Elias S. Hovey

HOVEY, ANDREWS, FISH, LITTLE

Posted By: Diane (email)
Date: 2/24/2002 at 21:22:48

Elias S. Hovey resides on section 2, where he located in 1875. He purchased his land of non-residents, and has made all of the improvements upon it. He was born in the town of Brookfield, Orange county, Vermont, in 1823; but brought up in the town of Albany, Orleans county. He was reared to the occupation of farming; came to Iowa in November, 1855, and settled in Buchanan county, where he purchased an improved farm.
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In 1867, with his brother, Elijah A. Hovey, he engaged in the well business. Another brother, George Hovey, became a member of the firm in 1871. In 1873 they secured a patent on a drive-well. George, subsequently, became sole proprietor of this patent. It was claimed by Andrews that the invention of the Hovey brothers was an infringement on what is known as Greene’s patent for drive-wells. Andrews being the agent employed by Greene to collect royalty on the drive-wells of the country. The case is still pending in the courts.
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Mr. Hovey is a large land owner and stock dealer. He has 440 acres in a body, where he resides, and 120 acres on section 12. He is the present postmaster of Swanton, though the office is kept at the residence of Mrs. Marcia A. Hovey, in Jefferson township. His wife was formerly Martha M. Fish, born in Brookfield, Orange county, Vermont. They have three children – Almira M., wife of Charles H. Little; Horace N. and Carrie. The eldest was born in Vermont; the others in Buchanan county, Iowa.
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Source: History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa
Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1883
Page: 424