Thomas Stover and Susan Newcomer

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Husband Thomas Stover ¹

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           Born: 15 Sep 1815 - near Aaronsburg, Centre Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1898
         Buried: 

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         Father: Henry Stover (      -      ) 2 3
         Mother: Gredle Guiswite (      -      ) 4

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       Marriage: Oct 1848 - near Freeport, Stephenson Co, IL 5

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Wife Susan Newcomer ⁵

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           Born: 30 Mar 1828 - Northumberland Co, PA 5
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: Philip Newcomer (      -      ) 5
         Mother: Elizabeth Lantz (      -      ) 5

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Children

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1 F Asenath Stover ⁶

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           Born: 16 Feb 1859 - Lancaster Twp, Stephenson Co, IL 6
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: J. H. DeLong (      -Aft 1898) 6
           Marr: 19 Jun 1881 6

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General Notes: Husband - Thomas Stover

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As a boy he attended a German school known as "Wolfe's School;" but work was considered more important than study, and he could not even profit fully by the limited advantages offered by his German teacher. His mother, however, came to his rescue with home instruction, and as he possessed an excellent memory the foundation of a practical education was laid. He chose the plasterer's trade as an occupation, and served an apprenticeship under William Shaffer, and so great was his mechanical skill that later he "picked up" for himself the trades of brick laying and stone masonry. Until 1840 he remained in his native township, and then he went west, via Pittsburgh, traveling on the Ohio from that point to Cairo, and then by the Mississippi river to northern Illinois, his destination being Stephenson County. At that time there were but few houses in Freeport, the county seat. Mr. Stover remained in Illinois about thirty years, working as a brick layer, plasterer, and stone mason, and engaged also in agriculture. He owned an excellent farm in Lancaster township, Stephenson County, and much other valuable real estate.
Mr. Stover found his health declining after a time, and being threatened with consumption he returned to Pennsylvania in 1868, locating in the eastern end of Bush Valley. There he conducted a shingle and saw mill for many years, cutting excellent white pine, and he was a pioneer of that industry in the locality. His home at or in Livonia was cleared by him from its primitive burden of trees and stone piles, and its comfortable and commodious buildings were all built by him. He accumulated a goodly competence despite the fact that his dislike of contention at times made him the victim of unscrupulous people. Free from guile himself, he never found it easy to believe evil of others, and he had such a contempt for wrangling that he more than once submitted to imposition rather than undertake to do battle for his rights. It is said that some of the most valuable land in Freeport, Illinois, rightfully belonged to him, but he was practically been robbed of it.
In early years Mr. Stover was a Whig, and later he became a stanch Republican. His first vote was cast for Gov. Ritner as governor of Pennsylvania. Not being disposed to be active in politics, he held few offices, but his interest in better education has led him to serve at times as school director. His wife was one of the leading members of the Reformed Church, but he was not formally identified with any denomination, although he contributed liberally to religious work. He helped to organize the first Sunday-school at Livonia P. O.

1 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 147.

2 John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 299.

3 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 148, 151.

4 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 151.

5 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 148.

6 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 149.