julia is Mrs. Enoch Kramer, of Haines township. Centre county;
George M. is a carpenter of Aaronsburg;
Daniel M. is a carpenter of Haines township, Centre county;
Israel M. lives in Berrien county, Mich.;
Catherine married Franklin Detwilder, and died at Aaronsburg;
John is a resident of Berrien county, Mich.;
A. J. is our subject;
Benjamin lives in Haines township, Centre county;
Jacob,
Monroe,
Jeff
and James, all resided in Berrien county, Mich.;
Henrietta died at the age of twenty-one years;
and Elizabeth, who married Henry Kramer, went west, and for twelve years has not been heard from.
A. J. Stover's early education was such as the common schools of his day afforded. As his parents had but limited means most of the children left home early to make a living, and he was the only one of the boys who remained until of age. He was eighteen years old when his father died, and the will confided to his care the mother and younger children. This commission he fulfilled, all his work at the homestead being done for the mother and family. At twenty-one he was married in Haines township, Centre county, to Miss Annie Stover, a native of the township and a daughter of Martin Stover. His savings at this time amounted to nearly $150, and he made a beginning as a farmer by renting forty acres of land in Penn township, Centre county, where he spent six years. Having prospered, he rented a larger farm in Haines township. Centre county, and lived there three years. In the spring of 1878 he purchased his first farm, a tract of eighty-seven acres in Haines township. Centre county, and although he went $3,600 in debt, he enjoyed at last the satisfaction of having a home that he could call his own. He remained there until the spring of 1895, when he removed to his present home in Coburn. He now owns over 240 acres of land, and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of the locality.
Mr. Stover's four children by the first marriage are all residents of Centre county: Ammon A. is a farmer of Haines township; Warren F. is a farmer of Gregg township; William resides in Haines township; and Katy married John Hess, of Haines township. The mother of this little family died in February, 1886, and was buried in Wolfe's Chapel cemetery. On February 16, 1888, Mr. Stover was married in Haines township to Miss Eve Stover, a sister of his first wife, and there is one child by this union, Martin A., who is at home.
Mr. Stover has not only proved himself a successful business man, but he has always taken a prominent part in the local work of the Democratic party, and has held the office of supervisor for three terms. He is a member of the Reformed Church, in which he has been a deacon, and he is interested in all that tends to promote the good of the community. [6]
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1809 - 1864 (54 years)
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