Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1909 — FRED HOOVER IS KILLED. [ARTICLE]

FRED HOOVER IS KILLED.

Farmer Resident 9 Victim of Dynamite Eiplesioe. WAS PROMINENT IN POLITICS i : ■ While Here, Serving As State Senator, Commissioner, Prison Director and Indian Agent.—Formerly Resided at Remington, But Moved to Indian Territory In 1882 When Appointed Indian Agent.

t Though the kindness of Mrs. N. ittlefield we are supplied with a copy of the Cole Camp, Missouri, Courier of August ’ 19, containing an account of the accidental death of Col. Fred Hoover, a prominent resident of Remington of 25 years ago, when he moved to Indian Territory to take charge of an appointment under President Cleveland, as Indian Agent. All of the older residents of this section of the state will remember ' Fred Hoovers The —m<JWord was received here last Monday morning that Col A Fred Hoover had been dangerously, perhaps fatally Injured by an explosion of dynamite. A little later his death was reported.'Hv Mr. Hocwer came to Cole Camp t ten years ago and made this his j home until about two years ago, j when he moved to Lincoln in order j to be nearer to his work. During; his residence here he became ac- j quainted with everyone in this section and everybody was his friendHis death cast a gloom of sadness over the whole community. For some time past he has been prospecting on what is known as the Ashley Berry farm, eleven miles southeast of this city. For several months past he and his wife have 1 been living in a cabin near the shait he was having sunk. Last Monday morning his workmen failed to come to work at the appointed time and he told hiß wife he presumed they, had gone to the circus at Lincoln! and would not come. He told her he would take some powder and blow the water out of the shaft and be that far along in case the men did come. He took the powder or dynamite and went out and Bat down on a rock just a short distance from the shaft and began preparing the powder for the shot he intended putting off. Mrs. Hoover stepped to the door of the cabin several times and cautioned him to be careful about the powder. The last time she appeared Mr. Hoover laughed and told her he knew how to handle powder and she need have no fear. She returned to her work in the house and in just a few seconds the explosion occurred, throwing rocks and dirt through the house and filling it with smoke so that it was difficult for Mrs. Hoover to reach her husband. When she did reach him he was sitting in about the same position he had been when she last saw him before the explosion. His hands wer gone, his body was lacerated from his knees up and he was badly powder burned. Mrs. Hoover said to him, “Why! Papa, your hands, are gone.” He looked down at them and then up to her and from that time did not 1 appear to know anything only that he was out of doors and wanted to be taken in on the bed. As the men carried him in he called one of them by name and said, "next time we will put in two sticks for the shot.” These were his last words.

The accident occurred about nine o’clock. At that time there was no one nearer than B. F. Jach’s place a quarter of a mile away and Mrs. Hoover had to go there for assistance Mr. Hoover died about one o’clock. It is not known just how much powder Mr. Hoover had but the force of the explosion jarred chinaware off the shelves at the home of Mr. Jach a quarter of a mile away. His son, Frank L. Hoover of Sedalia, was notified of the accident immediately and arrived at Lincoln on the noon train. He arrived too! late however, to see his father alive. Mr. Hoover was a very large man, j weighing 265 pounds, and owing to the extreme heat and the manner | of his death it was impossible to j keep him and the remains were interred ip the Dillon cemetery Monday evening. Frederick Hoover was born Dec. 2, 1837, at New Castle, Indiana, and was 71 years, 8 months and 14 days old at the time of his depth. While yet a boy he went into a printing office to work and later became part owner of the plant. Later he engaged In the merchantlle business. During the civil war he served In the 69th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. At the close of the war he again engaged In the merchantlle business, which he followed until 1875, when he was appointed Prison Director at Michigan City, Indiana, and served two terms. In 1882 he was eleoted State Senator and served one term. In 1884 he was appointed Indian Agent with headquarters at Pawbuska, I. T. He resigned this

position after a time and moved to Holton, Kans. He was appointed Postmaster at Holton under President Cleveland. Sunday, January 30, 1859, he was united in' marriage to Miss Martha Bowan of Middletown, Henry county, Indiana. To this union were horn four children, two sons and two daughters; of these but one, Frank L. Hoover of Sedalia, survives him. His widow will make her home with this son. , As stated above Frederick Hoover came to this county ten years ago. He has been prospecting in different sections of this county ever since. He had great fdith in this section, so much so that he has spent a small fortune in the past ten years in prospecting and to him is due the credit of putting Benton county Tjhere it is to-day on the mineral map. He is the one who started the boom at what is now known as Tahoma. After he had exhausted his finances he interested Eastern capital and for several months past he has been prospecting at the place where he met his death. He had great faith in this prospect and only a few weeks ago wrote the editor of this paper that he believed it was the best prospect he had ever had in this county. That his associates were gladly furnishing him all funds necessary end that he believed he would soon reap the reward for his many years of toil. When the workman quit work the last time he told one of them he believed they were within three feet of the vein and was anxious to continue the work. His shaft was thirty feet deep with a fine showing of lead.