Monday, August 1, 2011

Daniel Hovey - Obituary

American Friend, December 11, 1823

Died, in Sutton township, Meigs County, Ohio, on the 4th instant, Mr. Daniel Hovey, aged 19 years, a native of New York, and eldest son of Mr. Eleazer Hovey, (formerly of Richmond, Ontario county, and Patentee of Hovey's celebrated Shearing Machine, of great repute among Clothiers and Manufacturers in the United States,) and for a few years past a resident of the state of Indiana.

It is seldom in obituary notices that we have it in our power to speak with such satisfaction of the virtues and amiable qualities of individuals, as of those of this promising and worthy young man.  With a temper and disposition formed by nature to conciliate and please, he secured the friendship of his numerous acquaintances, whilst his correct and unexceptional conduct inspired confidence and procured respect.

On his arrival in this place he was employed as a School teacher, in which situation he continued but about three months, at which time he was more severely attacked with the consumption and confined to his room, where he continued till the time of his decease.  In his death the public have sustained a loss which cannot be easily repaired, and his pupils and examplary instructor; independent of the feelings of friendship and regard, fostered and produced by time and education.  He was an extraordinary natural genius; a poet, painter and engraver; he excelled most painters of our acquaintance, in Portrait, Landscape and Miniature Paintings; in poetry we have but little to judge from, his last production appeared in the 11th number of the "Marietta Gazette" (October 9th,) with the initials of his name, and wrote since his confinement to his death bed; as engraver, his last specimen, (and the only one in  letter press, ) appeared in the "American Friend" No. 52, Vol. 7th, (June 19th, 1823).  Though he had but few relations in this place to consecrate his ashes with their tears, yet the sorrow and regret of his more numerous acquaintances and friends accompanied his earthly remains to the grave.  In the death of childhood there is little interest, in that of age there is nothing unnatural or unexpected; but the fall of youth, just opening into manhood, awakens the tenderest sympathies and emotions of our hearts.  Thus we pass unheeded the mouldering trunk of the once vigorous and majestic oak which has fallen beneath the weight of years, whilst we pause, and contemplate, with pity, the prostrate ruins of the youthful magnolia, which grew in solitary beauty, but which fell, with all the foliage and fragrance of its expanding blossoms, beneath the sweeping tempest.

Communicated.

                                          American Friend, June 19, 1823


                                                                                   

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