BIO: George R. STOVER, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _______________________________________________________________________ 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. _______________________________________________________________________ 158 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. GEORGE R. STOVER, the efficient agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and also of the Adams Express Company, at Coburn, Centre county, has descended from one of the pioneer families of the county. As early as 1775 Jacob Stover and a son, Adam, settled in what is now Haines township, originally a part of Potter township, Centre county. Michael Stover, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of Bucks county, Penn., of German parents. He was a farmer by occupation and owned a fine body of land in Penn's Valley, on which he passed much of his days. Late in life he went into Sugar Valley, now a part of Clinton county, where he made his home with his son David, who cared for him in his declining years. His death occurred in 1855, and his remains rest in Union Cemetery, Logan township, Clinton county. In Penn's Valley he married Margaret Miller, who was a native of Lebanon county, Penn. Their children were eight in number, namely: Adam (deceased); Jacob (deceased); Jonathan, living a retired life at Booneville; David, grandfather of our subject; Elizabeth, now Mrs. William Bethlehem; Catherine, now Mrs. Samuel Esteiline, of Logan township; Christina. unmarried; and Lydia, widow of John Sellers, of Sugar Valley; the mother of these died in September, 1873, at the old homestead, and was buried in the Booneville cemetery. David Stover was born December 8, 1808, in Penn's Valley, and was reared on his father's farm. He received a fair education in German, and when a man grown, in connection with his brother Jacob, bought a farm of 16o acres in Sugar Valley known as the Sickle place, located in Logan township. This farm the two brothers operated jointly for twenty-five years, during all of which time not a cross word passed between them. They improved the place greatly, erecting a neat dwelling house, a barn, etc. In 1872 David retired, and for fifteen years thereafter so lived, of which period four years were passed in the village of Booneville in a comfortable house which he had purchased for himself and wife. He died March 31, 1887, and was buried in the Booneville cemetery. He was a pious man, a good Christian, being a member of the Evangelical Association for some twelve years. He was a class leader; he also served as teacher and superintendent of the Sunday-school. In politics he was a Democrat, and. he held the office of overseer of the poor of his township. He was a man well and extensively known, was held in high esteem, and was greatly respected for his exemplary Christian life. His wife, Elizabeth (Hahn), whom he married in 1844, was born in Logan (now Green) township. May 3, 1822, and the children born to this union were: John M.; and Mary E., the wife of J. L. Boone, a merchant of Loganton, Penn. The mother of these was the daughter of John and Sarah (Schrack) Hahn, the former of German and the latter of Scotch-Irish descent. She is still living, making her home with her son. John M. Stover is a native of Sugar Valley, born on the Stover homestead, in Logan township, Clinton county, April 17, 1845. He was raised on that farm, and has been occupied through life as a farmer and stock raiser. He received his education in the public schools of his neighborhood, and at the Normal School in Rebersburg. When a young man he taught school for nine months in Rebersburg, in Clinton and Centre counties, and during the summer worked on the home farm. In 1872, on the retirement of his father from active work, he took charge of the farm on which he soon made many improvements. He was industrious, energetic and ambitious, and has met with that success his efforts have merited. He has been a careful manager, and has advantageously handled his stock, and farmed systematically. In politics he is a Democrat; he is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is a teacher in the Sabbath- school; socially he is identified with Sugar Valley Lodge No. 429, I.O.O.F., at Loganton. On October 16, 1865, at Lock Haven, Mr. Stover was married to Louisa Kleckner, who was born in Sugar Valley, March 6, 1844, a daughter of Robert and Catherine (Brumgart) Kleckner, and a granddaughter of Anthony Kleckner, now deceased, who was the first settler of Sugar Valley. The children born to the marriage of John M. Stover and his wife are: Calvin C. died at the age of seven years; George R. is the subject of this sketch; Lizzie S. is the wife of Clement M. Mark, agent at Pine Station on the Pennsyl- COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 159 vania railroad, and has two children - John C. and Mary L. ; Lula K., Edna E. and Mary Estella, all are unmarried and at home. George R. Stover, the subject proper of this sketch, was born June 2, 1868, near Loganton, Clinton Co., Penn., the second child and son of John M. and Louisa (Kleckner) Stover. Up to the age of fifteen years he was on his father's farm, occupied as a general farmer's lad is. He attended the schools of the neighborhood, and on November 3o, 1885, he went to Coburn to become a student of the duties in the office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company under kV. H. Kreamer, the agent of the company at that point. In this capacity he remained for about one year, then became a, clerk and filled such position two years. Next he worked on the P. & E. division of the same road as an extra man between Harrisburg and Renovo. He worked as an extra man in the service till November, 1890, when he came to take charge of the office he first entered as a student five years previously, and where he has ever since been located. The station at Coburn is one of the most important, from a business standpoint, of any on the division, and in the handling of the great volume of business with dispatch, together with the manner in which the general affairs of the office have been conducted under the supervision of Mr. Stover, have reflected credit to his capacity and business tact. He is an affable and accommodating official. On November 13, 1889, our subject was married at Elmira, N.Y., to Miss Lillie M. Charles, of Mifflinburg, Penn., daughter of S. F. Charles (deceased). They have one child, George R., Jr., born June 13, 1891. Mrs. Stover is identified with the Lutheran Church.