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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Clay County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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G. H. Hovey, one of the successful and enterprising “sons of the soil,” residing near Pitman, Ark., was born in the State of New York, September 15, 1851, being a son of A. G. Hovey, who was also born in that State February 4, 1814. The latter was a well-known resident of his county, and while residing there held a number of offices, such as justice of the peace and postmaster. He removed to Newton County, Mo., in 1877, and in 1884 located in Howell County, where he is still residing, being a carpenter by trade. He was married in 1841 to Miss Maria Brewer, a native of New York State, and by her became the father of three children, two of whom are living: F. A., a farmer residing in Howell County, the owner of 160 acres of land, and George H., our subject, who is also a farmer and owns 200 acres of land, 135 being under cultivation, of which 105 have been cleared by him in the last three years. He removed to this farm from Howell County, Mo., in 1885, and here has since made his home, and has one of the finest young orchards in the country. He gives considerable attention to stock-raising and has some excellent Durham cattle and Poland China hogs. In his youth he acquired a superior education, and in addition to attending the common schools was a student in the Tenbroeck Free Academy in Cattaraugus County for three years. He was then engaged in teaching for twelve terms, one term in Pennsylvania, two in New York, and nine terms in the public and private schools of Missouri. He removed from New York to Pennsylvania in August, 1874, thence to Newton County, Mo., in 1876; in the spring of 1883 to Howell County, Mo., and from there to Clay County, Ark. On the 31st of December, 1871, he was married in his native State to Miss Sarah Burns, of New York, a daughter of John and Julia (Collins) Burns, who were farmers of that State. They have one daughter, born May 8, 1881. Mrs. Hovey is a member of the Christian Church, and he is an earnest worker for education, exhibiting that intelligence and enterprise necessary for the successful development of the community.

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This family biography is one of 124 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Clay County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Clay County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Clay County, Arkansas family biographies here: Clay County, Arkansas Biographies

View a map of 1889 Clay County, Arkansas here: Clay County, Arkansas Map

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