Herbert Clark Hoover was born in West Branch, Iowa, to Quakers Jesse Clark Hoover and Huldah Randall Minthorn Hoover on August 10, 1874.

Jesse worked as a blacksmith and a salesman of farm equipment in addition to serving on the local town council. He died at age thirty-four when young Herbert was only six years old. Hoover’s mother died when he was only nine years old.