BIOGRAPHY: James L. HOOVER, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 82-3
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JAMES L. HOOVER, who was called from earth in the dawn of matured manhood when a 
promising career of success was opening before him, ranked as one of Johnstown's 
leading merchants. He was a son of Jacob and Cornelia (Goudy) Hoover, and was 
born at Coopersdale, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1860. The Hoovers 
are of German descent, and Jacob Hoover was born in 1832 in Bedford county, 
which he left in early life to accept the position of manager of the general 
store of the Cambria Furnace company. When this company went out of existence he 
worked for a number of years as a heater at the Cambria Iron works, and then 
removed to New Castle, Lawrence county, where he resided ever since, and held 
active membership there in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been 
a member in Wales. She was born in North Wales, May 8, 1790, and became the 
mother of eight children, three sons for many years. From 1887 to 1889 he was 
engaged in the mercantile business with his son at Johnstown, but after the 
flood he withdrew from the partnership.
     James L. Hoover was reared at Coopersdale, received his education to active 
business pursuits. He served for several years as a clerk in the stores of Wood, 
Morrell & Co. (now the Penn Traffic company, limited), and then in February 
1887, seeing a favorable opportunity for another mercantile venture at Johnstown 
he formed a partnership with is father, under the firm name of Jacob Hoover & 
Son. The new store was opened at Coopersdale and prospered under efficient 
management until the water of the flood swept it out. This shock and disaster 
that disheartened so many business men did not cause Mr. Hoover to lose heart 
and opportunity, for the waters had hardly receded before he ordered a new stock 
of goods and commenced the many repairs needed to his buildings. In a few days 
he had reopened and under his own name, and conducted a substantial and 
remunerative business up to his death in 1894.
     On October 2, 1884, Mr. Hoover married Margaret Smith, of Huntingdon 
county, and to their union were born two children, a son and a daughter, James 
R. and Mildred. Mrs. Hoover is a daughter of John C. Smith, and her mother's 
maiden name was Ella Cogan. The Smiths were of Scotch-Irish extraction, and John 
C. Smith, who died March 4th, 1892, aged forty-five years, was a son of 
Professor Lyman Smith, a teacher of music in a college, in Vermont. John C. 
Smith was an ornamental stair builder. He was a member of the Baptist church and 
enlisted in Company G of the Fifth Pennsylvania reserves, serving until he was 
wounded. His wife was a native of Huntingdon, and passed away in Huntingdon at 
thirty-two years of age. Mrs. Hoover is a woman of intelligence and energy, and 
a member of Coopersdale Methodist Episcopal church. Since her husband's death 
she has continued the mercantile business at Coopersdale under the name of Mrs. 
J. L. Hoover, and has a large and well-appointed establishment filled with 
suitable and first-class goods in every line of the general mercantile business. 
Ability, industry and tact have made her successful in holding former and 
gaining new patrons until a large and remunerative trade has been established.
     James L. Hoover began life under peculiar auspices that promised the 
development of vigorous energies and a determined spirit of self-reliance. The 
promise was fully verified when opportunity came for opportune development, and 
he took a prominent position as a merchant and business man. He was a member of 
Coopersdale Methodist Episcopal church; Johnstown, Lodge No. 157, Knights of 
Pythias; Independent Castle, No. 133, Knights of the Golden Eagle, and of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
     He was a republican in politics. He was willing to aid every good work in 
the proper and right way, but with a proper business spirit was opposed to 
lavishness and undue expenditure in any line or for any object. His views were 
for adequate means appropriately expended and wise management under experienced 
superintendence.
     James L. Hoover was stricken down by the grim reaper when in the midst of 
an honorable, active and successful business career. His final summons came on 
May 6, 1894, and his remains are interred in a pleasant spot in Grandview 
cemetery.
     His death was a great loss in a community of whose progress he had been a 
potential factor for quite a number of years.