Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1891 — DEATH OF GOV. HOVEY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DEATH OF GOV. HOVEY

Peaceful Passing Away of Indiana’s Executive. A MIGHTY MAN PALLES-THE SOLDIERS’ FRIEND. Extended Revie w of Ills Illness and Brief Sketch of Hie Interesting Life. The Third of Indiana’s Govemor’s to Die in Office. IRA P. CHASE BECOMES GOVERNOR. Gen. Alvin P. Ilovey, Governor of Indiana, died at the Denison House, Indianapolis, at 1:20 p. m., Monday, Nov. 23, of failure of the heart and respiration. He had been growing gradually weaker all day, but when the end came it was so sudden as to be a surprise. No one but Major Menzies, the Governor's son-in-law ( and Dr. Hays were ia tho room at the moment. Governor Hovey was conscious during the morning, and realized that his condition was exceedingly serious, but was not without hope. At noon T)r. Hays, the attending physician, authorized the announcement that the patient’s condition was very critical, the immediate cause beiQg the damp atmosphere, which greatly impeded his respiration. This aggra-

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vated the weakness which was already the most threatening indication of the disease, and all morning his condition grew more serious, his breathing becoming more and more difficult. Dr. Hays said clear weather would do for the dying man what medicine could not, and anxiousiy he telephoned to the signal service headquarters for information concerning the .weather indications. The answer came. “It will be dark and rainy all day, and to-night it will still bo cloudy and lowering, the rain possibly changing to snow Not before to-morrow morning can wo hope for clearing weather.*’ At receipt of this Information the Doc- , tor’s face fell,''and he turned away. The words were like a death knell to the suferer up stairs. - ---- --- ■ - = “If to-day had been clear, Governor Hovey would have been better, instead of worse, this morning,” the Doctor said. Gradually the patient weakened. Every breath was drawn with an effort, and nothing brought relief, Shortly after 1 o’clock Mrs. Menzies, the Governor's

daughter, and other friends and attendants, had gone out for a moment, no one ~ biitMajor Menzies and Dr. Hays remainth'e he Jaw his grand - -She was always a favorjte'with him, and at sight of iier, as tm*'tMo&gs&-:liis;%i<A> brightened and he calfod (jot —. At that 'stopped boating and the pallor of d6fit.li'overspread his features. He was laid gently back among the pillows huff iii.a family and friends were called in. As they, gathered about . he bed liej dp-pw pue breath and was deqdi j p Governor iHipyev was'tflklnciivoly an lij- ' diana mail. Dora aild reared in t his Slate, her interests were his, and his patriotism toward heivnefver'ialtered. ' He believed Indiana to be the best State in the Union; he had faithrinJierJoyaUy, Jier resources her future. Much oP lifts life was spent in the public service, -years of it abroad, and through it all lie Was proud to have it known home "was iu Indiana. In physical appcaranco Alvin I*. Hovey was a man of lino presence and handsome face. He was accustomed to shave smoothly, wearing no board except a short mustache, which during the later years of hi s llfewas white as was his hair. His eyes were of grayish blue, frank and friendly> bat on suitable occasions could flash in a manner that spoke indignation or scorn as plainly as words could express it. Governor Hovey was a man of geniat temperament and loved to Imj surrounded by his friends, among whom he appeared at his best. The circumstances leading to his final sickness was peculiarly sad, and are more or less familiar to the pulftlc. For several weeks he and W. B. Roberts his private secretary, had beeh planning the trip to Mexico. Only those known to be warm friends were invited to join the the party, and the tour was for pleasuco purely. On the way through the Western States and the republic of Mexico the Governor’s health was good and he enjoyed the travel very much. The night befol-e the City of Moxico was reached'the party gathered in the parlor of the car and the Governor made a little speech. It was full of the kindest and soundest advice to the young men of the party, as gentle as though coming from the lips of a Woman and of a oharacter that inspired all who heard It to resolve upon -right conduct. Attar the talk- the Governor recited a poem, which was a tale of love and sacrifice, whose Kane was laid in the moun-

tains of Peru. The story was a pathetic one, and beatifully told, and whqp it was ended several persons asked who was its author. The Governor blushed like a girl* and finally admitted that he was the author himself. In the City of Mexico the rarefied air affected Governor Hovey’s breathing and the action of his heart to such an extent that he could not endure the slightest exertion. For that reason the stay in the City of Mexico was cut short and th® homeward trip began. When lower altitudes were reached he felt better again, and for several days and nights seemed about well, joining with the members of his party in conversation and discussion of points of interest aloifg the way. = Sunday before last was spent at Dallas* Tex., where the Governor attended divine worship at the Methodist church fn the .-morning. In the afternoon he was taken violently ill and suffered from partial heart failure together with congestion of the lungs and a severe cough, which racked him terribly. From that time until home was reached he did not leave his bed, though 11 o'clock last Wednesday night, when the train the Union station, he seemed considerably improved. He was worse the next day, however, and there was no time subsequently when his condition was not very serious. Several days ago the Governor expressed a wish that in case of his death he desired that the Grand Army of the Republic should have control of his funeral and burial services. He always felt and manifested the strongest friendship for the old soldiers, and he was the head and front of the service pension movement. This death removes an important political figure from the field, for not only has Governor Hovey held high office, but it ;was not improbable that had he lived, circumstances' might have led to his nomination for the vice-presidency or. the United States Senatorship by the Republican party. He was always exceedingly popular among the people and it has long been known that his nomination for office in Indiana was certain to be foliowCd by election. When the fact of the Governor's deaUL was made known the fire bells of the city were tolled and tho Hags on all the public schools were lowered to half-mast.

SKETCH OF HIS LIFE. Alvin P. Hovey was born in a log cabin on tho farm three miles from Mt. Vernon, l’osey county, Indiana, on the 6th of Sep-, tember, 1821. Among the early settlors of Posey comity was Abie! Hovey, He came from Vermont, where his father. Rev. Samuel Hovey, was a preacher. With him came his wife, whose maiden name had been Frances Peterson, she was of Irish extraction. They were married in 1702, and came to Indiana iu 1818. Abicl Hovey was of pure Vermont YankWstozk, a man of excellent judgment and character. He served many years as justice of tire peace. Ills wife had tho tine emotional qualities characteristic'of the I rish race. The father of Alvin P. Hovey was a hardware merchant, and was very poor. He died in 1823. leaving a wife and Revolt children, sept. 6,1536, ou Alvin’s fifteenth birthday, the mother died. Thus doubly orphaned, the children had to make their way. The town seemed to at lord a better opportunity than the. country'for a poor boy who had to make hi# own way. Alvin learned the brick-mason's trade with his uncle in Mt. Vernon, and followed it for n few years. He then determined to become a lawyer. There were no colleges iu the West, tint by attending the local school by day. and devoting bis five nings to hard sLudy.be laid tho foundation of a sound, practical education, lie began tho reading of law with John Pitcher in IS4O. teaching school bv day; was admitted to the bar in 1843, and married in 1844, Miss Mary Ann Jones. He 9oon thoroughly established himself in a law practice. lie enlisted as a lieutenant for the Mexican war iu 1846. The company, however, was not mustered into service. '“'ln 1850 he was elected a delegate to the Convention to form a now Btato Constitution —lie being at this time but 30 years old. Robert Dale Owen was his colleague from Posey county in this convention. Mr. Hovey took an active and inliuentlaJpart 4n~ the - proceedings. Ia l'.st Xfomnur \V right appointed him JudgAof the Third Judicial C.ircuit. in May 1851 he was made a Judge of the Supreme Court, re reiving ,the appointment likewise-frqin Governor TVright. lie was nominated by the Democrats at the ensuing election for the same positloif, niTt was dofoated. Ho was appointed in 1856. by President; Pierce, U. S. Attorney for Indiana, and held the office two years, This was’sthe last office he ever held as a Deriiocrai, and was appointed to it by one Democratic President and removed from it by another. Judgo Hovey ranked himsolf ou the side of what was then railed tfsqnatter sovereignty” in the Territories as against the constitutional extension and establishment of slavery. He was a -‘Douglas Democrat.” and for this reason President James Buchanan removed Idm from office of District Attorney. His successor was a young Democrat whose views accorded with those of Mr. Buchanan, and who was destined to figure somewhat in Indiana politics- -Daniel W. Voorbees.

He was nominated for Congress in 1458 by tiia Republicans of the old First District, but was defeated by Hon. W. Niblack. After tho election he resumed the practice of his profession at Mt. Vernon, where the call to arms in 1861 found him. J udge Hovey was one of the first to fully realize the significance of the firing on Ft, Sumpter. He was loyal to the core. On tho 21st of May, 1861, the commissioners of Posey county ordered Robert Dale Owen and Alvin P. Hovey to come to Indianapolis'and negotiate arms for Posey county. This mission to Indianapolis brought Hovey Into personal contact with Governor O. P. Morton, who immediately recognized in him a valuable and powerfnl aid in the great work now about to be devolved upon him. " lloAey wasono those whom Morton selected as one of his trusted helpers. From the first visit of Hovey and Owen to Indianapolis to obtain arms for Posey county until the end of the war he and Morton were close friend 9 and co-workers in the Union cause. Hovey was a man after Governor Morton’s own heart—loyal, brave, fearless, zealous and entil ing, true to his country, his Government and his party. Hovey returned to Posey county and organize a regiment-'feqhig First Eegiment.Flrst Brigade. He was commissioned Colonel. In three months he resigned to accept similar rank in the 24th Regiment. His Regiment was sent to Missouri, participated in the battle of Ft. Donalson ana Ft. Henry; was engaged In the battle of Shiloh, losing many men and officers. On April 28th, Hovey was promoted to Major. Participated in tho seige at Corinth. While at! Helena Gen. Hovey had command of about 30,000 men,including twelve or fifteen Indiana regiments. Ho commanded brigades or divisions In the battles of Shiloh. Corinth, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Big Black, siege of Vicksburg, siege of Jackson, Dalton.Resaca and Altoona Church, besides being engaged in many skirmishes and small affairs, and

was with Sherman in his march to the sea down to Kenesaw. r At the siege of Vicksburg Gen. Hovey commanded the Twelfth division ofitte Thirteenth army corps, McClernan’s. The division consisted of two brigades of infantry, the first commanded by Gen. Geo. F McGinnis, embracing the Eleventh, Twenty-fourth, Thirty-fourth and Fortysixth Indiana and the Twentyininth Wisconsin regiments. The second brigade, commanded by Gen. James A. Slack, consisted of the Forty-seventh Indiana, the Twenty-fourth land JTwenty-eigth lowa, Fifty-sixth Ohio regiments. The division had also four batteries of, artillery and a small battalion of cavalry. Gen Hovey commanded this division during the preliminary operations Against and during the siege of Vicksburg, and it did its full share of the figting. Shortly after the capture of Vicksburg General Hovey came home on a leave of absence. His wife was in poor health. She had visited him once or twice, with her daughter, and had spent a short time in the South iu the hope of being benefited. General Hovey used to carrv her up and down stairs in his arms like a sick child. November 16,1863, she died. The daughter, a few years later, accompanied her father to South America, whep he went out as minister to Peru. There she met and was subsequently married to Hon. G. W. Menzies, then an officer in the United States navy, now' an honored citizen of Mt. Vernon, and for many years a lawpa.rt.ner of General Hovey. General Hovey was breveted “"major-'* general on July 4,1864. Shortly after the opening of the campaign in 1864, General Grant, desiring to secure his services in reinforcing the army, commissioned him to raise ten thousand new troops. Under this commission ho made an earnest appeal to the young,o unmarried men of Indiana to enlist. At this stage of the

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war it was not easy to raise ten thousand new troops, but Geuerel Hovey’s military reputation and his earnest efforts in the cause gave a new impetus to enlistments. The young men responded promptly to bis call. Many of the new recruits were not. over sixteen years old, and on account of their youth they became known as •• Hovey’s Babies.” He took them South, where they were attached to Sherman's army and marched with him to the sea. During the raising of this force, and while still awaiting orders from the Avar Department in indiaua, General Hovey led an expedition into Kentucky to disperse a gathering rebel force and prevent a threatened raid into this State. On the 25th of August, 1864, General Hovey was, by order of the Secretary of War, assigned to ihoeommand of the military district of Indiana. General Hovey continued in command in Indiana until the close of the war, and for some time afterward. On August 12,1865, Gen. Hovey was appointed 1.. 8. Miuister to Peru, which position be resigned in 1870 and returnee to iiis law practice at Mt. Vernon. In 1886 he was nominated for Congress by the Republicans, and elected by 1,309 majority, in 1888. while at Washington in the discharge of his Congressional duties, lie was nommatrd for Governor. The nomination was made on the first ballot, amid great enthusiasm aud unbounded applause. Like every other civil office of honor that Gen - eral Ilovey has enjoyed, it caine to him entirely unsolicited. He was not seeking the nomination, nor was he a candidate in the ordinary sense. He accepted it as the call of his fellow-citizens and his party to the performance of public duty, and was elected.

One evening he had occasional delirious spells, which came aud went like a fitful cloud. He was talking with Mr. Roberts relative to official matters, when suddenly he stopped, and with brightening eye and firmer voice, ho suddonly remarked: "My forces were in line, and I turned to Grant, saying, ‘Shall I bring on the battle?” "No,” said Grants "wait, Hovev, until McPherson’s rightswings into sight.' We talked. Grant and J, and then 1 saw' McPherson’s right. So did Grant, and lie said to me: ‘Hovev, you may bring on the fight.’ I turned to Gen. McGinnis to give the command, and that instant the rebel force opened lire throughout the entire front, ajid th* battle was on.” He was speaking of Champion Hill. It was this battle in which Hovoy s command bore tho brunt, ami which won for him the compliments on the field of Grant iu person. TOE SOLDIERS’ FRIEND. "The soldieisof Indiana will revere the meiuoxy of the departed Governor. He was always their friend—not now alone that the war is over, but while the bloody tight was on he was the private soldier’s friend 4le has constantly advocated their claims since the war, and it was their votes,of course, that elected him Governor. OTHER GOVERNORS WHO DIED IN OFFICE. Governor Hovey Is the third of Indiana’s Governors to die In office. Governor Willard died Oct. 3,1800, and was succeeded by Abram Hammond. Governor Williams died Nov. 20,1880, and was succeeded by Isaac P. Gray. THE NEW GOVERNOR. . Lieutenant Governor Chaso was at onco apprised by telegraph of the death of Governor Hovey. He at once repaired to Indianapolis, and on tho f 4th took the oath of the office of Governor, administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Burmese, Karens, Hangese and andGhans have no coined money, lead and silver in Bullion being the ordinary tender iu trade, weight and purity being the standard of value. Among the “curios” recently displayed at an exhibition in London was a pair of “dog tongs,” presumably used by old-time sextons for the capture of dogs which had strayed into church. There are extraordiuaiy cases of longevity among the colored people of Chili, nearly five hundred persons, according to the last census, beihg returned as over one hundred yeazs of age.

ALVIN P. HOVEY.

IRA J. CHASE.