Herbert Hoover: My 7th Cousin, 4x Removed — The 31st President of the United States

Herbert Hoover, my paternal 7th cousin, 4x removed, served as President of the United States from March 4, 1929, to March 4, 1933. In an interesting twist of fate, his successor—and my 9th cousin, 2x removed—was Franklin Delano Roosevelt (more about him later).

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Family Connection to Herbert Hoover

My relationship to President Hoover comes through his mother’s side. Our common ancestor is my 10th great-grandfather, Thomas Lord (1585–1678). Interestingly, Hoover’s mother, Hulda Minthorn, was Canadian, with several generations of her family born in Canada. I’m connected to the Minthorn family through my American branch—though I myself am Canadian.

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Early Life and Family Tragedy

Herbert Clark Hoover was born on August 10, 1874, in West Branch, Iowa, a predominantly Quaker community. He was one of three children born to Jesse Clark Hoover and Hulda Randall Minthorn, alongside his brother Theodore Jesse and sister Mary Blanche.

Tragedy struck early: his father died in 1880 when Herbert was only four, and his mother passed away in 1884, leaving the children orphans.

In 1885, Hoover went to live with his maternal uncle, Dr. John Minthorn, a Quaker physician and businessman in Newberg, Oregon. Life with his uncle was difficult, and Hoover disliked the many chores assigned to him. He left school at age 13 to work as an office assistant but later gained admission to Stanford University, graduating in 1895 with a degree in mining engineering.

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From Stanford to Global Mining Expert

After graduating, Hoover began a successful career as a mining engineer. In 1898, he became a junior partner at Bewick, Moreing & Company in Australia. After a falling out with management, he accepted a new role developing gold mines in Tianjin, China.

There, he became fascinated by Chinese history—though he admitted learning the language wasn’t his strong suit (a trait we seem to share, as I’ve worked in China for over two decades and know only a few phrases!).

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Surviving the Boxer Rebellion

Hoover and his wife were in China during the Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901), an anti-imperialist uprising. They were trapped in Tianjin until foreign forces defeated the Boxers in July 1900. Afterward, Hoover became the operating partner of a new mining company and continued his international career until 1908, when he left Bewick-Moreing following government investigations into its Australian operations.

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Building Wealth and Family Life

Operating as an independent mining consultant in London, Hoover built a reputation for reviving struggling mines. By 1914, he was worth around $4 million—the equivalent of over $100 million today.

While studying at Stanford, Hoover met Lou Henry, daughter of a California banker. The two married in 1899 and remained devoted to each other until Lou’s death in 1944. They had two sons: Herbert Hoover Jr. (1903) and Allan Henry Hoover (1907).

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Humanitarian Work During World War I

When World War I broke out in 1914, Hoover lived in London. He led efforts to help 100,000 stranded Americans return home and organized massive humanitarian relief efforts in Belgium and Northern France. His leadership and efficiency earned him international respect.

In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson appointed Hoover to head the U.S. Food Administration, responsible for stabilizing food supplies during the war. Under his management, the U.S. shipped 23 million metric tons of food to the Allies.

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Post-War Relief and Political Rise

After the war, Hoover served as an adviser at the Paris Peace Conference and led relief programs across Europe, including famine relief in Russia (1921–1922), which saved millions of lives. Even Soviet writer Maxim Gorky praised Hoover’s efforts as “a unique, gigantic achievement.”

In 1920, Hoover declared himself a Republican, but failed to secure the nomination. When Warren G. Harding won the presidency in 1921, he rewarded Hoover with the post of Secretary of Commerce, a role Hoover held under both Harding and Calvin Coolidge.

Secretary of Commerce: Innovation and Leadership

As Secretary, Hoover promoted standardization of products, industrial safety, and air travel regulation. He helped pass the Radio Act of 1927, hosted national traffic safety conferences, and laid the groundwork for what would become the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

His success managing the 1927 Mississippi Flood relief boosted his national profile, and when Coolidge declined to seek reelection, Hoover became the Republican nominee for president in 1928—winning in a landslide.

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Presidency and the Great Depression

Hoover took office on March 4, 1929, as the 31st President of the United States, promising prosperity and an end to poverty. However, just months later, the stock market crash of October 1929—known as Black Thursday and Black Tuesday—triggered the Great Depression.

By 1931, U.S. unemployment had soared to 15%, and Hoover’s reluctance to provide direct federal aid to individuals made him deeply unpopular. Shantytowns known as “Hoovervilles” and makeshift shoe repairs dubbed “Hoover leather” reflected the public’s frustration.

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Defeat and Later Years

In 1932, Hoover was decisively defeated by Franklin D. Roosevelt, marking the end of his presidency. Despite widespread criticism, historians now recognize Hoover’s career-long commitment to humanitarian causes.

Hoover remained active in politics, traveling to Nazi Germany in 1938, where he met Adolf Hitler and condemned the persecution of Jews. After World War II, President Harry S. Truman enlisted Hoover’s help assessing food needs in postwar Europe, where Hoover again advocated for humane treatment and relief efforts.

He declined a later appointment from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, remaining politically active but independent.

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Legacy of Herbert Hoover

Herbert Hoover authored several books and lived to see his reputation begin to recover. He passed away at the age of 90, on October 20, 1964, in New York City.

Though often remembered as the president during the Great Depression, Hoover’s humanitarian work saved millions of lives worldwide. His lifelong dedication to service, innovation, and relief work deserves renewed recognition—and for me personally, it’s an honor to share a family connection with such a complex and influential figure.