My Genealogy Hound

Charles James Hovey, former banker, and postmaster of the city of Mt. Vernon, Ind., was born in the old Hovey residence, now the property of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and used by them as their club house, on January 8, 1850, the son of General Alvin Peterson and Mary Ann (James) Hovey, a review of whom preceded this article. Charles J. Hovey acquired his education in the schools of the city of Evansville and at the Northwest Christian University at Indianapolis. In 1867 he visited his father, then minister of the United States to Peru, and made an extended tour of South America. He then visited Europe, remaining there three years and attended Polytechnical school at Carlsruher, Baden, Germany. He returned home in 1870 and purchased a one-fourth interest in the Mt. Vernon Banking Company, entering that institution as teller. In 1870 he engaged in the retail shoe business and continued in this line of commercial activity until 1876, when he journeyed to Europe, sailing via the Straits of Magellan, and remained abroad three years. He was obliged to pass through three armies in order to reach the city of Paris, as the Franco-Prussian war was in in progress. He was graduated in medicine and chemistry. On completion of his studies he returned to Mt. Vernon and engaged in farming. He served as justice of the peace for five years, was a railway mail clerk for one year and has twice been postmaster of Mt. Vernon, having served during the administrations of Presidents Arthur and Harrison. Mr. Hovey retired from active business in 1900. Charles J. Hovey married on March 6, 1871, Miss Lillie R. Jaques, a daughter of Jonathan and Parna (Whittlesey) Jaques, of Evansville. Mrs. Hovey died on June 5, 1912. They were the parents of five children: Dr. Alvin Jaques Hovey, a prominent dental surgeon of Mt. Vernon, who married Miss Anna Williams, the daughter of S. Jett Williams, a successful agriculturist and influential citizen of Posey county. Dr. and Mrs. Hovey are the parents of four children: Helen, Louise, Florence, Esther and Anna Jaques. Mabel, the second child, born September, 1873, died August 26, 1876. Mary, born August 17, 1875, is the wife of Otto T. Brinkman, of Mt. Vernon. Randolph Jaques Hovey, born March 23, 1879, married Miss Ruth Nepper, a daughter of Thomas Nepper, St. Louis, Mo. Nina Hovey, the youngest child, was born June 23, 1881. She is the wife of Edwin M. Daniel, of Mt. Vernon, Ind.