Alvin P. Hovey

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Alvin P. Hovey
Alvin P. Hovey as a brigadier general.
14th Member of the Indiana Supreme Court
In office May 8, 1854 – January 1. 1855
Preceded by	Addison Roache
Succeeded by	Samuel Gookins
United States House of Representatives
In office March 4, 1887 – January 17, 1889
21st Governor of Indiana
In office January 14, 1889 – November 23, 1891
Preceded by	Isaac P. Gray
Succeeded by	Ira Joy Chase
Born	September 6, 1821 Mount Vernon, Indiana
Died	November 23, 1891 Indianapolis, Indiana
Political party	Republican

Alvin Peterson Hovey (September 6, 1821 –November 23, 1891) was a Union general during the American Civil War and a governor of Indiana.

[edit] Biography

Hovey was born in Mount Vernon, Indiana on September 6, 1821 to Abiel and Francis Hovey. His father died when he was fifteen. After receiving an education in the public schools, he held a variety of jobs including bricklayer, school teacher, and lawyer. He was schooled in law by Judge John Pitcher, he was admitted to the bar in 1843. He was elevated to serve on the Indiana Supreme Court on May 8, 1854, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Justice Roach. He served on the court for less than a year. He received a commission in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War, but saw no action. After the war, he filled a vacant position as an Indiana state Supreme Court justice in 1854. He later served as a U.S. District Attorney starting in 1856.^[1]

[edit] Military career

He was appointed Colonel of the 24th Indiana Volunteer Regiment and fought in the Battle of Shiloh under General Lew Wallace. In April 1862, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and assumed command of the District of East Arkansas. He commanded the 12th Division, XIII Corps during the Vicksburg Campaign. Hovey took a prominent part in the Battle of Champion Hill and won the praise of General Ulysses S. Grant for his services there. He led the division through the Siege of Vicksburg. He commanded the 1st Division, XXIII Corps during the first part of the Atlanta Campaign until the division was discontinued in August 1864.

He was appointed by Secretary Stanton to command the District of Indiana in 1864. At the wishes of Governor Oliver P. Morton, Hovey raised 10,000 new recruits to serve in the Union Army. He received a brevet promotion to major general in 1864 and resigned from the army the following year.

[edit] Political career

After the end of the Civil War, he was sent as a U.S. Minister to Peru serving there from 1865 until 1870. After serving in Peru for five years, he returned to his hometown of Mount Vernon and practiced law. He turned down a nomination for governor, but won election as Congressman in 1886.

In 1888, he accepted a second nomination for governor and won the election. During his administration the secret ballot was adopted for elections, the board of education gained more authority over curriculum and the State Board of Tax Commissioners was established.

Hovey died in office on November 23, 1891, in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is buried in the Bellefontaine Cemetery near Mount Vernon.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Civil War Indiana biography of Hovey
• Biography of Hovey
• Alvin P. Hovey at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008-02-12
• Indiana Historical Bureau: Biography and portrait
• NY Times Obituary

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