The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-04-09

office of director of mines under the
government. But when he found the
Chinese plans were mostly on paper
he resigned and went TO Tientsin. on :
ly to be caught in the storm OF the
Boxer rebellion.
Aided In Defense.
Instead of escaping, as he might
his duty to stick to his employees.
They. however, were used in Hoover
plans for defense, he instructinS
them to throw up defenses OF any
sort possible around his mines, thus
allowing the white soldiers to be
freed for service in the city.
Even now Hoover says his earnings
as chief engineer in China amaze
him. But in the midst OF it all, he
found time to sail the Pacific to San
Francisco to be married to Miss Lou
Henry, coed sweetheart, who lived
at Monterey.
In 1902 Hoover went to London
where he became partner in the
mining company for which he went
to Australia in 1897. Hoover then
spent six years in cleaning up debt
of honor which had devolved on the
firm when one of the directors ran
away with more than a million dol
lars of the firms customers money
as we'll as ell of Hoover's personal
cash. The claims were not such as
could have been legally pressed
against the firm, but Hoover insisted
on payment in full. r.
Built Large Business. -.
From 1908 until the war broke out
in Europe in 1914, Hoover worked in
various countries. and everywhere he
was known as bear at organiza-
ton and at metallurgy. From the
United States, he travelled in China,
Malay Peninsula, Korea. Central ami
Scuth America, Australia and Russia,
co operating with local mining com :
paEieS in efforts at greater efficiency
and production.
With connections IN all parts Of
the world, and with offices in London,
servers declared Hoover was de-
stined to become a multi millionaire.
His incomes doubled and trebled. His
services were sought wherever there
were minerals to be drawn from the
earth
Then suddenly in July, 1914, his
plans crashed With the outbreak OF
war in the panic that seized Lon
don. all mining and development
stocks lost value. OF course, HOov-
er's personal fortune was safe, and ii
was Hoover who was equal to the
occasion when thousands of Ameri-
cans found themselves stranded ard
penniless in Europe.
Aided Americans.
That was where his rescue work
began. Organizing fellow engineers
and raising 100000 in addition to
$25O,00G the American embassy got
from home, Hoover established an Of
flee at London hotel and set about
TO get Succor to Americans Wherever
they happened to be caught. The Of 4.
flee aided in cashing checks and
drafts on faith, obtaining tickets and
other work as speeded up the return
to America of tourists in war
throttled Europe.
But the experience in London was
trifiing compared to that which he
inherited" i'll Belgium. The Belgians,
seeing German hordes overrunnng
their little nation, sent an appeal to
London for aid. both in money and
food supplies. The American am
bassador at London, remembering so
wildly Hoover's efforts in sending
home Americans, told the Belgians
about the Wizard at organization.
So Hoover was drafted.
Seeing his success in Belgium
where he spent upwards of SIT, 900,
900 a month in relief, and in four
years of war clothed and eed nearly
5000, 900 persons4APresident Wilson
called on Hoover 10 become food ad-
ministrator for the United States. His
relief work, saving measures and or
ganization policies attracted the at
tention of the allied countries, and
Hoover was made member OF the
supreme economic council which vic
tualiZe the war-torn allied countries.
! Keeps At Work.
With the war now closed book
for more than a year, Hoover has still
kept up his relief work. In New
York he maintains an office for the
American relief commissions chill
dren's fund. In addition his organ
ization still sells Hoover food drafts
TO Americans for their destitute rela-
tives in Europe.
Recently, when Hoover was busy
with the work of the industrial con-
ference called by the president, he
turned over his relief work in Wash
ington TO Mrs. Hoover, who, with a
staff of stenographers, conducted 4
good portion of the Hoover activities.
The Hoovers have always wanted
to move back to Palo Alto, Cal, to
live. Hoover likes the outdoors, and
enjoys the chance to get out into the
country with his boys-one sixteen
and the other fourteen.
Mrs Hoover is quiet, retiring
woman. She has travelled with her
husband into nearly every country
his work has called him. She has
always taken a lively interest in his
activities, particularly in his relief
work and for months has actually
Hoover.
At present the Hoovers live in
Washington.