James M. Hoover
Born: May 30, 1842/3
Died: August 10, 1906, aged 63
Location: Old Section C, West half of Lot 87
James M. Hoover, born in Chambersburg, PA, was a son of George and Mary (nee Potts) Hoover. His family was considered to be pioneer residents of the area, arriving in 1859.
He died suddenly of a heart attack at his residence, 225 Tenth Avenue of Homestead (4th Ward), on August 11, at 9:30 PM after stating he was suddenly feeling ill. His wife and daughters were traveling in Philadelphia at the time.
He was prominent in Borough politics, and had been a member of the Borough Council for several years. He was voted as Captain for the Homestead-based Cleveland and Thurman Marching Club in 1888.
He also served as Chairman of the Homestead Borough's Water Committee, which had looked to construct a massive 2.5 million gallon reservoir as well as pumping engines, turbines, and lay nearly 452 tons of piping for fire hydrants and stopgates. He was the Sanitary Officer for the Board of Health at the time of his death.
He had served as a Private in Company C of the 123rd PA Volunteers of the Union Army under General William T. Sherman during the Civil War, and was involved in Sherman's March to the Sea. The March, which lasted from November 15 through December 21 of 1864, took Union troops through Georgia, sacking and razing towns from Atlanta to Savannah, where they destroyed anything of use to the Confederate Army including industry, infrastructure, and civilian property. The operation crippled Confederacy supply lines, and is largely considered a decisive step towards the surrender of the South.
He was a founding member of the G. A. R.'s General Griffin Post of Homestead.
He died suddenly of a heart attack at his residence, 225 Tenth Avenue of Homestead (4th Ward), on August 11, at 9:30 PM after stating he was suddenly feeling ill. His wife and daughters who survived him were traveling in Philadelphia at the time.
His funeral arrangements were handled by Gillen and Coulter of Homestead. He was buried on August 13, 1906 in the Homestead Cemetery.
Information gathered from:
"Homestead Democrats Organize." Pittsburgh Daily Post, 20 September 1888, p. 3.
"Homestead Pioneer Dies." Pittsburgh Press, 12 August 1906, p. 5.
"James M. Hoover." Pittsburgh Press, 12 August 1906, p. 6.
"Proposals." Pittsburgh Dispatch, 27 May, 1891, p. 3.