BIO:  SAMUEL R. 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 581-583
  _____________________________________________________________

  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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    SAMUEL R. COOVER, general merchant and postmaster at Shepherdstown, is one
  of the substantial citizens of his section of Cumberland county, and comes of
  one of the oldest families in the locality. He is of German descent, his
  great-grandfather, Jacob Kover, as the name was then spelled, having come
  from Germany in an early day. He first located in Lancaster county, Pa.,
  coming thence to Cumberland county, where he settled along the Yellow
  Breeches creek. He died in this county.

    George Kover, son of Jacob, and the grandfather of Samuel R., was a
  prosperous farmer in Monroe township, Cumberland county, where he owned a
  large tract of land. He lived to the age of seventy-five years, dying many
  years ago, when Samuel R. Coover was in his infancy, and he was buried in
  Keller's graveyard, north of Mechanicsburg, where his father's remains were
  also interred. George Kover married Miss

    582  CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

  Annie Landis, by whom he had the following children: Elizabeth became the
  wife of John Brandt, of this county, and died at the advanced age of
  ninety-five years. John, who was a farmer of Monroe township, reached the age
  of almost eighty-eight years. Ann, Mrs. Hinney, died when about seventy years
  old. Sarah died unmarried in 1904, when almost 106 years old. Susan, who
  became the wife of John Beelman, of this county, died when ninety-six years
  old. Mary married Jacob Krout, of this county, and died in Mechanicsburg when
  sixty-six years old. George, father of Samuel R., was almost eighty-eight when
  he passed away. William, a farmer of Cumberland county, died at the
  comparatively early age of forty-six.

    George Coover, father of Samuel R., was born on the old homestead farm in
  Monroe township in 1808, grew to manhood there, and received his education in
  the subscription schools which were in vogue at that day. He learned the trade
  of carpenter, and, removing to New Kingstown, this county, conducted a cabinet
  and carpenter business there for some years, being successful and prosperous.
  While residing at that point he had a strong desire to see the West, and in
  company with some of his friends made the trip to Ohio, which was then the
  borderland. They traveled on horseback. Mr. Coover made a second trip, having
  some idea of locating there, but he changed his mind after seeing more of the
  country. On leaving New Kingston he moved to Trindle Spring, this county,
  where he engaged in the hotel business for four years, and thence went to
  Roxbury, purchasing a small farm which he worked and lived upon till his
  retirement from active life. He then moved to Mechanicsburg, where the last
  few years of his long and useful life were spent, and where he passed away in
  September, 1894. Mr. Coover was a man of domestic tastes, preferring his home
  life to any social or other pleasures, but he was nevertheless well known and
  respected wherever he made his home, and he was always regarded as a reliable
  and substantial man by all with whom he had dealings.

    George Coover married Miss Catharine Reeser, who was born in Monroe
  township about 1802, daughter of Jacob Reeser, and died about 1875. They had
  a family of five children, viz.: Sarah, widow of Robert Hood, now residing in
  Mechanicsburg; Mary, wife of Isaac Enck, of South Middleton township, this
  county; Elmira, wife of William Gross, of Monroe township; George, a
  carpenter and builder, who makes his home in York, Pa.; and Samuel R., the
  youngest, whose name introduces these lines.

    Samuel R. Coover was born March 3, 1845, in Silver Spring township,
  Cumberland county, and received his education in the schools of Monroe
  township. When fifteen years old he began the learn the trade of shoemaker at
  Roxbury, over in Franklin county, continuing same until eighteen years of age,
  when, on June 15, 1863, he enlisted in his country's service, joining Company
  D, 20th P. V. I., for six months. He was discharged at Harrisburg Jan. 6,
  1864, with the rank of sergeant, and on the 18th of the following July,
  re-enlisted, this time for one hundred days, entering his new command as
  corporal. He was discharged at Monocacy Junction, Md., because he wanted to
  re-enlist for a year, in the 195th Regiment, Company B, as a musician. He was
  finally mustered out at Summit Point, Va., June 21, 1865. Mr. Coover
  participated in many light skirmishes during his service.

    At the close of his army experience Mr. Coover returned to Cumberland
  county, lo-

    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  583

  cating at Shepherdstown, where he has ever since had his home. He opened up
  business at a shoemaker, and was thus engaged until about 1892, since which
  time he has conducted a general mercantile establishment, carrying a nice,
  clean stock which is appreciated by the townspeople and his customers in the
  surrounding country. In 1871 he was appointed postmaster of Shepherdstown, an
  incumbency he has filled continuously to the present day, and he has been a
  member of the school board of his district for three successive terms. This
  evidence of confidence on the part of his fellow citizens is well de served,
  for he has always done his utmost to advance the interests of his community
  and to discharge faithfully the duties which have come to him. In his
  business life, as a public official, in all his relations with his
  fellow-men, he is upholding the traditions of the race from which he springs,
  recognizing the obligations which intelligent society imposes regarding man's
  duty to his associates. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, in
  whose work he has taken an active part, and which he still serves as trustee
  and Sunday-school superintendent. His political support is given to the men
  and measures of the Republican party. Socially, he holds relations with Col.
  Zinn Post, No. 415, G. A. R., of Mechanicsburg, and with Lodge No. 331, O. U. A. M.

    Mr. Coover was twice married, his first union, which took place in 1868,
  being to Miss Mary Emma Worst, who passed away Feb. 16, 1882, the mother of
  five children, viz.: Charlie, Arthur and Ada, all three deceased; Emma M.,
  wife of Irvin Nailor, a feed merchant of Harrisburg, who resides, however, in
  Shepherdstown (they have one  child, Evaline); and Samuel R., Jr., who is
  remitting clerk for Witman, Schwarz & Co., wholesale grocers of Harrisburg.
  In 1891, Mr. Coover married Miss Lida Krall, of Cumberland county, who died
  in February, 1900. Mr. Coover's home and store property adjoin, and he has
  one of the finest pieces of improved real estate in the village, the place
  showing both taste and care in its arrangement.