Mays Family Tree - Person Sheet
Spouses
Birth Date27 Sep 1798
Birth PlaceBald Eagle Valley, Centre Co., PA, USA
Death Date18 Jun 1869 Age: 70
Death PlacePike Township, Clearfield Co., PA, USA
Death MemoAt his residence, cites county [news]papers
OccupationMercantile, Farmer and Teacher
FatherJohn HOOVER (1763-)
MotherMary ASHENFELTER
Misc. Notes
Peter was born September 27, 1798. The country being new and the family large, the services of the eldest son [Peter] was required to support his younger brothers and sisters.
The facilities for procuring an education at that time being very limited, the prospect was not a very bright one; but in this instance, as often since, the old adage, "where there is a will, there is a way," was verified. The young student would work hard all day, and at night study arithmetic by the light of pitch pine knots in an old fashioned fireplace. In this way he acquired a common-school education, and considerable proficiency in mathematics.
In 1823 he married Mary Hall, removed to Clearfield county, and taught school where Centre schoolhouse, in Lawrence township, now stands [1878]. The next year he moved to Brady township, then almost a wilderness, and the following winter collected the few children of the neighborhood together, and taught school at. Luthersburg.
In the year 1835 he removed to Pike township, and in 1837 engaged in the mercantile business in a small way, without, however, giving up his chosen profession of teaching. This was continued until 1844, when he moved to a farm on the Susquehanna river, three and a half miles above Curwensville, where he combined farming and teaching until 1864, when ill-health compelled him to abandon both—having taught school every winter, with one or two exceptions, for forty-two years.
Mr. Hoover did not claim to teach more than the common branches, but these he taught thoroughly, especially arithmetic, and many of the business men of the county still retain a lively recollection of the manner in which the "old school-master" wielded the pen with his right hand and a hickory "persuader" with his left. The old log school-house, the quill pens, Pike's Arithmetic, the English Reader, and the primitive style of teaching have all passed away, and with them the teachers who labored faithfully to lay the foundation of our present system of free schools, Mr. Hoover being an early and ardent advocate of that system.
Although never wealthy himself, he was noted for his hospitality, especially to the poor and needy, and was always more anxious to give his children an education than to leave them an inheritance.
He passed the last few years of his life, with his son Harris, on "the old place," and died June 18, 1869, leaving a widow and seven children living.
The following is a copy of an obituary notice that appeared in the county papers at the time of his death:
DIED.—At his residence in Pike township, Mr. Peter Hoover, aged seventy years, eight months and twenty-two days. The deceased had been a resident of this county for more than forty years. By his honesty and kindness he had gained the friendship of all who knew him. The large concourse of people who followed him to his grave gave testimony to the high estimation in which he was held as a neighbor and a citizen.
_________________________________________________________________
Peter Hoover, one of the early school-masters of Pike township, was also a descendant of Conrad Hoover, who came from Germany to York county, Pa., in 1752. Peter Hoover was the eldest of a family of seventeen children.
He was an earnest student and while the facilities at that time for securing an education were meagre, indeed, he managed to secure what, at that early day, was considered a good education. In his boyhood days he would work hard all day and study at night by the light of pitch pine knots, which then were the only means of artificial light that could be obtained.
There is scarcely a man or woman past sixty years of age, who has always been a resident of Pike township,who did not attend school kept by Mr. Hoover. By his scholars he is remembered as a kind, considerate man but very strict, and while wielding his quill pen with his right hand, could quickly drop it and very successfully wield the hickory “persuader” with his left.
He began teaching long before the present public school system was ever thought of. The early settlers of Pike township owe much to Peter Hoover for his untiring efforts to create an educational sentiment in the
community.
After the establishment of the present system of free schools Mr. Hoover still continued to teach. In 1864 he relinquished the profession after having taught continuously one term a year, for more than forty years.3644
The facilities for procuring an education at that time being very limited, the prospect was not a very bright one; but in this instance, as often since, the old adage, "where there is a will, there is a way," was verified. The young student would work hard all day, and at night study arithmetic by the light of pitch pine knots in an old fashioned fireplace. In this way he acquired a common-school education, and considerable proficiency in mathematics.
In 1823 he married Mary Hall, removed to Clearfield county, and taught school where Centre schoolhouse, in Lawrence township, now stands [1878]. The next year he moved to Brady township, then almost a wilderness, and the following winter collected the few children of the neighborhood together, and taught school at. Luthersburg.
In the year 1835 he removed to Pike township, and in 1837 engaged in the mercantile business in a small way, without, however, giving up his chosen profession of teaching. This was continued until 1844, when he moved to a farm on the Susquehanna river, three and a half miles above Curwensville, where he combined farming and teaching until 1864, when ill-health compelled him to abandon both—having taught school every winter, with one or two exceptions, for forty-two years.
Mr. Hoover did not claim to teach more than the common branches, but these he taught thoroughly, especially arithmetic, and many of the business men of the county still retain a lively recollection of the manner in which the "old school-master" wielded the pen with his right hand and a hickory "persuader" with his left. The old log school-house, the quill pens, Pike's Arithmetic, the English Reader, and the primitive style of teaching have all passed away, and with them the teachers who labored faithfully to lay the foundation of our present system of free schools, Mr. Hoover being an early and ardent advocate of that system.
Although never wealthy himself, he was noted for his hospitality, especially to the poor and needy, and was always more anxious to give his children an education than to leave them an inheritance.
He passed the last few years of his life, with his son Harris, on "the old place," and died June 18, 1869, leaving a widow and seven children living.
The following is a copy of an obituary notice that appeared in the county papers at the time of his death:
DIED.—At his residence in Pike township, Mr. Peter Hoover, aged seventy years, eight months and twenty-two days. The deceased had been a resident of this county for more than forty years. By his honesty and kindness he had gained the friendship of all who knew him. The large concourse of people who followed him to his grave gave testimony to the high estimation in which he was held as a neighbor and a citizen.
_________________________________________________________________
Peter Hoover, one of the early school-masters of Pike township, was also a descendant of Conrad Hoover, who came from Germany to York county, Pa., in 1752. Peter Hoover was the eldest of a family of seventeen children.
He was an earnest student and while the facilities at that time for securing an education were meagre, indeed, he managed to secure what, at that early day, was considered a good education. In his boyhood days he would work hard all day and study at night by the light of pitch pine knots, which then were the only means of artificial light that could be obtained.
There is scarcely a man or woman past sixty years of age, who has always been a resident of Pike township,who did not attend school kept by Mr. Hoover. By his scholars he is remembered as a kind, considerate man but very strict, and while wielding his quill pen with his right hand, could quickly drop it and very successfully wield the hickory “persuader” with his left.
He began teaching long before the present public school system was ever thought of. The early settlers of Pike township owe much to Peter Hoover for his untiring efforts to create an educational sentiment in the
community.
After the establishment of the present system of free schools Mr. Hoover still continued to teach. In 1864 he relinquished the profession after having taught continuously one term a year, for more than forty years.3644
Family ID6072
Marr Date1823829
Misc. Notes
Peter and Mary’s home was on the Susquehanna river, about three miles next above the farm of Joseph Hoover. This farm is now owned [1897] by N. C. Farewell.