BIO:  JOHN A. COOVER, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/
  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 573-574
  _____________________________________________________________

  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/zeamer/


    JOHN A. COOVER. Cumberland county, Pa., is noted for the beauty and
  fertility of its farms, the land lying along the Cumberland river having
  attracted industrious, home-making men in the pioneer days, men who toiled to
  garner from their farms a rich return for their labors. In this case, as in
  many others, they "builded better than they knew," and not only succeeded in
  enriching themselves, but left to their posterity very valuable inheritances
  of farms in this favored locality. Among the families notably identified with
  the history of the county is that of Coover, and a leading representative of
  the name to-day is John A. Coover, of Upper Allen township, son of Jacob H.
  Coover.

    Jacob H. Coover after a long and industrious life died at the age of
  eighty-four years. He was one of the following family: William, living near
  Shepherdstown; David, who died at the age of seventy-nine years; Catherine,
  who died at the age of eighty-two years; Levi, who died at the age of
  seventy-three years; John B., who died at the age of seventy-three years; and
  Frances, who died at the age of forty-two years.

    Children as follows were born to Jacob H. Coover and his wife, Rachel
  (Strock): (1) Emma married John J. Zacharius, a farmer in Upper Allen
  township, and they have children - Ida, Harvey, Walter, George, Edward,
  Alfred, Grace and Maggie. Of these Ida married Melvin Speakman, of New
  Cumberland, now living in Williamsport, engaged in an electrical business;
  two children have been born of this marriage, Catherine and Harvey. Harvey 
  married Catherine Haferly, of Harrisburg, and now lives at Camp Hill, engaged
  in an agency business. Walter married Annie Koderer, is farming in Upper Allen
  township, and has two children, Emma and John. George is unmarried, and
  engaged in farming. Edward, unmarried, is a clerk in a bank. Alfred, also
  unmarried, lives in Maryland, where he is manager of a 1,500-acre farm for
  his uncle, Samuel Zacharius, of Phila-

    574  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

  delphia. Grace and Maggie are unmarried. (2) Frances E. married Adam Beelman,
  a contractor and builder living near Mansfield, Ohio, and died after bearing
  him these children - William, Geary, Mary and Ella, all of whom are married
  and live in Ohio. (3) Kate married Israel W. Miller, a farmer of Upper Allen
  township, and their children are Coover, Ruth, Theodore (deceased), Israel
  and Merwin, of whom Ruth married Edward Gross, a farmer of Lower Allen
  township, and has two children, Catherine and Israel. (4) Mary, unmarried, is
  living in Upper Allen township. (5) Clara married George W. Best, a farmer
  living near Carlisle. (6) John A. is the youngest of the children born to
  Jacob H. Coover.

    John A. Coover was born near Shepherdstown March 29, 1854. After attending
  the Graham school, in Upper Allen township, he worked with his father on the
  latter's farm until he was twenty-three years of age, and at that time began
  business for himself. In 1892 he bought his present fine place of ninety
  acres, formerly known as the Senseman farm, and has brought it into an
  excellent state of cultivation. He is a farmer thoroughly abreast of modern
  methods, and takes a pride in having one of the finest and most productive
  farms in the valley. His house is a model farmer's residence, and often
  resounds to the merriment of guests, he and his wife being very hospitable.

    On Dec. 7, 1877, Mr. Coover married Emma Landis, daughter of Jacob Landis,
  of Upper Allen, and one son, Clayton, was born to them. On Dec. 12, 1901, he
  married Carrie Shelly, daughter of Samuel Shelly, of Silver Spring township,
  and their one child is named John, after his grandfather.

    In politics Mr. Coover is a Republican, and stanch in his support of party
  principles, although he has not identified himself prominently with local
  affairs, his time being fully occupied with his private business.
  Enterprising, thrifty, a good citizen, an excellent farmer, kind neighbor and
  model family man, Mr. Coover enjoys in unlimited degree the confidence and
  respect of his neighbors, and is undoubtedly as good a representative of a
  modern farmer as can be found within the confines of Cumberland county.