BIO: Frank B. STOVER, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  FRANK B. STOVER. The life of this well-known citizen of Bellefonte, 
Centre county, has been marked by unusual enterprise and energy, and 
the success which has attended his efforts is but their due reward. 
Although he is a native of Union county, where he was born, December 7, 
1836, his family has been identified with Centre county for three 
generations. His paternal grandfather, Jacob E. Stover, was born at 
Williamsport, Md., on the Potomac river, and, losing his parents while 
yet a boy, began his business career at great disadvantages. He learned 
the tanner's trade in Maryland, and when a young man settled in Haines 
township, Centre county, where numerous relatives had already located. 
There he built a tannery, which he conducted for many years. He had the 
following children: Samuel H., Isaac, William H., George Hubler, 
Michael, John H., and Catherine, who married a Mr. Kaup. Three of the 
sons served with distinction in the Union army during the Civil war. 
George Hubler Stover, who died in the year 1897, gained the rank of 
major; Michael was connected with the quartermaster's department, while 
John H. became a colonel, and after the war he was a resident of Morgan 
county, Mo., and represented that district in Congress.
  Samuel H. Stover, our subject's father, was born at Aaronsburg, 
Penn., in 1812. He was married in Centre county to a lady of Dutch 
descent, by name Catherine Dingers, whose father was a farmer in 
Lebanon county, Penn., where she was born in 1813. For about three 
years after their marriage they made their home in Hartleton, Union 
county. They then returned to Centre county, and located at Boalsburg, 
Harris township, for three years, after which they made their home in 
Bayleyville until 1865, at which time they again moved to Boalsburg, 
and lived there some eighteen years, or until their death in 1883, the 
father dying in March, the mother in May. They were Lutherans in 
religious faith, and the father was a stanch adherent of the Republican 
party. Of their thirteen children eight lived to maturity: (1) Matilda 
married Jonathan Musser, and resides in Altoona, Blair county; (2) 
Frank B. is mentioned more fully below; (3) Johanna married George 
Kaup, 

434  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  

of Centre county; (4) Catherine is the wife of Jonathan Hess, of the 
same county; (5) Mary G. married Dr. J. K. Krider, and now lives in 
Ohio; (6) Ellen is the wife of Henry Gingrich, of Centre county; (7) 
Sadie and (8) Nannie, who are not married, reside in Bellefonte.
  As the only son of his parents, Mr. Stover found his help much in 
demand upon the farm during his early years, but he was given good 
educational advantages, supplementing his course in the district school 
by an attendance at Pine Grove Academy and Central Academy in Juniata 
county, Penn. After leaving school he worked for some time upon the 
farm and in his father's hotel at Rock Springs, and then entered 
business life on his own account as a clerk in a dry-goods store, where 
one of his transactions was the sale of six yards of calico to a lady 
for a dress. Later he clerked in a hardware store in Bellefonte, and in 
1881 he engaged in the meat business, which he has ever since followed, 
enjoying a large custom. As a business man he holds a high place, and 
he also exerts much influence in local affairs and in the Republican 
organization. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum, and is a leading member 
of the Lutheran Church, and, in fact, is interested as a good citizen 
in all the varied movements of his locality.
  In 1861 Mr. Stover was united in marriage with Miss Mary M. Musser, a 
native of Pine Grove Mills, Centre county, born in 1838, daughter of 
William and Catherine Musser, the former of whom died in 1870, the 
latter in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Stover have four children - two sons, 
Samuel and Alvin H., in business with their father, and both living in 
Bellefonte, and two daughters, Lula C., at home, and Lottie E., who was 
married September 15, 1896, to H. E. Stover, and now resides in 
Hagerstown, Md. Samuel, the elder son, was born at Rock Springs, Centre 
county, in January, 1863. Alvin H., the young son, was born in April, 
1865, at Locust Grove, Centre county, and was married in August, 1887, 
to Miss Ida Rishell, daughter of John Rishell, Centre county, and they 
have three children: Frank R., Helen S. and Harold M.