The third woman to make 632 W. Market Street into her family home was Ida Hoover. At the start of researching for this article, Ida was as much of an enigma as Mary Banta and Emma Van Dyke had been. However, despite the scarcity of information about Ida and the entire Hoover family, we can piece together to a certain extent who Ida Hoover was through newspaper coverage of her life. Ida was a housewife, definitely in the upper crust of society, and did charity work like the other wives of 632 W. Market Street. Unlike the other women, Ida was a real estate mogul and a businesswoman who did not like throwing parties, but did participate in numerous law cases. Her modernity, a twentieth-century woman in a different way than Edna de Lima, sets her apart.

Ida Hoover was born in Allen County to Salem and Adelia Elizabeth Reed on February 1, 1869.[1] It is believed that she was born in Shawnee township because the family farm was there.[2] We know little else about Ida’s early life until she married William F. Hoover in 1893.[3] William was the son of an immigrant from Holland, John Hoover, and was also born and raised in Allen County.[4] He was a businessman from the start, working for several local businesses until 1889 when he opened Hoover Brothers furniture store with his brother, John.. This was a great success for them, even after John died in 1899 and William started running the business alone.[5] Ida and William would have two daughters, Alleene and Palleene. Much of their success in the Hoover Brothers, later known as Hoover & Bond, would come before moving into 632 W. Market Street, but we will get to that in a few paragraphs. The following paragraphs will focus on the different facets of Ida Hoover’s life.

Shawnee Township, 1934
William F. Hoover, 1923

To reiterate, we do not have personal records of the Hoovers, there are no letters, diaries, etc.; we do not even have photographs of Ida or the girls. Thus, what we know about them comes from a few mentions in histories of Allen County and little excerpts in the literature about the MacDonell House. The majority of the information comes from newspaper articles making it impossible to know about their personal lives, what they did together, and how close they were. However, we do have indications, which we will look at in this paragraph, about Ida’s life at home. From all the articles, it seems likely that Ida, William, Alleene, and Palleene were a tight-knit family. Both girls named their sons William, after their father, even though both of the boys would go by Billie for much of their lives.[6] Palleene named her second child Alleene, most likely after her sister; Alleene named her daughter after her maternal grandmother Adelia.[7] This gives us the view of a very family-oriented group. They also went on trips together throughout the years. Often, Ida would take one of her daughters and a friend and drive to either Fort Wayne or Bellefontaine to see friends of the family.[8] Furthermore, even after both Alleene and Palleene were married, both, or at least one of them, were seen at all the public functions Ida attended. Near the end of the 1910s, William became more enamored with fishing in the ocean, so parts of the family would vacation for a few weeks in Florida, New Orleans, Cuba, or any of the gulf states.[9] In one of the saddest instances of their familial life, Palleene lost her first child, named William Hoover Fisher, shortly after his birth in their family home.[10] Ida, Alleene, and Palleene had visited Palleene’s in-laws only the month before in Wapakoneta, no doubt all excited for the new life she and her husband Vernon Fisher were bringing into the world.[11] As sad as this lost was, Palleene and Vernon would bring two more children into the world a few years later, Billie and Alleene.[12] It must be noted too about the family that both of the sons-in-laws, Vernon Fisher and Val Kohl had positions in the family furniture business. Beyond their nuclear family, Ida was known to invite her or William’s relatives often to visit, even though she did not like hosting parties. William’s sister Helen Hoover visited in 1914, and Ida’s brother Samuel Reed stayed in 1906.[13] Overall, the Hoovers were likely a close family.

As mentioned before, Ida was not a party hostess like Emma Van Dyke. However, she did go to many events around Lima and hosted two events we know of because they were mentioned in the paper. One of the largest Lima weddings, in 1917, was between Alleene’s friend Marjorie Henderson, the only daughter of local attorney D. C. Henderson, and Clarence Edward Carnes, who was from a prominent family in Detroit.[14] Since she was Marjorie’s friend, Alleene was in the wedding.[15] Likewise, Ida and William were some of the first guests mentioned in the newspaper article that took up a third of the page.[16] From this we can see they had connections to the important families of Lima, and probably were considered one of those important families.

There are many more examples of Ida and her family attending important events in Allen County, but let’s move on to the three events she held in her home. The first was in 1922; it should also be noted that Ida was frequently mentioned in the newspaper since around 1900, and no party held by her has been mentioned before. The 1922 event was the semi-annual convention of the Hoover-Bond company store managers, which was held in the ballroom of 632 W Market Street.[17] We do not get any information on the hostess side of the meeting, but no doubt Ida had to organize not only the space, but any food or beverages needed for the meeting. The next event at the Hoover’s home mentioned in the newspapers was in 1925, hosted by a young lady named Mary Martha Mell.[18] It was not clear how Mary was connected to the Hoovers; however, the article mentioned it was an informal dance amongst some friends.[19] Likely, she was a friend of Alleene and Palleene. According to the description, it seemed to be a late Christmas party: “In the ballrooms, palms, and baskets of poinsettias were used as decorations. Red and green, the Christmas colors, predominated in the appointments for luncheon which was served concluding the program of dances.”[20] Thus, even though Ida was not the hostess, she probably played a part in getting the home ready for the event.

The only party we know Ida specifically hosted was a going away party for Mrs. Charles Banta in 1926.[21] Charles Banta is one of the children of Frank Banta, the first owner of 632 W. Market St. Not from Mary and his union, that was their son Roy, but one of the following children with Frank’s second or third wife. It is very fascinating that these families are connected by more than just owning the same home. Surprisingly, Ida did not hold the party at the Hoover house but instead at the Shawnee Country Club in a private dining room.[22] The attendees are also mentioned, like with most parties of the era, the current Mrs. Frank Banta, Mrs. Roy Banta, Alleene, Palleene, and many others were at the party.[23] From this, we see that Ida was not often a hostess herself but enjoyed attending events around Allen County.

Reception tea at the National Womens (i.e., Woman's) Party to Alice Brady, famous film star and one of the organizers of the party, April 5, 1923, LC-USZ62-102300

Quite like Emma Van Dyke, Ida did a lot of charity work connected to the Lima City Hospital. Specifically, she was on the Woman’s Board of Managers for the hospital.[24] In 1915, Ida helped by being one of the supervisors for a Boys and Girls Scout fundraising drive.[25] Apparently, the scouts went out and sold “tags” to people in specified areas allotted for each scout. What the prize was, or any specifics, were not discussed in the newspaper article, but the money was being raised for the hospital with the help of the scouts.[26] The following year, Ida was voted to be the head of Donations on the Woman’s Board of Managers.[27] In 1918, the board threw a ‘Humanity’ party as their great fundraiser of the year.[28] The newspaper wrote about it’s plan, “The twenty-four members of the board have been working tirelessly to make the affair this year, a greater success than that of previous years.”[29] Ida was, of course, part of that hardworking board. Again, in 1919, the Woman’s Board of Managers, with the help of the Girls and Boys Scouts, sold “tags” for the hospital fund. As we can see from this, Ida was a part of charity work in her town and specifically used her personal strengths.

Lima City Hospital, 1925
Delphos Boy Scouts, early 1900s

What became apparent very fast about Ida Hoover was that she was a businesswoman. We will never know whether it came naturally to her or was a byproduct of being married to William. Both Ida and William owned a lot of land in Allen County. William was described in his obituary and biography in History of Allen County, Ohio and its Representative Citizens as interested in real estate.[30] This also seems true of Ida. In 1901, in two land lot lotteries held in Lima, Ida bought land.[31] She would go on the following year to pay a special tax on another lot of land because of a road reconstruction.[32] Then in 1918, there was a notice in the newspaper about her owning a 300-acre farm just west of Lima.[33] Some readers might argue that these were just plots of land bought by William and put under Ida’s name. That might be the case, but he bought lots of land under his own name. In 1912, William paid $7,000 for 70 acres in Bath Township.[34] Likewise, in 1915, he bought 120 acres in Bath Township for $8,500.[35] We also know he has more land in the Allen County area because of a large foreclosure case in 1934 and 1935.[36] In that case, both William and Ida were named as the owners of the land.[37] On another note, Ida’s mother Adelia, commonly known as Addie, owned land herself right next to her husband Salem’s land.[38] Therefore, it might have been common in Ida’s family for both men and women to own land. Thus, it is difficult to figure out with complete certainty if Ida was a landowner based on her own decisions or William’s. However, assuming immediately that William was buying the properties under Ida’s name is sexist. Especially with the other things we know about Ida as a businesswoman.

Bath Township, 1934 (William's land Highlighted)

Ida was a vital Hoover & Bond Co. member. In 1912, the company was incorporated from Hoover Bros. Co. and Bond Co..[39] The Ohio Secretary of State granted the charter for the incorporation of the company and the size of the company’s capital stock at half a million dollars.[40] Thus, the Hoovers owned the company in whole and could sell stock of the company up to $500,000. Their attorney, William, and Ida were named specifically on the legal documentation.[41] Therefore, Ida owned her own stock in the company and was legally responsible for the company. Hoover & Bond Co. would boom for the next decade, having twenty-two stores in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan by 1918.[42] At that time, it was believed to be one of the largest furniture store companies in the United States.[43] Both Palleene and Alleene’s Husbands would join the company, Vern A. Fisher as general manager of all Hoover-Bond Stores and Val W. Kohl was the secretary and treasurer. It is unknown as to when Ida became the Hoover-Bond President, but she was stated as the president of the company in 1935.[44] This was before William passed away. Again, showing us that she was an integral part of the business. Hence, Ida was a businesswoman in her own right, which is very special for the early 1900s.

Hoover Male Family Members, 1923

One of the things that comes up time and time again while researching Ida is that she was involved in many legal battles during her life. Many of these cases were in court for years. Two of them were with her family members, one had to do with land owned by William and her, and the last was with Hoover & Bond. Three of these cases were brought to court by Ida herself, so we assume she was a bit prone to litigation.

The first case was held in 1924 between Ida and her brother Samuel W. Reed. When Ida and Samuel’s father had died, his farming land in Shawnee went to their mother, Adelia Reed.[45] It seemed likely that after Adelia died, Samuel, as the oldest son, inherited the land even though he was from Cleveland, Ohio.[46] Unfortunately, we do not know if Ida was suing Samuel for their parent’s land or other property in Shawnee. This case has the least amount of specific information about it. It was mentioned in one notice in the Lima News on February 1, 1924.[47] Further research did not turn up any more information. Whether Ida or Samuel won the case or even if it went to court is unknown. It just demonstrates that Ida would go through the courts to obtain a verdict she desired.

Adelia and Salem's Land Highlighted, Shawnee Township 1917
Lima Courthouse, 1882

The following case Ida conducted was against her ex-son-in-law, Valentine W. Kohl. He had been Alleene’s husband until their divorce in October of 1931.[48] We might remember from a few paragraphs ago that Kohl had also been on the board of Hoover & Bond. Ida sued Kohl for the return of the diamond wedding ring she had given him when Kohl and Alleene had married in 1920.[49] The case is brought up first in August of 1936 in the local paper; however, Ida had petitioned for the ring as far back as 1932.[50] Ever since the divorce in 1931, Kohl had refused to return the ring; thus, five years later Ida brought him to court. The case went to court under Judge E. E. Everett at the end of August. In the account of the trial, it is stated that “[Ida] asserted that she specified that Kohl was to retain the ring as long as he remained a member of the Hoover family.”[51] Therefore, after the divorce he should have given it back to his ex-mother-in-law. A jeweler was brought in to examine the ring and sided closely with Ida’s assessment of its worth.[52] The judge seems to have decided with Ida at that point, but she would not get the ring back until September of the following year.[53]

Val W. Kohl, 1923

The last personal case Ida was a part of is perhaps the most confusing. As we can remember, both Ida and William owned a lot of land. This case was a foreclosure on around 350 acres they owned in Bath township.[54] This case happened in 1934, which might be the simple answer to why it happened: The Great Depression. The facts of the case are that William borrowed $11,000 in 1915 from a corporation in Wisconsin for the land.[55] He was supposed to pay off the debt by July 7, 1930, but at that time, had only paid $1,000.[56] Judge E. E. Everett again presided over this case in August of 1934. This time, the Hoovers were obviously in the wrong. Judge Everett would sue them both with foreclosure on the land and $23,000 to pay back.[57] Oddly, only about 40 to 50 acres of the land that were involved with the ruling were foreclosed on, not the whole 350 acres.[58] The land was then sold by the Wisconsin company.[59] There is no indication anywhere why the Hoovers did not pay back this loan or what indeed caused this case to happen. Again, the easiest and perhaps correct guess is simply the Great Depression.

That seems even more likely with the facts of the next case that Ida was involved in, the Hoover & Bond Trial of 1935. Things had turned out so bad for the company that they had to sell all the assets.[60] As confusing as the land case was, the Hoover & Bond Trial case is even slightly worse. Without much legal knowledge and based on the newspaper articles only: it appears that the case was about who was getting the assets after Hoover & Bond was liquidated. Clare Stout was the “receiver” of the funds after the sale, who that is, regarding Hoover & Bond, is not certain.[61] It seems likely that just like in the other case, the Hoovers had borrowed money from someone and had not paid it back. Thus, they were probably in debt to Clare Stout, who was to receive the company’s sale money because of said debt. However, that is only conjecture based on what little is said about the case. What we do know is that the case was called by Ida, who was the president of the company at the time, and Alleene, who was the board secretary.[62] They brought witnesses and other company officials to help them become the receivers of the sale.[63] In the end, Judge Everett sided against them. They did not become the receivers of the sale of Hoover & Bond Co., a sad ending to the story of this business, which was built by first-generation American brothers and at one time had stores all over the Midwest.

Judge Emmit E. Everett

The end of Ida’s story falls not long after the Hoover & Bond Co. case. William died in September of 1937; his obituary did not stipulate if he had been sick for a while or if it was sudden.[64] In January of 1938, Ida was taken to St. Rita’s and was a patient there until she passed away in March of that year.[65] They were both buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.[66] Both Palleene and Alleene survived their parents along with their children: Billie Hoover Fisher, Alleene Fisher, Ellen Adelia Kohl, and Billie Kohl.[67] Part of Ida’s obituary mentioned that she was survived by her brother Samuel Reed, so hopefully there was no love lost because of the earlier legal case, and two of her sisters. No personal property was included in either the wills of Ida or William.[68] This again might show us how much they lost during the late 1920s and early 1930s. However, some strategic land selling to their children may have occurred before their deaths. In 1935, Ida sold Palleene a plot of land for $1, and two years before, William did the same thing, selling a plot to Ida.[69] So, that might be where some of the plots went, but with the legal issues around the company, it is safe to assume that their money and land were mostly gone by the time of their wills. Even with the rocky end, Ida exemplified a modern woman who knew business and high society life—spending her time volunteering for charities, buying land, and litigating.

Ida Hoover's Gravestone, Woodlawn Cemetery

Endnotes:

[1] “Ida M. Hoover, in the U.S., Find a Grave Index,” Ancestry.com, accessed May 7, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/19554203:60525.

[2] “Mrs. Ida M. Hoover,” Unknown Newspaper, March of 1938, In Hoover Family Files in the Allen County Museum Archives.

[3] Charles C. Miller and Dr. Samuel A. Baxter, ed., History of Allen County, Ohio and its Representative Citizens, Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, 1906, 821.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] The Hoover Family Tree, in MacDonell House Research Information, in the Allen County Museum Archive.

[7] Ibid.

[8] “Society,” Lima Daily News, May 19, 1914, Accessed May 7, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8017/images/NEWS-OH-LI_DA_NE.1914_05_19_0008 and “Society,” Lima Daily News, August 24, 1916, Accessed 5/7/24, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8018/images/NEWS-OH-LI_TI_DE.1916_08_24_0005.

[9] “Society,” Lima Daily News, February 5, 1919, Accessed May 7, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8017/images/NEWS-OH-LI_DA_NE.1919_02_05_0006 and “Society,” Lima News, February 21, 1926, Accessed May 10, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1926_02_21_0018.

[10] “Infant Dies,” Lima Daily News, December 15, 1918, accessed 5/7/24, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8017/images/NEWS-OH-LI_DA_NE.1918_12_15_0006.

[11] “Society,” Lima Daily News, November 1918, Accessed 5/7/24, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8017/images/NEWS-OH-LI_DA_NE.1918_11_27_0008.

[12] Hoover Family Tree, in MacDonell House Research Information.

[13] “Society,” Lima Daily News, February 18, 1914, Accessed May 6, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8017/images/NEWS-OH-LI_DA_NE.1914_02_18_0007 and “Personal Mention,” Lima Times Democrat, December 22, 1906, Accessed May 10, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8018/images/NEWS-OH-LI_TI_DE.1906_12_22_0003.

[14] “One of the Most Beautiful of Fall Weddings Is Solemnized Last Night,” Lima Daily News, October 31, 1917, Accessed May 7, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8017/images/NEWS-OH-LI_DA_NE.1917_10_31_0008.

[15] Ibid.

[16] Ibid.

[17] “Store Managers Hold Parley,” Lima News, January 8, 1922, Accessed May 10, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1922_01_08_0008.

[18] “Younger Sets Prominent in Social Realm,” Lima News, January 4, 1925, Accessed May 10, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1925_01_04_0015.

[19] Ibid.

[20] Ibid.

[21] “Society,” Lima News, June 6, 1926, Accessed May 10, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1926_06_06_0016.

[22] Ibid.

[23] Ibid.

[24] “Society,” Lima Daily News, March 24, 1918, Accessed May 7, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8017/images/NEWS-OH-LI_DA_NE.1918_03_24_0018.

[25] “Society,” Lima Daily News, September 29, 1915, Accessed May 7, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8017/images/NEWS-OH-LI_DA_NE.1915_09_29_0006.

[26] Ibid.

[27] “In the Woman’s World,” Lima Daily News, January 6, 1916, Accessed May 7, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8017/images/NEWS-OH-LI_DA_NE.1916_01_06_0004.

[28] “Society,” Lima Daily News, March 24, 1918, Accessed May 7, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8017/images/NEWS-OH-LI_DA_NE.1918_03_24_0018.

[29] Ibid.

[30] “W. F. Hoover Suddenly Dies,” Unknown Newspaper, September 17, 1937, In Hoover Family Files in the Allen County Museum Archives and Charles C. Miller and Dr. Samuel A. Baxter, ed., History of Allen County, Ohio and its Representative Citizens, Richmond & Arnold, Chicago, 1906, 821.

[31] “Light,” Lima Times Democrat, August 1, 1901, Accessed 5/9/24, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8018/images/NEWS-OH-LI_TI_DE.1901_08_01_0008 and -“First Series of Lots Disposed of,” Lima Times Democrat, November 7, 1901, Accessed May 9, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8018/images/NEWS-OH-LI_TI_DE.1901_11_07_0002.

[32] “An Ordinance,” The Times-Democrat, Lima, August 1, 1902, Accessed May 8, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8018/images/NEWS-OH-LI_TI_DE.1902_08_01_0007.

[33] “Employees of Local Furniture Store are Said Good Harvesters,” Lima Daily News, July 24, 1918, Accessed May 7, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8017/images/NEWS-OH-LI_DA_NE.1918_07_24_0002.

[34] “Real Estate Transfers,” Lima News, October 10, 1912, Accessed May 7, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1912_10_10_0019.

[35] “Real Estate Transfers,” Lima Dailey News, March 18, 1915, Accessed May 6, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8017/images/NEWS-OH-LI_DA_NE.1915_03_18_0004.

[36] “350 Acre Farm Tract Involved in Legal Suit,” Lima News, April 8, 1934, Accessed May 9, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1934_04_08_0010.

[37] Ibid.

[38] See image titled “Adelia and Salem’s Land Highlighted, Shawnee Township 1917.”

[39] “Half Million Capital Stock is Authorized,” Lima News, December 29, 1912, Accessed May 6, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1912_12_29_0004..

[40] Ibid.

[41] Ibid.

[42] “Celebrates His Thirtieth Year as Store Head,” Lima Daily News, September 5, 1918, Accessed May 7, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8017/images/NEWS-OH-LI_DA_NE.1918_09_05_0002.

[43] Ibid.

[44] “Sale is Set as Move to Oust Receiver Fails,” Lima News, July 8, 1935, Accessed May 9, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1935_07_09_0002.

[45] “Personal Mention,” Lima Times Democrat, December 22, 1906, Accessed May 10, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8018/images/NEWS-OH-LI_TI_DE.1906_12_22_0003.

[46] Ibid.

[47] “Legal Notice,” Lima News, February 1, 1924, Accessed 5/9/24, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1924_02_01_0025.

[48] “Dispute Over Ring Ends in $225 Judgement,” Lima News, August 25, 1936, Accessed 5/9/24, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1936_08_25_0012.

[49] “Replevin Suit Trial Date Set,” Lima News, August 6, 1936, Accessed 5/9/24, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1936_08_06_0008.

[50] Ibid.

[51] “Dispute Over Ring Ends in $225 Judgement,” Lima News, August 25, 1936, Accessed 5/9/24, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1936_08_25_0012.

[52] Ibid.

[53] “Court,” Lima News, September 23, 1937, Accessed May 9, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1937_09_23_0006.

[54] “350 Acre Farm Tract Involved in Legal Suit,” Lima News, April 8, 1934, Accessed May 9, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1934_04_08_0010.

[55] Ibid.

[56] Ibid.

[57] Ibid.

[58] Ibid.

[59] “Sheriff’s Sale of Real Estate,” Lima News, June 20, 1934, Accessed May 10, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1934_06_20_0008.

[60] “Sale is Set as Move to Oust Receiver Fails,” Lima News, July 8, 1935, Accessed May 9, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1935_07_09_0002.

[61] Ibid.

[62] Ibid.

[63] Ibid.

[64] “W. F. Hoover Suddenly Dies,” Unknown Newspaper, September 17, 1937, In Hoover Family Files in the Allen County Museum Archives.

[65] “Mainly about People,” Lima News, January 23, 1938, Accessed May 10, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1938_01_23_0010 and “Mrs. Ida M. Hoover,” Lima News, March 22, 1938, Accessed May 8, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1938_03_22_0010.

[66] “Ida M. Hoover, in the U.S., Find a Grave Index,” Ancestry.com, accessed May 7, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/19554203:60525.

[67] “W. F. Hoover Suddenly Dies,” Unknown Newspaper, September 17, 1937, In Hoover Family Files in the Allen County Museum Archives.

[68] “Administrator Named to Handle Two Estates,” Lima News, May 12, 1938, Accessed 5/8/24, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1938_05_12_0009.

[69] “City of Lima,” Lima News, September 22, 1935, Accessed 5/9/24, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1935_09_22_0002 and “Allen-CO. Real Estate Transfers,” Lima News, September 20, 1933, Accessed May 10, 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7751/images/NEWS-OH-LI_NE.1933_09_20_0008.

Image Credit:

Reception tea at the National Womens [i.e., Woman’s] Party to Alice Brady, famous film star and one of the organizers of the party, April 5, 1923, LC-USZ62-102300, accessed July 15, 2024, https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/91705244/.

All other images come from the Allen County Museum’s Archive.