Rufus Cleveland Hovey Papers, 1857-1866, n.d.
| Oberlin College Archives
Administrative/Biographical History
Rufus Cleveland Hovey was born on December 15, 1836 in Camden, Ohio. The youngest of ten children, Hovey taught school in Horicon, WI and LaPort, IN from 1857-1860. Hovey enrolled at Oberlin Preparatory Department in 1859. On January 1, 1861, at the age of 25, Hovey left Oberlin and enlisted in the First Indiana Cavalry. He subsequently served in the Western Virginia Army, in the Mountain Department, and in the Army of the Potomac. While serving as a scout in the Army of the Potomac, Hovey joined up with the Cavalry along the Rhapahanoc River in Virginia on June 6, 1863. He was never heard from after this date and was presumed dead. At the time of his death he was about to be commissioned an officer.
Sources Consulted
Biographical information provided by Elsie B. Burkhart (letter to Ken Grossi, Assistant Archivist, November 10, 1997).
Student file of Rufus Cleveland Hovey, Alumni Records (RG 28/1).
Administrative InformationFor more information please see http://www.oberlin.edu/library/digital/civilwar/.
The papers of Rufus Cleveland Hovey, OC enrolled, consist of original letters written by Hovey to his family, Hovey’s Civil War journal, and a poem written by Hovey. His letters concern his intention to enroll at Oberlin College, his search for a teaching position, and his military service. The Civil War journal covers the period 1 January 1862 to 18 February 1862. An additional five letters were written by others concerning Hovey’s promotion to officer in the Union Army, his certification of service in the Army, a report of his missing in action, his personal belongings, and the circumstances related to his death. The letters and poem span the time period 1857 to 1866.
The inventory provides an item level listing of item. Transcriptions are present except for one item, handwriting practice sample completed by Hovey. A poem written by Hovey to his sister regarding his thoughts about enlisting in the military is included in the collection. The poem is in transcription form only.
The collection contains no biographical information prior to 1857. The Oberlin College Archives holds a student file for Rufus Cleveland Hovey in Alumni Records (RG 28).
The collection is divided into three series: 1. Biographical, 2. Rufus Cleveland Hovey Civil War Correspondence, 25 December 1857 – 30 September 1866, originals; and, 3. Rufus Cleveland Hovey Civil War Correspondence, 25 December 1857 – 30 September 1866, transcriptions.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series 1. Biographical, n.d.
Consists of a photocopy of a portrait of Rufus Hovey Cleveland, n.d. Additional biographical information is in Hovey’s student file (RG 28) and in a letter from Elsie Burkhart, donor, to Assistant Archivist Ken Grossi, 10 November 1997 (RG 41).
Series 2. Rufus Cleveland Hovey Civil War Correspondence, 25 December 1857 to 30 September 1866, originals (21 items)
Hovey wrote twelve letters to his family regarding his enrollment at Oberlin College, a search for a teaching position, and his service in the military. The Civil War Journal documents his military service activity from 1 January 1862 to 18 February 1862. Also included is a poem written by Hovey to his sister in which he conveyed his thoughts about enlisting in the Union Army. An additional five letters from others regard his officer commission and military certification, his missing in action, and his personal belongings and circumstance surrounding his death.
Series 3. Rufus Cleveland Hovey Civil War Correspondence, 25 December 1857 to 30 September 1866, transcriptions (21 items)
This series contains the transcriptions of the originals in Series 2. There are two exceptions to note. The poem written by Hovey to his sister is in transcription form only; and, the original handwriting practice document has no transcription.