Edwin L. was one of the six sons of William HOVEY, and was born in Waterford sixty-four years ago. At nineteen years of age he left the farm and fitted for college at St. Johnsbury academy. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He had just completed his sophomore year at Dartmouth college with a good standing when the second call for troops came. At a war meeting held at the Waterford town house, HOVEY enlisted, with the proviso that the town's quota should be filled then and there, which was done. He entered Company K, Fifteenth regiment, as a private. One evening while ruminating on hardtack and tough beef, and the lost opportunities of college life, he was summoned to the tent of Colonel PROCTOR, who addressed him in double bass tones: “You are recommended as fit for a small office; I appoint you sergeant-major of the regiment.” Visions of officer's mess and shoulder straps danced before him, and they were realized, for he returned as first lieutenant of Company I. His title of captain was afterwards obtained in the Vermont militia. 

      After his service had expired HOVEY packed his grip to return to college, and when he stopped to say good-by to his sister, Armenia, and her husband, Stephen RICHARDSON, the latter offered one half of his farm so cheaply that HOVEY bought it on the spot, and bade adieu to college life. He married Ella, daughter of. John P. CARR of Waterford, in 1864, and settled down to farming. 

      After several lucky real estate ventures, he bought the Tobias Lester and the Armington farms -- some 1800 acres -- and sold them four years later at a handsome advance. He then bought a printing plant for $5,000, and founded the St. Johnsbury Times, which he conducted successfully one year, with Arthur ROPES as general editor, and then sold the paper and list to Dr. BULLARD for $8,000. He then bought the Summerville sawmill with one of the $2,000 notes. In the fall of 1870 he bought eighteen acres of land, east of the schoolhouse, of W. TRUE for $3,000, and the wise ones predicted his failure. Here was elbow room for enterprise. He laid out Lafayette, Lincoln, Liberty, American, and East streets, and went to work. For sixteen years he sawed a half million feet of lumber annually, using a considerable portion of it in his extensive building operations. During this period he built about thirty houses. 

      E.L. HOVEY's name was the second on the charter of Green Mountain grange, No.1, the first grange founded in New England. He was at three different periods owner of the Grange store, always doing a good business, and selling at an advance.  In January, 1890, in company with B. G. HOWE, he bought a tract of eighty acres, including Harris hill, of Edwin HARRIS, for $8,000; a year later bought out his partner's interest, and soon sold enough lots to pay for the original purchase. 

      Mr. HOVEY has built or rebuilt all the stores on Portland street, besides nearly fifty dwellings. He was engaged in the meat business several years, on Railroad street, and is an intensive and an extensive farmer. Mrs. HOVEY died in 1870. He married Miss Sarah HUTCHINS of St. Johnsbury in 1873, and they have a spacious residence on Lafayette street. 

      Mr. HOVEY has been a leading member of the State grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and is a prominent member and past commander of Chamberlain post, Grand Army of the Republic. 

      He has repeatedly served as lister, selectman, and grand juror, and was for three years an efficient member of the school board of St. Johnsbury. He has been a justice of the peace more than a score of years, and a member of both the town and county Republican committees. Mr. Hovey has never used any alcohol stimulants, or tobacco, was never sick a day in his life, and is in the mature prime of manhood. 

      Mrs. Ella Carr HOVEY died in 1871. 

      By this marriage are three daughters, Edith L. (wife of John MOORE of St. Johnsbury), Mabel F. (wife of E. P. CARPENTER of Waterford), and Ella E. 

      Captain HOVEY married Sarah F. HUTCHINS in 1873. Mrs. HOVEY is past department president of the W. R. C. of Vermont. There are two daughters by this marriage, Bertha E. (Mrs. David H. MACOMBER of Independence, Iowa), and Grace G. HOVEY. 
 

Source:  Successful Vermonters, William H. Jeffrey, E. Burke, Vermont, The Historical Publishing Company, 1904, page 39-40.

Prepared by Tom Dunn January 2003