James Henry Hovious. Son of Silas HOVIOUS and Adaline RAMSEY. Born in Salem, KY, 9 January 1835. In August 1850 he lived in the home of James W. Cade, Justice of Peace. In 1853 his father sent for him and his sister to join him in California. James and Mary sailed from New Orleans to Panama on the Daniel Webster. After crossing the isthmus over land they sailed from Panama to San Francisco on the Brother Jonathan arriving in March 1854.

When Silas was elected Sheriff in 1859, he appointed his son James as Sheriff's deputy. James is mentioned in the San Mateo Gazette for 16 Nov 1859:

"Deputy Sheriff Hovious went to San Quentin with James Riley, convicted for the burglary of the residence of Daniel Lunt, and Prudencio Rodergues, convicted of stealing two yokes of oxen from George Dale."

And again in the Gazette for 28 January 1860:

"STABBING: - A Mexican named Juan Perez, on the 23d ult., in the Caņada Raymundo, had an altercation with another Mexican known as Juan Largo, whom he stabbed, and made his escape. Deputy Sheriff Hovious has since been in pursuit of Perez, and on Friday last succeeded in discovering his retreat, in Santa Clara county, below Mayfield. The prisoner was brought before Justice Moe, and on Monday last after an examination, was admitted to bail in the sum of five hundred dollars."

After his father's death James was the executor of his estate and he stayed in California the rest of his life. He married, in San Mateo Co. on 25 Dec 1861, Amanda H. NICHOLS [b. Galveston, TX, 24 Feb 1844]. Two of his children died young and are buried in the family plot, with their grandfather, Silas. James H. Hovious was described in a 1904 biographical record as "a Democrat in politics, a man of good business principle, broadminded and liberal on all current subjects." See below for maps of James's property.