Hovey - Mary F
Source: Weekly Argus News June 12, 1897 p 3
It was with surprise, mingled with sincere regret that the public learned this morning of the death of Miss Mary F. Hovey. She passed away at an early hour this morning at her home on College Hill. Miss Hovey has been troubled with an affection (sic) of the heart for some time but her condition was considered by no means serious. On Wednesday she visited at the home of a neighbor, and was up and about the home yesterday, retiring last night, seemingly in her usual health and spirits. About midnight the family of RM Hills, who occupy the Hovey home, heard a disturbance in her room. Miss Hovey had taken ill and had been barely able to get to the door and call for assistance. Her physician was summoned but could render no relief and she died in a very short time. Mary F. Hovey was the daughter of Prof. Edward O. Hovey, one of Wabash College’s early and honored instructors. She was born at the family residence wherein she died, in 1838 and her entire life was spent in Crawfordsville. It was well spent, too and Miss Hovey enjoyed the respect and esteem of all. She was a life long member of Center Church and accounted one of the most earnest and willing workers. She also took a deep interest in missionary work and the fact that she could not engage in active work of late has been her chief regret. Dr. Horace C. Hovey of Newburyport, Mass, the only brother of the deceased has been summoned and arrangements for the funeral will not be made until he arrives. – Daily June 4.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 11 June 1897
The city was quite shocked Friday morning to hear of the death of Miss Mary F. Hovey which occurred shortly after twelve o’clock in the night. The cause of her death was heart disease, she having been affected with that complaint for five years.
She went east last fall and remained until February when she returned to Crawfordsville. She had not been at all well during her visit and was quite feeble upon returning home. However, she gained strength gradually and it was thought by her friends that she would soon be in her former health. Thursday afternoon she walked out and made several calls and the family of Murray Hills, who reside in her residence on College Hill, state that she seemed unusually bright and cheerful. She retired at her customary hour but 11:30 was attacked by heart failure. She arose and called Miss Emma Hills who quickly summoned other members of the family on perceiving the gravity of the attack. Miss Hovey complained that she was suffering considerably and could not get her breath. Dr. Ristine was called in but before he arrived she was unconscious and continued to fail rapidly until death came.
Miss Hovey was a daughter of the late Prof. E. O. Hovey, one of the founders of Wabash College and a man whose useful life was given to the upbuilding of the institution. Miss Hovey was born here about sixty one years ago and here passed her girlhood, her education being solicitously attended to by her parents. After a thorough preparation she was sent to Glendale Seminary, from which she graduated with honor. She continued her studies after her graduation and began teaching. She was elected to a chair in the agricultural college at Manhattan, Kansas, and achieved a notable success there. After a several years’ stay in Manhattan, she returned to Crawfordsville and opened a private school for young ladies, which proved a very successful venture. Her school was a very popular one and was continued until about a year ago, when her failing health necessitated its discontinuance. Scores of the ladies of this city attended Miss Hovey’s school and all attest her excellence and the high standard of scholarship which she maintained.
Miss Hovey was one of the most prominent members of the Center Presbyterian Church and her church relation was not only consistent in her living and attendance, but was besides a tireless worker in all branches of church work.
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She was for many years president of the Ladies’ Missionary Society and retired from that position within the last few months, her health not allowing her to perform the numerous duties attaching to the office. She was a member of the Athenian Literary Society and her liberal education and her intellectuality gave her high rank there.
Miss Hovey was a woman of extra ordinary excellence of character and lived a life so busy and so useful that its impress will long be felt in the community in which her lot was cast. She was frank and honest, kind hearted and devout and her life was the exemplification of the professions which she made.
She has not a living relative in Crawfordsville. Her father died in 1876 and her mother several years later. Her only brother has a family of three children and these are her only relatives. Still many mourn her as sincerely as relatives are mournted for she was a good woman, whose deeds live after her. -s