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- COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Page 481
PERRY H. STOVER, senior member of the well-known firm of Stover & Whitmyer, lumber merchants of Coburn, Centre County, is an able business man and a public-spirited citizen whose genial disposition and high character have attracted to him a host of friends.
As he is descended from two leading families, a review of his ancestral history will be of interest. His great-grandfather, George Stover, had but two children, Jacob and John, of whom the former went to California during the “gold fever” of 1849, and while at sea on his way home a few years later, had a sunstroke, from the effects of which he died at La Crosse, Wis. John Stover, the grandfather of our subject, was killed in early manhood while blasting rock in the construction of the first railroad from Millheim to Brush Valley, which lay along Elk creek, but on the opposite side from the present road. His wife, Mary (Yeagley), died from colic, neither of them having attained the age of twenty-one. Both were buried at Aaronsburg, where they resided when their only child, George W., was born, February 17, 1826.
The late George W. Stover, the father of our subject, was reared by his maternal grandmother, Anna Maria Yeagley, wife of John Yeagley, in what was then Haines (now Penn) township. Centre county. After a course in the district schools he studied higher branches at Mifflintown and Mifflinburg, and, thus prepared, began the work of teaching, in which he continued successfully for three or four years. In 1842 he began to learn the miller's trade at Pine Creek Mills, and after acquiring a knowledge of the work remained there for a time as an employee. Later he engaged in mercantile business at Nittany Hall. In 1848 Mr. Stover was married in Haines Township, by Rev. Mr. Reese, a Lutheran minister, to Miss Malinda A. Kreider, who was born September 13, 1829, in Lebanon, Penn., where her grandfather, Jacob Kreider, was a well-known citizen in his day. He and his wife, Catherine (Smith), reared a family of five children — two sons and three daughters — Philip, Mrs. Stover's father, being the eldest. The other son, Jacob, died in 1811.
Philip Kreider married Leah Bowman, and in April, 1834, removed with his family to the present site of Centre Hall, traveling in a wagon, the journey from Lebanon County requiring three days. He and Christian Hoffer, who with his family made the trip at the same time, purchased what was then known as the James Lyons farm, and divided it, Mr. Kreider taking the lower portion where Centre Hall now stands. Four years later he moved to Linden Hall, and after one year there located in what is now Penn Township. Centre county. He was a carpenter in his younger days, later becoming a merchant and hotel keeper, his thrifty and industrious life enabling him to secure a comfortable competence.
He and his wife were devout members of the Reformed Church, and were highly esteemed in the community. The wife died April 4. 1836, the husband on January 7, 1842, and the remains of both were laid to rest at Aaronsburg. Their children were Malinda A. (Mrs. Stover); William S., who died in 1855 in Penn township. Centre County; Rosanna, who died in infancy; John P., who died in Miles Township, Centre County, at the age of forty-four; George B. and Reuben H., who died in infancy; Jacob B., a physician at Bucyrus, Ohio, and Mary C., now Mrs. Daniel Weaver, of Miles township. Centre county.
Our subject's parents began housekeeping at Nittany Hall, and remained until June, 1849, when they settled upon the farm now occupied by Mrs. Stover. It had belonged to her father, and the claims of the other heirs were purchased in order to acquire it. There was only a log cabin upon the place, once used as a distillery, but they made their home there until the present comfortable residence could be built. The first purchase was five acres, and later eighty acres adjoining were secured to make the farm as it is to-day. Before leaving Nittany Valley, Mr. Stover had bought tracts of timber land, which he afterward developed profitably. In 482 the spring of 1859 he engaged in the distillery business in a small way, continuing more than twenty-five years, and this and other enterprises so engrossed his time that the care of the farm was left to the other members of the family or to hired help. During the last five years of his life he suffered from paralysis. His death occurred May 2, 1889, and he was buried at Aaronsburg.
For more than forty-five years he was a prominent member of the Reformed Church, serving often as deacon, and being always ready to contribute toward the advancement of the work.
He helped to build three churches of this denomination, his liberality in this direction being one phase of a lifelong interest in all the movements which would promote the public welfare. He was a Democrat, although the family had in the main belonged to other parties. His interest in public affairs was keen, and he served in various township offices — auditor, school director, assessor and justice of the peace — and he was a warm friend of improvement in the schools of his district. At his death he left his property to his widow, a woman of kindly heart and noble character, who was of great assistance to him in his career. She is well preserved, and although she has met with accidents at various times which have caused seven bone fractures, she has un- usual vitality and is very active for one of her age. Her memory is remarkable, especially of dates, her reminiscences of early life being very interesting, and her natural abilities are of a high order. Since 1844 she has been a constant member of the Reformed Church. Our subject was the first child in a family of five, the others being: Mary E., born October 29, 1853, married Thomas B. Motz, of Penn township. Centre county; John C, born May 27, 1855, died October 20, 1893, leaving a widow; Oscar J., born July 25, 1860, lived only two years; Kreider H., born July 12, 1873, is a telegraph operator.
Perry H. Stover was born at Nittany Hall, Centre County, October 4, 1848, and was but a child when his parents removed to the present homestead. He attended the local schools, which were much inferior to those of the present day, and then pursued his studies further at Rebersburg under Supt. Magee, and at Aaronsburg with Prof. Gotwalt. His parents being well-to-do, and having a high estimate of the value of a good education, gave to all their children much better opportunities than fell to the lot of most young people of their time. On leaving school, Mr. Stover taught successfully for three years in Penn Township, Centre County, and Long Swamp, Berks Co., Penn. All his spare time, either as student or teacher, was spent at home, his father's numerous and varied enterprises affording an abundance of work for him as the eldest son. Later he gave his entire attention to these interests, residing with his parents until October, 1877, and his services were of no small value.
In 1875, Mr. Stover was married in Miles Township. Centre county, to Miss Eliza J. Wolf, who was born August 1, 1851, the daughter of Henry Wolf, a leading farmer of Brush Valley. In the fall of 1877, Mr. Stover and his young wife removed to Coburn, where he opened the "Coburn Hotel, "a well-known hostelry built by his father. He remained there four years and a half, conducting also a livery business. In the meantime he became associated with his father in a grain business, which, with the coal business connected with it, came into his hands in 1880. As sole owner he continued until February, 1884, when he sold out to Smith & Co. In 1887 he entered the employ of William Whitmer & Sons, lumber dealers, and occupied a responsible position with them until 1894, when the present partnership was formed.
Mr. Stover is a member of the Reformed Church, and his wife is a Lutheran. They have no children. Their home in Coburn is a pleasant one, and at the time it was built by Mr. Stover it was considered one of the best in that section. Politically he is a Democrat, but his keen interest in the success of his party is quite impersonal as he is not anxious for office. He has served one term as justice of the peace, however. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows Lodge at Millheim, and is a charter member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America at Coburn. [4]
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1848 - 1914 (65 years)
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