ISAIAH HOOVER
Prominent among the successful farmers of Liberty Township is Isaiah Hoover,
whose family name has long been intimately associated with the history of
Henry County. Paternally he is of German descent, but does not know when his
ancestors left the Fatherland, though it is supposed to have been at a very
early period in the history of Pennsylvania, where they originally settled.
Joshua Hoover, the subject's father, was a native of the above state. He left
his father's home at the age of seventeen, going to Ohio, where he grew to
maturity and where, when a young man, he married Miss Catherine Misner, a
native of Rockingham County, Virginia. Shortly after his marriage Joshua
Hoover moved to Henry County, Indiana, and purchased one hundred and
forty-four acres of wild land, from which in due time, by the hardest kind of
toil, he developed a fine farm. Adding to his original purchase as the years
went by, he finally became one of the prosperous men of his township and
county, accumulating a large estate, estimated at his death to be worth over
twelve thousand dollars. He was a fine businessman, made money easily and
everything to which he turned his hand appeared to prosper. For a number of
years he was a leading member of the German Baptist church in this county and
as such did much to counteract many of the prevailing evils of the times. In
politics he was a Republican, but took no very active interest in party
affairs further than to maintain the soundness of his convictions and vote
his principles. In every relation of life he was a good man and true and his
death, which occurred on the 29th of March. 1876, was greatly deplored in the
neighborhood where so much of his life had been passed. Mrs. Hoover survived
her husband until 1889, when she, too, was called from earth to the, rest
prepared for the people of God, of whom she was assuredly one. Joshua and
Catherine Hoover were the parents of a large family, namely: Margaret Ranken,
Elizabeth, Silas, David, John, Joshua, Susan, Catherine, Moses, Mary and
Isaiah. Isaiah Hoover is one of Henry County's native sons, born in Liberty
Township on the 9th day of May. 1848. He was reared on the home place to
agricultural pursuits, attended the public schools during his youthful years
and grew up to the full Stature of well developed manhood with a practical
knowledge of honest labor in all its phases on the farm. On attaining his
majority he started into the world to make his own way and chose for a
companion on the journey Miss Mary V. Schock, to whom he was joined in
matrimony on the 21st day of June 1868. Mrs. Hoover was born in Wayne County,
Indiana, August 25, 1843, and is the daughter of Jacob and Lavina (Swafford)
Schock, the father a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the mother
of North Carolina. During, the eighteen years following his marriage Mr.
Hoover lived on his father's farm and it was not until 1886 that he purchased
and moved to the beautiful place in Liberty Township, which he now owns and
cultivates. He began life at the bottom of the ladder, but by well-directed
thrift and energy born of a determination to succeed gradually overcame the
obstacles in his pathway and in due time found himself the possessor of
sufficient means to buy the attractive home which is now his. He has been a
progressive farmer and from a small beginning has risen step by step until
his original place of eighty acres has been increased to three hundred and
thirty acres, worth at a very conservative estimation at least twenty
thousand dollars, in addition to which he owns other valuable personal
property. Every penny of this comfortable fortune has been honestly earned by
the subject and the methods employed in its accumulation were ever of the
mast honorable character. Mr. Hoover is what is termed in business circles a
self-made man and his rise to affluence is the result of his own
well-directed labor, studious disposition and the ability to take advantage
of circumstances. His record has never been tarnished by an act of dishonesty
in any of his transactions and his life has been one of true usefulness to
his fellow men. A Republican in his political views, he has never taken a
very active part in public affairs, but keeps himself well posted relative to
the issues between the great parties and upon questions affecting national
and state legislation. In religion he is and long has been a humble and
devout member of the German Baptist church, his wife and family also
belonging to the same communion. Socially, Mr. Hoover is one of the most
genial and companionable of men, always optimistic in his views and inclined
to look upon the sunny instead of the dark side of life. He possesses the
happy faculty of making warm personal friends and when once formed these
friendships are permanent. He is a favorite in his neighborhood, the life of
social gatherings and his popularity is only bounded by the lines beyond
which he is not known. Eight children constitute the family of Mr. and Mrs.
Hoover: Joshua E., born March 16, 1869, married Rose Covault; David F, was
born April 3, 1872, and chose for his wife Miss Lena Clensman; Edward M.,
born August 30, 1875, married Lena Gephart, and lives in this Township; Jacob
C., whose birth occurred January 24, 1877, is one of the well-educated young
men of Liberty Township; he was graduated from both common and high school
and for some time thereafter attended college where he made a creditable
record as a student; he is a single man and lives with his father; Daniel M.,
also unmarried and at home, was born January 29, 1879; Sarah C. was born
September 29, 1880; Isaiah 0, first saw the light of day on the 10th of
August 1882, and Lewis H. dates his birth from the 28th day of December,
1884. The sons and daughters are all well educated and popular with a large
circle of friends in the community where they live.
Typed by Lora Radiches
Compendium of Biography Of Henry County, Indiana B. F. Bowen 1920