BIO:  JOHN H. COOVER, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 588-589
  _____________________________________________________________

  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/


    JOHN H. COOVER, a successful agriculturist and stock raiser near
  Shippensburg, and manager of the Stoner & Echelman Dairy, was born Aug. 5,
  1861, on the old homestead known as the Jacob Coover place, in Cumberland
  county. His grandfather, Jacob Coover, was born in Lancaster county, Pa.,
  moved thence to Cumberland county, and settled in Southampton township, where
  he cleared and improved a farm.

    Jacob Coover, father of John H., was born Oct. 15, 1816, in Cumberland
  county, near Harrisburg, came to this part of Cumberland county with his
  parents in pioneer days, and was reared on the old homestead, where he passed
  the remainder of his life. The place contains 115 acres, and here he

    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  589

  was profitably engaged in general agriculture during his active years. He was
  an intelligent man, and took an active interest in local public affairs,
  serving two years as ligious connection he was a member of the township. His
  affiliation was with the Republican party after its formation. In religious
  connection he was a member of the Bethel Church at Shippensburg. Mr. Coover
  married Mary E. Renshaw, who was born in 1825 in Hopewell township,
  Cumberland county, and died in 1871. Mr. Coover survived her, dying in
  February, 1900, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. This worthy couple
  were the parents of nine children, namely: Anna Ruth is the wife of David
  Shell, and resides in Marion, Pa.; Houser G. is a farmer in Shippensburg
  township; Catherine E. still lives at the old home; Mary Ellen married G. F.
  Cressler, of Shippensburg; Jennie S. is the wife of Samuel Houston, of Glen
  Campbell, Indiana Co., Pa.; Alexander S. is a farmer in Southampton township,
  Cumberland county; Emma Bell, now deceased, was the wife of Daniel Stouffer,
  and resided at Chambersburg; Jacob is in the employ of a railroad company;
  John H., the youngest, is the gentleman whose name introduces these lines.

    John H. Coover spent his youth on the farm, and received the greater part
  of his education at the Oak Grove schoolhouse. Leaving school in his
  nineteenth year he returned to the farm, assisting his father until his
  marriage, in his twenty-first year. He has since carried on farming on his
  own account, on the old homestead, and in addition to general agriculture he
  is interested in the breeding of fine cattle, his herd consisting of
  well-bred Holsteins. The dairy business is another branch of farming to which
  he has turned his attention with gratifying success. He is manager of the
  Stoner & Echelman Dairy, which receives milk from the surrounding country,
  and they have a separator in the receiving room. Like his father, Mr. Coover
  finds time aside from business to interest himself in local affairs,
  especially as he believes the public welfare to have much influence on
  individual advancement and well-being. He is a Republican in political
  sentiment, and takes a lively interest in the workings of the party.

    Mr. Coover's first marriage, on Nov. 24, 1880, was to Miss Elizabeth
  Renshaw, who was a native of Cumberland county, and a daughter of William and
  Mary (Reese) Renshaw. She died leaving four children, George, Lulu, Kate and
  Walter. In 1895 Mr. Coover married Miss Annie Wonders, of Cumberland county,
  daughter of George and Sarah (Milligen) Wonders, and to this marriage has
  come one daughter, Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Coover are members of the Bethel Church
  at Shippensburg.