Ida Elizabeth Stover
Encyclopedia
Ida Elizabeth Stover Eisenhower (May 1, 1862 – September 11, 1946) was the mother of U.S. President Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969), and university president Milton Stover Eisenhower (1899-1985) as well as Edgar N. Eisenhower
(1889 – 1971), and Earl D. Eisenhower
(1898–1968).
She was born in Mount Sidney
, Virginia, the only daughter of Elizabeth Ida Judah Link and Simon P. Stover.
She was christened Elizabeth Ida in the Salem Lutheran Church, Mount Sidney, Virginia (currently the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church). She was orphaned on the deaths of her mother, Elizabeth Link Stover (1822–1867), originally Elizabeth Juda according to Salem Church baptismal records but later changed to Elizabeth Ida, and father, Simon Stover (1822–1873).
She lived with her maternal grandparents, William Link and Esther Schindler Link, on their farm until William's death in 1879, and then with her maternal uncle and aunt, William J. Link and Susan Cook Link, on their farm until age twenty-one whereupon she joined two of her brothers Stover who had moved to Kansas. Ida was five years old when her mother died; she was sent to live with her paternal grandparents, and later to her elder brothers in Kansas
. They did not believe girls should be educated, and instead pushed her to memorize the Bible. When Ida was ready to go to high school, she was told that she couldn't, so she ran away.
Stover graduated from high school at age 19 and taught for two years before entering Lane University
, where she met her future husband, David Jacob Eisenhower.
On September 23, 1885 in Lecompton, Kansas on the campus of their alma mater, Lane University, she married David Jacob Eisenhower (1863–1942), of German and Swiss ancestry. He was a college-educated engineer but had trouble making a living and the family was always poor.
In the 1890s Ida left the River Brethren
sect of the Mennonite
s, and joined the International Bible Students, which would evolve into what is now known as Jehovah's Witnesses
. The Eisenhower home served as the local meeting hall from 1896 to 1915 but her sons never joined the Witnesses.
She was a lifelong pacifist, so Dwight's decision to attend West Point saddened her. She felt that warfare was "rather wicked," but she did not overrule him.
In 1945 Stover was named Kansas Mother of the Year.
Dwight Eisenhower said of her:
Edgar N. Eisenhower
Edgar N. Eisenhower was a lawyer, and the older brother of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was born in Hope, Kansas and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1914...
(1889 – 1971), and Earl D. Eisenhower
Earl D. Eisenhower
Earl Dewey Eisenhower was an electrical engineer and legislator.-Early life and career:Born in Abilene, Kansas, he died in Scottsdale, Arizona. His brothers were: President of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower, Edgar N. Eisenhower, and Milton Eisenhower...
(1898–1968).
She was born in Mount Sidney
Augusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, Virginia, the only daughter of Elizabeth Ida Judah Link and Simon P. Stover.
She was christened Elizabeth Ida in the Salem Lutheran Church, Mount Sidney, Virginia (currently the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church). She was orphaned on the deaths of her mother, Elizabeth Link Stover (1822–1867), originally Elizabeth Juda according to Salem Church baptismal records but later changed to Elizabeth Ida, and father, Simon Stover (1822–1873).
She lived with her maternal grandparents, William Link and Esther Schindler Link, on their farm until William's death in 1879, and then with her maternal uncle and aunt, William J. Link and Susan Cook Link, on their farm until age twenty-one whereupon she joined two of her brothers Stover who had moved to Kansas. Ida was five years old when her mother died; she was sent to live with her paternal grandparents, and later to her elder brothers in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. They did not believe girls should be educated, and instead pushed her to memorize the Bible. When Ida was ready to go to high school, she was told that she couldn't, so she ran away.
Stover graduated from high school at age 19 and taught for two years before entering Lane University
Lane University
Lane University was a college located in Lecompton, Kansas. It was founded in 1865 by Rev. Solomon Weaver, the first president, and was named after U.S. Senator James H. Lane. Jim Lane was a main free-state leader, and Lecompton was previously the capital of the opposing pro-slavery faction...
, where she met her future husband, David Jacob Eisenhower.
On September 23, 1885 in Lecompton, Kansas on the campus of their alma mater, Lane University, she married David Jacob Eisenhower (1863–1942), of German and Swiss ancestry. He was a college-educated engineer but had trouble making a living and the family was always poor.
In the 1890s Ida left the River Brethren
River Brethren
The River Brethren is a name used to indicate certain Christian groups originating in 1770, during a revival movement among German colonizers in Pennsylvania....
sect of the Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
s, and joined the International Bible Students, which would evolve into what is now known as Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
. The Eisenhower home served as the local meeting hall from 1896 to 1915 but her sons never joined the Witnesses.
She was a lifelong pacifist, so Dwight's decision to attend West Point saddened her. She felt that warfare was "rather wicked," but she did not overrule him.
In 1945 Stover was named Kansas Mother of the Year.
Dwight Eisenhower said of her:
- "Many such persons of her faith, selflessness, and boundless consideration of others have been called saintly. She was that—but above all she was a worker, an administrator, a teacher and guide, a truly wonderful woman."