David Carmany Hoover (1862-1935) was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was a prominent Joplin life insurance representative. Originally, he was a mine operator. Starting in 1911 he was an insurance salesman and agent. At the time of his death Mr. Hoover was a district manager for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Mr. Hoover was in the Auto Club which had a focus on anti-theft and helping motoring tourists. He was a charter member of the Joplin Rotary Club and one of the early presidents.
Tragically Mr. Hoover died on November 25, 1935 when the new sedan motor car he was driving collided with a Missouri Pacific passenger train at Seventh Street just east of Turk Avenue, on east side of Leonard Park. He was thrown from the car as it was dragged approximately 100 feet and flipped over. Witnesses testified that it appeared Mr. Hoover did not see the train until he was almost upon it. Another witness said Mr. Hoover was traveling at a high rate of speed! By today’s lingo, he was probably trying to “outrun” the train.
A son, David Jr., (1893-1976) married Dorothea Agnes Bliedung (1896-1972). She was very active in local community affairs including Joplin Little Theatre, Joplin Historical Society, American Association of University Women, Business and Professional Women’s Club, the YMCA and the Spiva Art Center. She chaired many World War II fundraising activities. Joplin’s historical museum was named for her work and memory. Most Joplinites will recognize her name as Dorothea B. Hoover. The couple are buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, Missouri.
Shortly after Mr. Hoover’s death, the Joplin Globe printed an editorial on November 27, 1935 about his life and character. It stated that Joplin and the district lost one of its very finest citizens. He was thoroughly capable in business, invariably courteous, thoughtful and kind, one of the best-read men of the district, and a true cultured gentleman.
David was married to Maria Clark Black Hoover (1864-1949). She was a member of Ridpath Club, Women’s Club, Women of Rotary, Y.W.C.A. and First Presbyterian Church. She traveled extensively including to Europe and enjoyed a Mediterranean cruise. In Maria’s obituary, she is quoted as saying they, “…moved to Joplin in 1890…” and “…resided in the present family home which was then a one-story house.” Mrs. Hoover frequently recalled that city sidewalks in those days consisted of two planks west of Wall street. The couple are buried at Mount Hope Cemetery.
A daughter, Amy (1902-1939) married August C. Junge, president of Junge Baking Co. That company and family name is also well known in Joplin history.
ARCHITECTURE – The two-and-one-half-story house has a limestone foundation and a shingle hip roof with lower cross-gables. The house is an example of the Free Classic subtype of the Queen Anne style. A bay window with a gable roof projects from the west elevation. A gabled wing, with an interior brick chimney, projects from the south elevation. Hipped dormers rise from the west and south slopes of the roof. Simple modillions and brackets ornament the roofline on the primary (west) elevation. A full-width hip roof porch with Ionic columns spans this elevation. A two-story flat roof screened porch projects from the southwest corner of the house. The primary elevation has two bays. Bay 1 has a historic wood panel door with glazing and leaded glass sidelights on the first story and a single window on the second story. Each story of the bay window in Bay 2 has a fixed cottage window flanked on each side by a single window. The cottage window on the first story has leaded glass in the upper sash. Single fixed multi-light wood windows pierce the gable above a pent roof and the dormer.
