Edwards, Rev. Jonathan. "An Illustrated History of Spokane County, State of Washington." San Francisco: W. H. Lever, 1900. p. 324. HON. JACOB HOOVER Deceased, a pioneer of 1881, was born in Washington county, Oregon, February 9, 1846. He graduated from Pacific University, and in 1868 went to Olympia, Washington, where he taught school a short time, then read law with Hon. Elwood Evans. He was admitted to the bar in 1869, and opened an office at Steilacoom, where he practiced for several years. In 1874 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent Pierce county in the legislature and in 1876 he was re-elected, but did not serve on account of moving away. In 1878 he opened a law office in Colfax, Washington, and two years later was elected to the legislature from Whitman county. His re-election followed in 1882, but again he failed to serve on account of moving out of the state. In 1880 he and Mr. John Burke opened the Colfax Bank, but after about a year they sold out, moved to Lewiston, Idaho, and organized the Bank of Lewiston. But Mr. Hoover soon disposed of his interest and moved to Spokane, where he opened a law office, the firm at first being Allen & Hoover and later Allen, Hoover & Allen. In 1886, Mr. Hoover again retired from the law and again entered the banking business, organizing the Traders' National Bank, of which he was cashier. In 1888 he sold his interest in this institution, and the next year organized the Exchange National, of which he was president until his death, which occurred July 11, 1898. He was elected mayor of Spokane in 1890, and served one term. Mr. Hoover was a man of excellent parts and was remarkably successful as a lawyer, as a legislator and as a banker. He was married at Steilacoom, Washington, October 18, 1875, to Miss Ella A. Harmon, who has the distinction of being the first white child born on Puget Sound and whose father, Hill Harmon, came to Washington in 1849. They have three children, Bathaline, J. Wesley and H. Custer. Mr. Hoover was a prominent thirty-second-degree Mason. Transcriber's additional notes: From this same book: Chapter XVII, Spokane City Government, page 88: Regarding an elections of 1885: "At a special election on October 5, Jacob Hoover was elected a alderman from the First ward." "The election, April 3, 1888, resulted as follows: Mayor, Jacob Hoover; treasurer, E. Bertrand; assessor, D. M. Thompson; attorney, H. E. Houghton; chief of police, J. F. Warren; councilmen, First ward, P. M. Tull; Second ward, S. S. Bailey; Third ward, S. D. Waters; Fourth ward, William Kenlhauff, D. B. Fotheringham; city clerk, J. C. White. Before the close of the year Mayor Hoover moved outside of the city limits and I. S. Kaufman became acting mayor during the unexpired term." Chapter XVIII, Spokane as a Commercial Center, page 115: "Traders National Bank was organized December 20, 1885, with $75,000 capital. E. J. Brickell, president; J. Hoover, vice president." From this book: "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and Garfield Counties, Washington Territory; and Umatilla County, Oregon" Author: Frank T. Gilbert Publisher: Print. and Lithographing House of A. G. Walling; Portland, Oregon; 1882 Page 257: County Election, November 2, 1880 - Walla Walla Co. Office: Joint Councilman, Jacob Hoover, Democrat, Vote: 2424, No. of Candidates 2, Total Vote: 4644 (included votes of Whitman and Columbia counties) Page 436: County Election, November 2, 1880 - Whitman Co. Office: Joint Councilman (elected by Fourth District), Jacob Hoover, Democrat, Vote: 769, No. of Candidates 2, Total Vote: 1344 From this book: "Illustrated History of Lane County, Oregon" Publisher: A. G. Walling Portland, Oregon; 1884; Page 147 "The immigration of 1844 consisted of 800 people, of whom 235 were able-bodied men. The following list contains the names of the greater portion of them:............Jacob Hoover............. (this may be his father) Census: 1860; June 16; Washington Co, OR; Forest Grove PO, p 621 Jacob Hoover, 46, KY, farmer, $5000, $2000 Malinda, 49, IN $6000 real estate Thomas, 19, MO, att. school Wesley, 18, MO, att. school Jackson, 15, in the plains, att. school Jacob, 14, OR, att. school Harriet, 11, OR, att. school Latitia, 9, OR, att. school 1870; June 10; Thurston Co, WA; Chambers Prairie PO, p 221 Jacob Hoover, 24, m, w, b OR, teacher (living with the Andrew J. Chambers family) 1880; Whitman Co, WA; Colfax City, p 319 Jacob Hoover, 34, OR, KY, VA, lawyer Ella A., wife, 25, Wa. Terr, ME, NB Bathaline, dau, 4, Wa. Terr, OR, WT Emma K. Harmon, s in l, 23, Wa. Terr, ME, NB 1900; June 2; Spokane Co, WA; Wd 2 Spokane City, Burton Pct, p 61, Riverside Ella Hoover, head, f, w, 43, Oct 1857, WA, ME, CAN, Wd, mar 24 yrs, 7 children-3 children living, rents house Bathaline, dau, f, w, 23, July 1876, WA, OR, WA, single, china painting Wesley J, son, m, w, 13, Nov 1886, WA, OR, WA, att. school Hill C, son, m, w, 9, Sept 1890, WA, OR, WA, att. school 1900; June 21; Spokane Co, WA; Wd 5 Spokane, Eureka Pct, p 301, Gonzaga College, line 30 Wesley J. Hoover, student, m, w, 13, Nov 1886, WA, OR, OR 1910; April 30; Pierce Co, WA; Wd 2 Tacoma, Pct 9, p 277, 1406 6th ave. James W. Hoover, head, m, w, 23, single, WA, OR, WA, proprietor, boarding home (including 1 m porter, 2 f servants, 16, m boarders) 1910; April 13; Spokane Co, WA; Wd 2 Spokane, p 156, 710 Lincoln Pl John H. Hemphill, head, m, w, 39, WI, OH, NY, 1st mar, mar 0 yrs, promoter, real estate Bathaline, wife, f, w, 35, WA, OR, WA, 2nd mar, mar 0 yrs, 1 child - 1 child living Margaret L, step dau, 6, WA, WI, WA 1920; Jan 2; Spokane Co, WA; Wd 3 Spokane city, Calhoun Pct, p 184, 2210 W. Pacific ave. Ella A. Hoover, roomer, f, w, 62, Wd, WA, ME, CAN, no occ. 1920; Jan 3; Lewis Co, WA; E Wd Chehalis, p 132, 856 Adams st. J. Wesley Hoover, head, m, w, 33, WA, OR, WA, traveling salesman, Sinclair Co ? Laura R, wife, f, w, 30, WA, OH, IL Mary E, dau, f, w, 4, WA, WA, WA Jacob W, son, 2, m, w, WA, WA, WA William A. Westover, roomer, m, w, 68, Wd, CAN, CAN, Nova Scotia to US 1875, Mayor, Chehalis 1920; Jan 8; King Co, WA; Wd 181 Seattle, p 122, 817 James Hill C. Hoover, head, m, w, 29, WA, WA, WA, cigar salesman Emma E, wife, f, w, 27, WA, GER, GER 1920; Jan 10; Spokane Co, WA; Wd 3 Spokane, Carleton Pct, p 211, South Oak st. John H. Hemphill, head, m, w, 49, WI, NY, NY, manager, dairy co. Bathaline, wife, f, w, 44, WA, WA, OR Margaret, dau, f, w, 16, W, WI, WA, att. school * * * * Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in February 2006 by Diana Smith. This biography was transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.