BIO: Robert A. CROWNOVER, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, page 99.
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  ROBERT A. CROWNOVER, Manor Hill, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in 
that part of Barree township now included in Miller township, March 28, 
1839, a son of Hezekiah and Elizabeth (Newman) Crownover.  Hezekiah 
Crownover was born in Huntingdon county, educated there, in 
subscription schools, and there learned the business in which he was 
all his life engaged; he was a miller.  He owned 500 acres, or more, in 
Miller township, upon which he built a flour mill at the cost of 
$4,000, and made other improvements.  Mr. Crownover was a Republican.  
He was married at Cromwells Mills, Huntingdon county, to Elizabeth 
Newman, of English descent.  Their children are:  Benjamin, deceased; 
Peter, deceased; Sarah, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Andrew, 
deceased; John, resides at Broad Top; George, farmer, of Armstrong 
county, Pa.; Charles, of Saulsburg, Huntingdon county; Susan, widow of 
Rev. W. H. S. Keys, of Kansas; Ferguson, deceased; Hezekiah, merchant, 
of Huntingdon; Robert A.; and two that died in early infancy.  Late in 
life, Hezekiah Crownover retired from active business, and lived at 
leisure on the homestead, until his death, in April, 1861.  He was a 
regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was much 
esteemed and respected.  Mrs. Crownover died at Saulsburg in 1878.
  Robert Crownover attended the common schools of his vicinity during 
the three winter months that then constituted a term, and in the long 
intervals worked for his father in the mill.  At eighteen years of age 
he left home, and first worked in another Huntingdon county mill, then 
at the same business in Illinois, and after that in Indiana county, Pa.  
He then made a beginning in the hotel business in the borough of 
Indiana, Indiana county, where he spent two years.  At the end of that 
time he sold out, bought a hotel in Somerset county and carried it on 
for two years.  He then removed to Pittsburg, and was in the same 
business there for a year.  Returning to Somerset county, Mr. Crownover 
managed a flour mill for two years, and then removed to Manor Hill, 
Huntingdon county, where, in 1875, he engaged in business in 
partnership with his brother Andrew.  Eight years later Robert 
Crownover bought out Andrew's interest, and has ever since conducted 
the business, meeting with good success.  He was appointed postmaster 
in 1875, and held the office for eleven years.  Mr. Crownover has been 
the "architect of his own fortunes."  He began life without capital, 
and has made his way in the face of difficulties and discouragements; 
among the latter was a loss by fire, heavy for a man just beginning in 
life; it took place in Somerset county, while Mr. Crownover was in 
Illinois, and involved a loss of $4,000.  With enterprise and business 
ability as the best of his capital, he has brought himself and family 
into the possession of comfortable competence.  His politics are 
Republican.
  Robert Crownover was married in Barree township, in 1881, to Clara, 
daughter of Samuel Myton, farmer, of that township.  Their children 
are:  Lottie H.; Howard A.; and Anna B.  Mrs. Crownover was born in 
Barree township, September 9, 1850.  The family attend the Methodist 
Episcopal church.