The Hover Family Collection

The description for the Hover Family Collection was provided by Mary Jane (Hover) Muller:

My grandfather, Fred Rex Hover, was born in West Newton (Allen County) Ohio on April 29, 1895 to George Calvin Hover (1866-1959) and Laura Bell Rex (1869-1959). He had two sisters, both of whom died as relatively young adults. He attended Ohio University in 1915, then returned home to farm. He also taught at a one-room school. One of his students was Helen Frances Ingledue (1899-1996), whom he married on June 19, 1917.

Fred served in WWI, but never left Kentucky. While on leave, he contracted measles. While he was suffering with measles, influenza swept through the base. In later years, he said that the measles had saved his life because if he hadn't gotten them he would have been on base, and would likely have died along with many others. After he served, he returned to farming. At some point, the farm failed, which caused him to go back to school at Ohio Northern in Ada, Ohio, earning his law degree in 1926.

In the meantime, Fred and Helen started a family. George William "Billy" was born in 1920, followed by 2 more boys in quick succession. A girl, another 2 boys, and a final girl completed the family. Fred and Helen settled in Findlay, Ohio, to raise their seven children. Upon graduation, Fred practiced law in Findlay.

Fred was both a business many and an entrepreneur. Helen was his right=hand man and managed the bookkeeping for the businesses. He established and managed the local radio station, WFIN. He also purchased Oak Pharmacy. Most of the children worked at one place or the other, and Helen made all of the syrups for the soda fountain at the Pharmacy. During the Depression, he also owned the "pottery" in Findlay and would arrange for the construction of brick houses to help out-of-work laborers. As was typical of the time, Fred accepted payment of all variety; Helen wore a ring with two, mismatched diamonds. The family lived in a house on the north edge of Findlay, where they kept cows, chickens and a garden. Helen liked to tell the story of a particular cow that gave so much milk, they were able to supply themselves and a neighboring widow and her children.

Fred had a great sense of humor, as did Helen. Helen looked much younger than he, and he would introduce her to a new acquaintance as his daughter, and then kiss her inappropriately, much to the shock of the acquaintance and the amusement of those in the know. They knew someone who named all of their girls after precious stones, so when their first daughter was born, they named her Dimond. As "Hover" was so often mistaken for "Hoover", they couldn't resist naming my father Herbert when he was born in 1931, during Herbert Hoover's presidency.

Fred developed heart disease and died of a heart attack on January 2, 1947, at age 51. He was preceded in death by both of his sisters and his firstborn son, Billy, who died of an aggressive form of testicular cancer in 1941.

Fred's first grandchild was alive at his death, another nineteen eventually followed. My brother, Michael Frederick Hover was born in 1951, the first of five children in our family. Mike completed his freshman year at Ohio University in 1969-70 studying music. His primary instrument was double bass. He started his sophomore year, but early in 1971 he was diagnosed with what was probably the same aggressive form of testicular cancer. He was unable to finish the school year due to the treatments, and died in December of the same year.

This collection contains the materials of Fred Rex Hover and Michael F. Hover during their time at Ohio University. This collection provides insight as to what the University was like during the early 1900's through photographs as well as student opinions in 1970. These photographs, compared to photographs of the University today, show the similarities and differences of the University throughout the years. Although the photographs in this collection were taken about 100 years ago, the activities and places that are photographed are still present in today's Ohio University culture.