William Coradon Hovey From the Portrait and biographical record of Hancock, McDonough and Henderson counties, Illinois : containing
biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1894) WILLIAM CORADEN HOVEY, who is now practically living a retired life on his farm in Henderson County, on section 24, township 11 north, range 5 west, is a native of the Buckeye State. He was born in Raccoon County, Ohio, September 21, 1844, and is of Welsh lineage. His father, Lorenzo Hovey, was a native of Connecticut, and by occupation was a ship carpenter and miller. He married Harriet Stevens, and they became the parents of nine children, four sons and five daughters: Marinda, wife of E. Wyckoff, of Indianola, Neb; George L. and Sarah M., who are now deceased; Charlotte L, of Indianola; Jasper A., who was killed at the battle of Chickamauga during the late war; William C; Deborah F., deceased; Lorenzo D., who makes his home in Nebraska; and Harriet A., wife of Calvin Newberry, of Red Willow County, Neb. William C. Hovey was a lad of only seven summers when, with his parents, he came to Henderson County, Ill. His education was acquired in the district schools, and under his father's direction he became familiar with all the departments of farm labor. He continued to engage in the cultivation of the home farm until eighteen years of age, when, on the nth of August, 1862, he responded to the country's call for troops, and was assigned to Company C, Ninety-first Illinois Infantry, under the command of Col. Day. With his regiment he participated in the battles of Mobile, Whistler, Mt. Vernon Arsenal and Brownsville, Tex., as well as many minor engagements. He was captured by Morgan in Kentucky, but was paroled the same night and had to walk home. This was on the 24th of December, 1862, and he reached his home on the 12th of January, 1863. In May, following, he was exchanged and rejoined his regiment. When the war was over he was honorably discharged, 0n the 28th of May, 1865, at the Mobile hospital, where he had remained for about a month previous. During the time he spent at home Mr. Hovey was married to Miss Charlotte Smith, daughter of John and Amanda (Gilbert) Smith. The marriage was celebrated January 22, 1863, and was blessed with three children, but two died in infancy. John A., who is still living, now follows farming in Rock Island County, Ill. On his return from the South Mr. Hovey resumed farming, which he carried on until 1867, when he embarked in the milling business, which he continued for fifteen years. In 1882 he went to Gladstone, and for one year was employed in a sugar refinery, but in 1883 he returned to his farm, where he has since practically lived a retired life. Mr. Hovey has acquired a comfortable competence through industry, perseverance and good management, and is now enabled to surround himself with the comforts of life. He is a leading citizen of the community, and takes an active interest in all those enterprises which are calculated to promote the general welfare. He has voted with the Republican party since casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln, and is a member of Ellsworth Post No. 173, G. A. R. In all positions of trust, whether public or private, he is as true to his duty as when, in days gone by, he followed the Stars and Stripes on southern battlefields. |