Harvey L. Stover

HARVEY L. STOVER. - Many of the ablest men in America are ardent devotees of the basic industry of agriculture and it is well that this is so because the various learned professions are rapidly becoming so crowded with inefficient practitioners that in a few years it will be practically impossible for any but the exceptionally talented man to make good or even to gain a competent living therein. The independent farmer, who, in addition to tilling the soil, cultivates his mind and retains his health, is a man much to be envied in these days of strenuous bustle and nervous energy. He lives his life as he chooses and is always safe from financial ravages and other troubles of the so-called "cliff dweller." An able and representative agriculturist, who has done much to advance progress and conserve prosperity in Wyandotte county, Kansas, is Harvey L. Stover, who owns and operates a finely improved farm of some one hundred and thirty-five acres in Quindaro township, the same being located three-fourths of a mile distant from Bethel.

A native of Maryland, Harvey L. Stover was born on the 12th of May, 1860, and he is a son of Jacob H. and Elizabeth (Blair) Stover, both of whom were born and reared in the state of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Kansas City, Missouri, in 1869, at which time that now thriving metropolis was a mere hamlet. In 1871 the Stover home was established on the farm now owned by the subject of this review, where the father was identified with farming operations during the greater portion of his active business career. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob H. Stover became the parents of ten children, concerning whom the following brief record is here inserted: Martin and John are both deceased; Susan is the wife of J. Landis and they reside in Illinois; Lizzie is deceased; David is a retired farmer of Brown county; Ben is a farmer in the same county; Jake is a resident of Denver, Colorado; Anna is the wife of David Wolf, of Seattle, Washington; Louis is living in Leavenworth county, where he devotes his attention to the farm; and Harvey L. is the immediate subject of this review. The father was summomed to eternal rest in 1906 and his cherished and devoted wife, who preceded him to the great beyond, passed away in 1896.

Harvey L. Stover was a child of nine years of age at the time of his parents removal from the east to Kansas City, Missouri. In that city he attended school for the ensuing two years, at the expiration of which he accompanied his parents on their removal to Wyandotte county, Kansas. His youth was passed on the old homestead farm, in the work and management of which he early began to assist his father. He completed his preliminary educational training by further study in the neighboring district schools and by extensive reading. As a young man he assumed the active management of his father's estate, which he finally inherited. He is now the owner of a farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres of some of the very best land in Wyandotte county, his farm being in a high state of cultivation and eligibly located on the electric line and on the Northwestern railroad. The beautiful brick mansion which represents the family home is situated on a high spot, from which can be seen almost every point in the county. Most of the land is devoted to the cultivation of wheat but at the present time a portion of the estate is rented out, Mr. Stover living in partial retirement. In politics Mr. Stover is independent in party politics and while he has never manifested aught of ambition for political preferment of any description, he is ever ready to give his support to all matters effecting the general welfare. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Modern Brotherhood of America.

On March 24, 1894, Mr. Stover was united in marriage to Miss Dora Graham, of Wyandotte county, Kansas. Mrs. Stover is a daughter of James and Martha (Taggart) Graham, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the latter of whom claimed Indiana as the place of her birth. Mr. and Mrs. Stover were the parents of three children, one of whom, Harvey L., Jr., died at the age of eighteen months. The other two children are Pansy Agnes May and Clyde Ansel, both of whom are attending school at the present time, in 1911.