THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
19 
S. W. HOOVER. 
S. W. Hoover was born in Montgomer>^ County, Ohio, 
April 16, 1837, where he was reared and trained in farm- 
husbandry. He was afforded a district-school education 
common to the semi-pioneer days of Western Ohio. He 
early developed a love of nature, particularly as manifested 
in plant life, which had a peculiar fascination for him, leading 
him to engage more or less extensively in amateur propa¬ 
gation and planting at an early age, which experience, with 
no small degree of ambition, energy and an investigating and 
progressive turn of mind, seconded by a wide range of read¬ 
ing on the subject, fitted him for the active duties of an es¬ 
tablished nursery. In the .spring of 1869, his long-cherished 
desire was gratified by his engagement with Kinsey & 
Gaines, nurserymen, located about nine miles north of Day- 
ton, when he entered upon what proved to be an eminently 
successful career in the nursery business. Two and a half 
years later Mr. Hoover purchased Mr. Kinsey’s interest, 
and became a partner under the firm name of Hoover & 
Gaines, and at once assumed charge of the office depart¬ 
ment of the business. The new firm leased the lands of Mr. 
Kinsey where the business was conducted until 1879, when 
it purchased the lands now occupied by The Hoover & 
Gaines Co., located in the northwe.stern suburbs of Dayton, 
to which the business was removed the same }'ear. Mr. 
Hoover continued in charge of the office department, in 
which capacity he displayed an unusual degree of native 
genius, tact and enterprise. 
In January, 1883, The Hoover & Gaines Co. was incor¬ 
porated, and Mr. Hoover was unanimously chosen president; 
J. W. Gaines, his former partner is vice-president; and J. 
W. McNary, secretary and treasurer. They stand among 
the be.st and most reliable American nurserymen. Soon 
after the incorporation, Mr. Hoover was, at his own request, 
relieved from the more active duties of the business. A 
large public spirit and an ardent love for fruits and flowers 
led him to give liberal attention, talent and time to the pro¬ 
motion of the wider and more general interests of horticul¬ 
ture ; practicularly as a member of the Montgomery County 
Horticultural Society, contributing information, endeavoring 
to cultivate a desire and taste for more extensive ornamen¬ 
tation and otherwise promoting the interests of the public 
good. He was one of the organizers of, and for a number 
of years has been more or less actively identified with the 
workings of the American Nurseiymen’s National, and 
American Nurserymen’s Protective Associations, having 
served on the executive board of the former and as president 
of the latter. He is also president of the Mathias Planing 
Mill Co. of Dayton. 
Besides these various temporal affairs, Mr. Hoover is 
extensively engaged in Christian work. He is a minister of 
the gospel, engaged in the active duties of this high calling 
with , pastoral charge of a congregation of the denomination 
of Brethren (Baptist.s) in Dayton. He was chief promotor 
S. W. HOOVER. 
and is now at the head of this denomination’s book and 
tract work, and is a member of the general missionary board 
of the church. Mr. Hoover is thoroughly practical in all 
he does. His strict discipline, genial social qualities, and 
high moral character eminently fit him for those several 
positions of honor and trust, and have won for him the es¬ 
teem and confidence of hosts of admiring friends both at 
home and abroad. 
NORTHWEST NURSERY ASSOCIATION. 
The Northwest Nursery Association was organized 
at the Hotel Spokane, at Spokane Falls, Wash., on 
February 15th. C. L. Whitney of Walla Walla, Wash., 
was elected president, F. W. Settlemier of Woodburn, 
Ore., secretary, and T. L. Ragsdale, treasurer. Dele¬ 
gates were present from Idaho, Oregon, Washington 
and British Columbia. The object of the association is 
to promote the growdh of trees and plants and to aid 
fruit growers in making their investment profitable. 
This is the first organization of the kind in the country. 
It differs materially from other nursery organizations. 
Much benefit is expected to accrue to the nursery trade 
and the fruit industry through its influence. Its motto 
is less stock and better stock. 
