Gamaliel Degolia HOOVER
Obituary

Watertown Daily Times
Watertown, NY
Friday, April 28, 1916

Taps Sounded For Theresa Veteran
Grand Army and Kindred Societies at Grave
G. D. Hoover Laid To Rest

Was Civil War Veteran, Former Town Clerk, Cheese Factory Manager, Real Estate Dealer, Merchant and Produce Dealer During His Successful Career

Theresa, April 28 – Members of the George W Flower Post G.A.R. And of the local camp, S.O.V., as well as Howland Circle, Ladies of the G.A.R., surrounded the casket of the late Gamaliel D Hoover as the ritual of the S.O.V. Was given at the cemetery Thursday afternoon. Col. Fred A Soper, of the local S.O.V. Camp, acted as commander and Fay B Tenney as chaplain. The long roll was sounded by George D Walrath and William Eddy of Antwerp gave the call of taps. The service was largely attended at the house in upper Commercial street. Rev. W.G. Atwell of the Methodist church officiating, who remarked upon the rapidity with which the old soldiers are passing, this being the third soldier of the local post to be laid at rest within the past few weeks and the second one within a week. The bearers were three sons-in-law, Fred Townsend, Hiram Townsend and Coda Wicks, and grand son-in-law, Earl Wicks. Mr Hoover's death, which occurred late Tuesday afternoon, at his home here, was the first break to come to a large family of children and grandchildren, and all were at the funeral, save one.

Mr Hoover was born in Pamelia, Feb 23, 1844, the son of Adam and Catherine Salisbury Hoover, and was caring for himself at an early age. Before the war, and when in his early teens, he was master of the Limburg cheese trade, being one of the pioneer makers in this country. Being only 16 when the Civil war broke out, but large for his age, he enlisted with Company C, First New York Light Artillery. He saw service in all of the Peninsular campaign and was at the battle of Gettysburg and saw many engagements. He never received a wound but was broken in health.

Following the war, Mr Hoover returned to this section and to cheese making, but took up making the "Yankee" cheese and was for many years in charge of the old Brooklyn factory in this village, one of the ?. C. Cooper combination. In the winter season he began buying produce of farmers, butter, beans and other products and shipping to New York. This business he increased and soon gave up cheesemaking and entered into partnership with the late John Hildreth, where the Farmers' National bank is now located. They opened a meat market as well as doing a produce business. Later he bought out the business and still later sold this to buy a half interest in the hardware business with Jerome Westcott. After a few years of successful business he sold out to his oldest son, and established a general store in the block nest to the post office. Later selling this, he erected the large block in Commercial street, now occupied by his sons, the Hoover Bros. Hardware merchants. He was also dealer in real estate and was owner of considerable lands at the time of his death. Of late he has lived a retired life, keeping a large flock of hens and some bees with which he was successful.

He married on March 25, 1867, Clarissa Cook Stearns, and five children were born to them, all living. They are : Florence, Mrs Fred Townsend; Ada, Mrs Hiram Townsend; Kate, Mrs Coda Wicks, and Howard H and Anson Hoover, all residing in this village. There are several grandchildren. He was a devoted member of the G.A.R. And kindred organizations and was town clerk for a time but not active in politics. Anson Salisbury, a life long friend from Fulton was at the funeral as was Fred Townsend of Albany; Joseph Cook of Belleville and others from nearby places.



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