OBIT: Napoleon Bonaparte Carver, 1916, Hanover, York County, PA

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DEATH OF N. B. CARVER

WAS ONE OF HANOVER’S OLDEST AND BEST-KNOWN BUSINESS MEN

Served Efficiently As a Councilman – Took Active Interest in the Town’s Welfare 
– Veteran of the Civil War – President of Cemetery Board

Napoleon Bonaparte Carver, one of Hanover’s oldest merchants, died at his home, 
No. 101 Frederick street, at 11:55 a.m. Thursday, July 6, following an illness 
of two weeks from uremia.

Mr. Carver went to the store regularly every day until last Saturday, when he 
took his bed late in the afternoon.

He was aged 84 years, 4 months and 26 days, and was born in Gettysburg, the son 
of the late John and Gertrude (Weigand) Carver.

At an early age he worked on the Bosserman farm, near Gettysburg, later coming 
to Hanover, where he learned the coach-trimming business under the late John 
Althoff.  After serving an apprenticeship, he worked for a while in the shops of 
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad company, at Baltimore, upholstering passenger 
coaches.  He later moved back to Hanover and for a while conducted a coach-
finishing shop rear of what is now Mrs. Henry Zouck’s residence on Broadway.

In 1870 the deceased entered the mercantile business, opening a shoe store on 
the site of Elmer E. Wentz’s store, corner of Center Square and Baltimore 
street.  Later he moved into the Boadenhamer building on the Square, where he 
sold ready-made clothing and conducted a merchant tailoring and men’s 
furnishings store.  Several years later the store was moved to a two-story brick 
building, on the site of Hotel O’Bold, Center Square, and Broadway.  The late 
Lewis Grove became a partner in the firm of Grove & Carver.  This partnership 
was dissolved in 1881 and in 1882, John W. Little associated himself with Mr. 
Carver, but two years later sold his interest to the county courts, the firm 
name remaining Carver & Little.  

The store was again moved in 1894 to its present location in the Bixler 
building, on Baltimore street.  In 1898, two of Mr. Carver’s sons, Daniel S. 
Carver and E. Fred Carver, purchased Mr. Little’s interest, and then the firm 
became N. B. Carver & Sons, under which the business has since been conducted.

The deceased was married in 1856 to Miss Josephine Matilda Stair, youngest 
daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Stair, Sr., who lived at No. 101 
Frederick street.  His wife preceded him in death three years ago.  From this 
union twelve children were born, but of this number only five survive:  Daniel 
S. Carver, of Franklin street; William D. Carver, Baltimore street; Mrs. Charles 
Wagner and E. Fred Carver, Frederick street, and Benjamin F. Carver, of Bayonne, 
N. J.  There are also twelve grand children.

The deceased was the last surviving member of his family.  He was a member of 
Company I, 26th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Emergency Regiment, and served 
for 60 days during the Civil war.

Mr. Carver took an active interest in the affairs of the town and served a 
number of terms in the Town Council, being in office in 1869, 1870, 1873, 1877, 
and 1880.

The death of Mr. Carver removes one of Hanover’s pioneer business men, one of 
the men who helped to build up the town and who was interested in every movement 
of development and progress.  He left a deep impress on the commercial life of 
this community, and by straightforward and honest methods of dealing, 
establishing one of the best-known business houses in this section of the State.  
For a number of years past the business has been entirely in charge of his son, 
E. Fred Carver, and will be continued as heretofore.

For a number of years he has been a director, and served as president of the Mt. 
Olivet Cemetery Board.  He was also a charter member of McAllister Council No. 
980, Royal Arcanum; Major Jenkins Post No. 99, G. A. R., and of the Arcadian 
Social Club.  He was a consistent member of St. Mark’s Lutheran church and a 
regular attendant of the services.

Funeral Sunday afternoon, July 9th, services at the house at 2 p.m., Rev. Geo. W. 
Nicely officiating.  Interment on the family lot in Mt. Olivet cemetery.

The Hanover Herald – Saturday, July 8, 1916