Stover - Abraham Harrison
Source: Portrait & biographical
Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain Counties, Indiana (Chapman Brothers,
1893) p 466
Abram Harrison Stover, a native of
Montgomery County, Indiana now residing in Chicago, Illinois, comes of a large
German family which has resided in this country since about 1680. As near as
can be ascertained, it was about that date that one of his forefathers came
from Saxony and settled in Pa. His son, Dr. George Stover, the grandfather of
Abram H, is the earliest member of the family of whom there is an authentic
record. Dr. George Stover was born in 1732 in Franklin co PA whither his father
had come (as above stated) from Saxony, about the time of William Penn made the
settlement at Philadelphia. Dr. Stover was very proficient in the science of
medicine. He was strictly honest and was loved and respected by all. The Doctor
was one of 10 children, six sons and four daughters, the descendants of whom
are scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In 1757 Dr. Stover married
Hannah PRICE, whose father had come to this country from Berlin, Prussia to
save his life, which had been threatened by his half brother, then King of
Prussia. His wife died, having borne him 10 children, of whom George Stover,
Jr. was next to youngest.
The Doctor married again and by this
marriage became the father of 10 more children. His demise occurred in Bedford
County Va (whither he had removed in 1794) in the year 1816 aged 84 years.
George Stover, Jr. was born in PA in 1785 and when 9 removed with his parents
to Botatort (sic) Co, Va. here, in 1810, he married Anna RADER who was born in
that state in 1790, a daughter of Adam and Mary HOUTZENPILLAR Rader. Mrs. Rader
lived to attain the remarkable age of 100.
In 1832 Mr. and Mrs. George Stover
removed from Va. to Montgomery Co IN bringing with them their family of 10
children and located on a farm about 3 miles SW of Ladoga. Here two more
children were born, the youngest of whom is the subject of this sketch. The
names of the 12 children are:
Joseph Stover, born 1811, died in KS 1892, aged 81;
Hannah Stover, b. 1813 d. 1889 [married Samuel Peffley, 15 Dec 1831, Botetort County, Virginia];
Mary Stover, b. 1814;
Sarah Stover, b. 1816;
George R. Stover, , b 1818, died 1867;
Samuel Stover, b. 1820 died 1888;
Daniel C. Stover, , b. 1822, the father of Berty G, known as the "Boy Preacher of the Christian Church," and whose maternal grandfather, Gilbert Harney was one of the pioneer preachers of that faith in Indiana;
Benjamin Franklin Stover, , born in 1824;
Catherine Stover, , b. 1826, died 1856;
John P. Stover, born 1830;
Margaret A. Stover, 1833 and
Abram Harrison Stover, b. March 15, 1836.
Joseph Stover, born 1811, died in KS 1892, aged 81;
Hannah Stover, b. 1813 d. 1889 [married Samuel Peffley, 15 Dec 1831, Botetort County, Virginia];
Mary Stover, b. 1814;
Sarah Stover, b. 1816;
George R. Stover, , b 1818, died 1867;
Samuel Stover, b. 1820 died 1888;
Daniel C. Stover, , b. 1822, the father of Berty G, known as the "Boy Preacher of the Christian Church," and whose maternal grandfather, Gilbert Harney was one of the pioneer preachers of that faith in Indiana;
Benjamin Franklin Stover, , born in 1824;
Catherine Stover, , b. 1826, died 1856;
John P. Stover, born 1830;
Margaret A. Stover, 1833 and
Abram Harrison Stover, b. March 15, 1836.
Abram Harrison Stover was b. March
15, 1836 on the home farm near Ladoga, Montgomery County, Indiana. He was named
after an uncle, Abram Stover of Washington county, Indiana who was the
originator of the name Hoosier, as applied to Indiana or the inhabitants of
that state. He resided with his parents until 21 when he took up the trade of a
carpenter, and followed it very successfully, while he has engaged in the real
estate business since he has been in Chicago.
At Ladoga, May 16, 1861, Mr. Stover
married Miss Maggie ALCOCK, who was born in Verners Bridge, Co Armaugh,
Ireland, July 10, 1841 and is of Protestant descent. They became the parents of
3 children, all of whom were born in Ladoga, Ind.:
William N. Stover born August 15, 1862, a fine young man cut down in the springtime of his manhood, received his final summons, May 27, 1885; George Alcock Stover, b. May 30, 1866 married Miss Grace Warner of Chicago April 20, 1891; and Anna Elizabeth Stover, born Dec 29, 1867 married Samuel J. Chapman of Chicago April 12, 1888.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Chapman are
the parents of two children:
Florence Stover Chapman b. July 16, 1889 and
George Arthur Chapman, born Jan 13, 1891.
Florence Stover Chapman b. July 16, 1889 and
George Arthur Chapman, born Jan 13, 1891.
In 1869, Abram Harrison Stover
removed from Ladoga to Wanbeck, Linn County, Iowa but 3 years later settled
permanently in Chicago. He is a member of the Christian Church which he joined
at Ladoga in 1863 and since residing in Chicago has served for nearly 16 years
as Deacon. His wife is also a member of that church, which she joined in NE
City in 1859, and they have continued devoted to its interests ever since.