BIOGRAPHY: Amos HOOT, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume 1, page 462.

  AMOS HOOT, deceased, was of German lineage, and was born at Selin's Grove, 
Snyder county, Pa., In that town he received a good common school education, and 
while yet under twenty, began to qualify himself for blacksmith's work.  He was 
a man of robust frame, active and diligent, and his mind was of the same 
character as his physical nature.  He was observant and thoughtful, and thus 
made his intercourse with those surrounding him a means of intellectual culture; 
and his hours of retirement were to a great extent passed reading such 
literature as he could obtain.  He was thus not merely prepared for making and 
laying up money, but had much of that higher and better preparation for life 
which men of good taste and judgment find necessary.  He was withal no laggard 
in business matters.  His apprenticeship completed, he began work in Lewisburg 
on his own account, and although without capital and dependent on his own 
exertions, yet, having established a good reputation as to workmanship and 
honourable dealing, he soon became as widely as he was favourably known, and in 
the course of time, laid up a comfortable support for his declining years.  His 
enterprises were in the line of his original trade, and were mainly in the way 
of coach and wagon building.  Mr. Hoot retired from business at about fifty 
years of age.  He spent the evening of his days in the homestead on East Third 
street, Lewistown, in the enjoyment of the society of his family, his friends 
and his neighbours, among whom he was highly esteemed for his many excellencies 
of character.  He was a Republican, and was elected as such to the office of 
treasurer of Mifflin county, in 1863.  Mr. Hoot was a sincere and consistent 
Christian.
  Amos Hoot married Amanda Spees.  Their children were: Joseph, married Sarah 
Couch; William; Charles, married the widow of Ritz Burns; and Margaret (Mrs. 
George Murray).  Mrs. Amanda Hoot died, and Mr. Hoot was again married, January 
1, 1838, to Catherine, daughter of Cyrus and Sophia (Koppenhaver) Matters.  Of 
this marriage there are three children: Harry Z., married Mary Shaw; Edward, 
married Jeannette Haller, and has one son; and John M., married Mary Benedict, 
and has one child.   Mrs. John M. Hoot is the only child of Homer and Margaret 
(Parker) Benedict.  Her grandparents were Mr. And Mrs. E.L. Benedict, whose 
children were: Homer and Mary.