JACOB STOVER

STOVER

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/21/2020 at 15:49:42

JACOB STOVER, of Red Oak township, is one of the well-known settlers of Montgomery county. He was born in York county, Pennsylvania, July 30, 1826, a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Latchaw) Stover, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and Scotch ancestry respectively. The grandfather and great-grandfather of our subject were born on the same farm that he was. Jacob was reared and grew to manhood in York county, Pennsylvania. When fifteen years of age, his father bought a mill and he learned the miller’s trade, which he followed most of his time until 1872. He left Pennsylvania in the spring of 1854 and came to Du Page county, Illinois. He resided near Naperville one year, and then moved to Washington, Iowa. In 1855 he removed to Henry county, Iowa, where he resided until 1864, when he came to Montgomery county, and built a watermill called the Old Keystone Mill, which he operated until 1872. He then sold the same and purchased the farm where he now lives, which is situated two and a half miles southeast of Red Oak. it consists of 240 acres, of which seventy acres are timber land, and the farm is well improved. Mr. Stover has a frame dwelling house, situated on a natural building site and surrounded by shade and ornamental trees. He has a barn, yards, feed
lots and other substantial farm improvements.

He was married in Henry county, Iowa, in 1857, to Sarah Ann Tucker, who was born in Heny county, Iowa, near Mt. Pleasant. She is the daughter of Thomas Tucker, one of the early settlers of Henry county. Her mother was Roseilla (Harris) Tucker. Both parents were natives of North Carolina. Mr. Stover and wife have had seven children, viz: Thomas M., John J., Annie E., Charlie, E., William C. They have lost two by death— Ella J. and Sadie F.

Politically Mr. Stover is independent, but was reared a Democrat. Mrs. Stover is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Stover is a member of the Masonic Order of Red Oak, Blue Lodge No. 162, and of the Commandery No. 34; also a member of the Chapter. He was made a Mason at Marshall, Henry county, Iowa, in 1862, and has served his lodge in an official capacity. He is a man well informed on general topics, frank and cordial in his manner, and is one of the prominent men of Red Oak township.