"BIRTHPLACE OF AN UNCOMMON MAN FOR... " a West Branch Travel Page by mtncorg

Ten miles east of the university town of Iowa City, just off I-80, is
the little town of West Branch. A little over 2100 people call this home.
Back in 1874, when Herbert Hoover was born, there were only
about 350 people living here. Hoover's father, Jesse, was a blacksmith who died when
Herbert was only six, forcing his mother, Hulda, to raise her three
children alone. Four years later, she died from complications escalating
from a common cold and the children were orphaned. Herbert lived for a
short time with an uncle on a nearby farm before, at age 11, being sent
to live with Hulda's brother, Dr Henry John Minthorn, and his family in
Newberg, Oregon where Minthorn was superintendent at the Friends Pacific Academy – a Quaker school, now George Fox University.

From these humble beginnings on the plains of Iowa, Herbert Hoover went on to a very long adventurous career taking him far beyond the little community of West Branch. Stanford University graduate (geology), mining engineer, millionaire by age 40 and then a forty year career in public service including one term as the 31st President of the United States from 1929-1932. He is the perfect example of a self-made man and it was from this little Iowan town where his journey began.

Also found here is the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum with archives and exhibits on the former President’s life. www.hoover.nara.gov