... The subject of this sketch [Dr. Abraham L Hoover], a man still in the prime of life, was born in Wayne County, Ind., forty-seven years ago, Sept. 15, 1841. He is the son of John and Esther (Zook) Hoover, who were born and partially reared in Pennsylvania, their parents moving from there to Indiana at in early day. The grandparents on both sides were born in Germany. Jonas Hoover, the paternal grandfather, entered a quarter-section of land in Wayne County, Ind., near what is now Hagerstown, and there, with his estimable wife, spent the remainder of his days, laboring industriously and opening up a farm from the wilderness of heavy timber. The wife and mother rested from her labors at about the age of seventy years, while the grandfather lived to be eighty-five.
John Hoover, the father of our subject. grew to manhood amid the wild scenes of Wayne County, Ind., during its early settlement, receiving a very limited education. When reaching manhood he contracted matrimonial ties with Miss Esther Zook, and they settled in the same neighborhood, following agricultural pursuits. Of this marriage four children were born, the first dying in infancy. The second, Dr. Jonas Hoover, is a practicing physician of Bennet, Neb.; Abraham L., our subject, was the third, and Esther, Mrs. West, who is the mother of a large family, is now living on a farm in Gruenwood County, Kan. The mother passed away when her son Abraham L. was but two years old. He, with the other children, was then given to the care of Grandmother Zook, where they remained for two or three years, until their father married for his second wife Miss Sarah Knotts. They settled on his father's farm, taking the two boys and leaving the daughter with her grandmother, who had cared for her from the time of her birth.
Dr. Hoover says this is about the earliest recollection he has of himself or his family. A little later on, about 1846, John Hoover with his family changed his residence to Liberty Township, Delaware Co., Ind.,. five miles east of Muncie, the county seat. Two children were born of his second marriage: Jerusha, now the wife of Henry Schneider and the mother of a large family, their home being on a farm northwest of Muncie, and James C., who married Miss Clara Whitney, but still resides at the old homestead. To them were born two children, the elder of whom is deceased. ...
