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Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
Jesse Hoover
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![Oval-cropped black-and-white portrait photograph of a young dark-haired man with a long beard. Oval-cropped black-and-white portrait photograph of a young dark-haired man with a long beard.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090512092443im_/http://www.nps.gov/heho/historyculture/images/jesse_hoover_285w.jpg) |
Herbert Hoover NHS Collection | Jesse Hoover |
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Jesse Clark Hoover came to West Branch from Ohio when he was eight years old with his father, Eli, in 1854. Jesse married Hulda Minthorn in 1870, and had three children: Theodore, Herbert, and Mary.
Jesse built his Blacksmith Shop at the corner of Downey and Penn streets in 1871. Jesse Hoover was one of three blacksmiths in a town of 500. West Branch was a farming community, and many of its residents had horses, buggies, and wagons that needed repaired. In 1877, Jesse advertised in the West Branch Times: “Horse shoeing and plow work a specialty. Also dealer in all kinds of pumps. Prices to suit the times.”
In 1879, Jesse sold the Blacksmith Shop and started a new farm implement business on the corner of Downey and Main streets. The new shop was the first in town to manufacture barbed wire.
On December 13, 1880, Jesse Hoover died of a heart attack brought on by pneumonia. He was only 34 years old. He is buried next to Hulda in the West Branch Municipal Cemetery on North Maple Street.
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![Black-and-white portrait photograph of one girl and two boys. Black-and-white portrait photograph of one girl and two boys.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090512092443im_/http://www.nps.gov/mwr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/HEHO_hoover_children_65x65.jpg) Hoover Genealogy An abridged Hoover family tree, beginning with Herbert's parents. more... | | ![Pupils' desks, part of the Schoolhouse furnishings. Pupils' desks, part of the Schoolhouse furnishings.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090512092443im_/http://www.nps.gov/mwr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/HEHO_pupils_desks_65x65.jpg) Take a virtual tour Learn more about the historic buildings and landscape with an online tour. more... | | ![A park ranger leading a guided tour for elementary school children. A park ranger leading a guided tour for elementary school children.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090512092443im_/http://www.nps.gov/mwr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/HEHO_n4ctjp0p_ranger_schooltour_65x65.jpg) Plan A Field Trip Reservations, activities, and curriculum materials for teachers and their students. more... | |
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![The television-watching eyes of Herbert Hoover. The television-watching eyes of Herbert Hoover.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090512092443im_/http://www.nps.gov/mwr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/HEHO_hoover_130x65.jpg) |
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Did You Know?
As Secretary of Commerce in 1927, Herbert Hoover was the first person to appear on an intercity television broadcast. When television became more widespread, Hoover didn't watch it much except to see baseball games.
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Last Updated: October 24, 2007 at 13:26 EST |