Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-04-02

1874 Born in West Branch, Iowa,
Of Quaker parents.
1880 Al age of six, he was left an
orphan. For the next four years he
lived with relatives at West Branch
1885 When twelve year Of age he
went TO other relatives in New
burgh, Oregon, where he assisted in
farm work until he was fourteen.
1883 He left his relatives in New
burgh and began life for himself
ir Salem and Portland, oregon, with
the Oregon Land Company. Part Of
h time he lived in a small back
room behind the office. There in his
off hours he studied by himself. with
some attendance at night school, with
such effect that in two years he was
ready to attempt college entrance
examinations. He failed, but one OF
The professors noted that he had
.'put his teeth together with great
decision" and upon learning that ne
was earning his W living while
studying, sent for him and told him
he might prepare for another exam
nation. The result was that he was
enrolled I'm 1891 with the one
Glass of Stanford University.
1891 Entered the University. Earn
ed his board and lodging and the
funds necessary for books and other
college expenses partly by doing Work
for the professors and parity by or
ganizing a system for the coliectlon
and distribution of the LAUNDRY OF
college boys. One of the professors
who heard a boy talking o
Hoover's luck said. Hoover has not
had luck, he has had reward. IL i
cell any of to go and do a thing
/ have to come around later TO see II
1t is done; but II l told Hoover 10
start for Kamchatka TO bring me q
walrus tooth, I'd never hear or IL
again till he came back with the
tooth" During summer vacations
Hoover worked on government sur
veys, getting the foundation for MS
future profession as q mining ehsl-
neer. A.
1895 lie graduated and went TO tho
mining region Of Grass Valley In
thp Sierras. where he became q miner
with nick and shovel because he
wanted practical experience to BACK
up his book knowledge. When ne
knew enough about tho job TO De
made gang foreman" he decided 10
ref into association with Louis Janin,
the foremost mining engineer In that
mart OF the world. When he pre-
scented himself at the office, Mr..
Janin told him hat there was posi-
lively no place: he needed no one, ne
said jokingly, excepting a clerk. Al AZ
right" said Hoover. III axe tHo
place"
The first real engineering Job Mr..
.Janin gave young Hoover was in n
law case respecting n mine In Grass
Valley, with which he had become
acquainted in his government survey
days.
3 Mr.. Janin was asked to rec
ommend to a London firm q MN
ing engineer who could investigate
and manage mining property. Hoover
was selected. The next eighteen
months he spent in West Australia, a
desert where the temperature re-
mains above 100 degrees for weeks
In succession; where surface water Is
discovered only every fifty or Sixty
miles. The job required resoureetul-
ness. original research, and con-
structive Imagination. When the
technical problems were solved, Or
ganization and sound administration
were necessary to make the mines
paw. lie made good mines out OF
bad ones, and developed many new
ones.
1890 Returned to California IN
January and married Miss Lou
Henry. O graduate OF his own unlver.
sity. In this year he became chieI
engineer of the Chinese Imperial
Bnreau of Mines. In his explorations
he visited communities probably
never before visited by n foreigner.
He and Mrs. Hoover remained IN
China through the Boxer Rebellion:
1900 Returned home to CALIFORNIA
by way of London and remained a
fexu months. after which he went