Henry W. Hovis: The Second Half of The Story.

Now to finish up what I have on Henry Hovis. I need to back up to 1905 for the newspaper items. I found a couple more.

On November 15, 1905, The Columbus Republican reported: "Louis and Henry Hovis left for Columbus and other points with a big load of baskets Monday."(14) I believe that Louis is Lewis H. Hovis, Henry's older brother. I cannot be certain.

Jackson County Banner on January 15, 1908, has what to me is a cryptic entry. "The protracted meeting at Hickory Grove, which was conducted by Rev. Moses Henderson and Henry Hovis, of Kurtz, closed January 5th with thirty-four additions."(15) Perhaps "Hickory Grove" is a church? Or are we talking about land? I know that early in his and Elizabeth's life together they were connected to a church called the Martin's Grove Church. Mysterious entry. I haven't found anything about Hickory Grove.

Again: In the 1910 census Henry is renting a place on Henderson Creek Road. He is 68 and still listed as Basket maker.(16)

May 24, 1916, the Jackson County Banner has a column called the Norman Station Statistice in Owen Township. In it, there is a bit about Henry: "Henry Hovis, from Williams, visited J. T. Mullen last week."(17)

Where is Williams and does Henry not have a place of his own?

In the May 2, 1917 issue of the Jackson County Banner an article says: "Henry Hovis, of Norman Station, was in the city Thursday on his way to Shoals in response to a message announcing the serious and probably fatal illness of his oldest brother, John Hovis, who is 8O years of age and one of the best known men of that section. His afflictions are due to his advanced age and complications that usually attend men of his age when stricken. Bedford Mail."(18) (Shoals is southwest of Bedford, Indiana in Martin county)

The Jackson County Banner issue of March 7, 1917: "Henry Hovis, of Norman Station, was the guest of his daughter, Mrs. A. L. Conner, and children Saturday and Sunday.(19) That would be Mrs. Alfred Lincoln Conners nee Martha Jane Hovis.

On  the 7th of June, 1919, Lewis H. Hovis, the Louis of the earlier article, died, in Brown County, Indiana.

In the 1920 Van Buren Township, Brown County, Indiana Federal census, Henry Hovis, age 78 (line 74) is listed as a Brother-in-law and living with Mary C. Hovis age 59 and children. She is Henry's brother Seth's wife, I believe.(20)

In July of 1924 I found Henry in Becks Grove: "Henry Hovis, is visiting his niece, Mrs. Sarah Sutherland, for a few days."(21) I don't know yet who this is.

Here again, Henry is visiting. In the Jackson County Banner, August 20, 1924: "Henry Hovis of Norman Station spent a few days last week with John Williams and wife."(22)

December 4, 1924 in the Brown County Democrat I found Henry in bad shape. "Henry Hovis, 83 years old, of Van Buren township, infirm and in a helpless condition, has been placed in our county infirmary for care and keeping."(23)

Then this little bit was found. I don't have a clue how this came about. I have checked for another Henry Hovis in the area and there are none. The Jackson County Banner on March 10, 1928, says: "We are very sorry to hear, of the sickness of our postmaster, Henry Hovis, of Cortland. We hope for his speedy recovery."(24)

What? The postmaster? How can this be. He is 88 years old at this time. This needs further investigation!

In the 1930 census taken at the Brown County Poor Asylum in Nashville, Indiana, Henry is listed as an inmate. He is 90 years old. It is the Poor House census.(25)

Henry's death certificate lists his date of death as June 11, 1935. He is 94 years, 11 months and 10 days of age. He is an invalid, listed as a basket maker and farmer. The cause of death was listed as Senility. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Green Lawn on June 12, 1935 in Nashville, Indiana. The informant was George Hovis, which I believe was the son of Lewis Hovis.(26)

So ends the story of Henry W. Hovis. Will I be able to fill in the holes in the narrative. Probably not. But I will always be looking for more.

#Hovis #genealogy 
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Sources:
14. The Columbus Republican. November 15, 1905. Page 8.
15. Jackson County Banner on January 15, 1908. Page 1
16. 1910 US Census. Sheet 5A, Pleasant Run Twp. Lawrence county, Indiana. 
17. Jackson County Banner, Brownstown, Indiana. May 24, 1916. Page 5.
18. Jackson County Banner, Brownstown, Indiana. May 2, 1917. Page 4. 
19. Jackson County Banner, Brownstown, Indiana. March 7, 1917. Page 3.
20. 1920 US Census. Sheet 3B. Van Buren Twp. Brown County, Indiana
21. The Tribune. Seymour, Indiana. July 30, 1924. Page 2.
22. Jackson County Banner. Brownstown, Indiana. August 20, 1924. Page 6.
23. Brown County Democrat. Nashville, Indiana. December 4, 1924. Page 1.
24. Jackson County Banner, Brownstown, Indiana. March 10, 1928. Page 8.
25. 1930 US Census. Sheet 4B. Brown County Poor Asylum. Nashville, Indiana. 
26. Indiana Board of Health. Certificate of Death 17718. Brown County, Indiana. Ancestry.com.