The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-08-15
THE CANDIDATES. CAREER.
Full Details of the Life of the Republicans
Nominee

Nominee.
Alvin p Hovey is a son of Abel and
Frances Hovey and a grandson OF Rev.
Samuel and Abigail Hovey. His grand
mother was a Miss Cleveland and his
mothers maiden name Peterson. His
mother was born in Vermont, May 20,
1850, and died in Posey county, Indiana,
Sept 8, 1896. The fater also died in Posey
county July II, 1923. The parents mar
ried in 1902 and removed to
Indiana in 1918. Here the father followed
the life of farmer. He was an active and
energetic man with good judgment and
noble principles. The subject of this
sketch was born in Posey county, Sept. q.
1921.
He was admitted to the bar. He was a
delegate to the convention that passed the
constitution of Indiana in 1850. James
Lockhart of Evansville, resigned his seat
as Judge of the circuit court, composed or
eleven counties of southern Indiana, and
Alvin P. Hovey was appointed to fill the
vacancy His commission was dated May
81, 1851, and was signed by Gov. Wright.
His first court was held in March, 1852.
He had been admitted to the bar of Posey
county February, lS43, and at the time OF
his appointment had been in actual prac-
tice of the law but little more than eight
years. He had studied in the Office Of
Judge John Pitcher while that gentleman
was in the full vigor of his intellect. His
early years had been passed in manual
labor. The Posey county bar con-
tanned some of the ablest lawyers
in the state. As a practitioner Hovev
was active enough, but had no brilliancy
in the handling OF his cases. His qualities
were not dashing, but he usually prepared
himself with some care. He made good
judge, and his ability on the bench was of
a high order. He retired from the circuit
bench in May, 1854, and soon afterward
was appointed by Gov. Wright TO the SUI
preme court bench of the state biog-
rapher says that his disposition was better
adapted TO rule upon the supreme bench
than at a nisl prlUs court. he was
on the supreme bench about one year,
and was then appointed L. 5. dis
trict attorney, which Office he held
for three years. He supported
Stephen A. Douglass in 1860 for the
presidency and it is stated for doing this
was removed by President Buchanan.
He was colonel of the Twenty-Fourth
regiment Indiana volunteers and was pro-
NOTED brigadier-general April Is, 1862,
and July O. 1864, was raised TO the rank of
a brevet major-general OF the L. s. volun-
teers for gallant conduct on the battlefield.
He commanded at the battle of Champion
Hills, Miss, which opened the way to the
capture of Nicksburg He was appointed
minister 10 Peru, South America, Aug. -,
1865. and he held the position for five
years. He married in Posey county
Nov. "a, 1914, Mary Ann James, who was
native of Louisiana she died at Mt.
Vernon, Ind, Nov Is, 1863. He took for
his second wife the widow of Mai. w. F.
Carey and daughter of the Hon. Caleb
Smith, secretary of the interior under
President Lincoln. His second wife is
also deceased. His only daughter married
Maj. Gus MenZies. Owing TO factional
contentious among the democrats in the
First Indiana district he was elected to
congress two years ago. He has done
nothing to distinguish himself in that
body. He voted to sustain the high pro-
tective policy of the republican party by
voting against the relief proposed by the
Mills tariff reduction bill.