James S. Hovious enlisted in the Union Army on 12 Oct 1861 at Campbellsville, KY. Records show that at enlistment he was 5 feet, 5 inches tall, had blue eyes and light hair. He served in the Civil War in Company C of the 27th KY Volunteer Infantry as a private, and was given a disability discharge 25 Feb 1863 from the Army Hospital at Louisville. He had contracted measles and later pneumonia, which left him too weak for duty; furthermore a bug crawled into his left ear, leaving him partially deaf. A later military census reported him disabled from severe lung damage. James S. Hovious married Missouria HUMPHRESS [1848-1910?], daughter of Richard and Nancy Humphress, on 27 Oct 1865; the wedding was performed by Rev. Joseph Knifley.

During the 1880s James petitioned to have his disability pension raised, arguing that the original amount was "not commensurate with the disabilities which have existed since discharge." Between 1883 and 1885 James Silas Hovious brought repeated legal actions against his brothers Leslie C. Hovious and Rezon D. Hovious. The latter two were already being sued by assorted other plaintiffs (Abe Bloch & Co., Bamberger Streng & Co., Bamberger Bloch & Co. and Bloom, Goldsmith, Tachau & Co.) and James sought to have his case consolidated with theirs. The cases apparently had to do with the failure of a business venture, the Phoenix Fire Insurance Co., led by Leslie and Rezon. It appears James had invested money in the venture. Rezon and Leslie were ordered to pay him just under $1,000. Sometime after this that both Rezon and Leslie moved elsewhere.

In later years James lived first with his sons William and James, at Hovious Ridge near Knifley; then, by 1920, with his daughter Mollie S. Cave in Taylor Co. In 1914, James S. Hovious married Sallie WALKER. He later lost a leg in a bicycle accident.

James S. Hovious died on 1 June 1922, in Knifley, KY.

Children by Missouria HUMPHRESS:

1. William Pilson Hovious, b. 17 Aug 1866, Adair Co., KY. Married Sarah Ellen "Sallie" FISHER.
2. Saffrona E. Hovious, b. 1870, died before 1880.
3. Virgil Gaines Hovious, b. 27 May 1871. Virgil died in 1950.
4. Izora Bradford Hovious, b. 5 Jan 1876. Married John W. REED in 1889, Adair, KY.
5. Rebecca Hayes Hovious, born 15 Mar 1877. Married William J. HARDIN, 9 Sep 1914.
6. Mary Susan "Mollie" Hovious, b. 28 Sep 1878. Married Wilmot M. CAVE, 1900, Adair Co., KY. Mollie died on 4 Sep 1936.
7. Nannie H. Hovious, b. 28 Mar 1880. Married John G. DUDGEON, 1905, Adair Co., KY. Nannie died in 1961.
8. James Blaine Hovious, b. 29 Apr 1884. Died on 4 February 1963.
   
   Thanks to John R. Hovious Jr. and Jim Hovious, of Nashville, for contributions to this research and identifyingthe photograph. Additional information from James S. Hovious himself, as expressed in his pension file. For the lawsuit against Rezon and Leslie: Adair County Circuit Court Orders, Microfilm FHL#831451. Thanks also to Jean Hovious Lloyd for the copy of this photo.
   
   13:18 10/01/2009