Biography of John Hovater, Sr., page 573 / 574.  History of De Kalb 
County, Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John Hovater, Sr., one of the most esteemed of the old pioneers, was born 
in Lebanon County, Pa., Nov. 3, 1809, a son of Christopher and Julia Ann 
(Cormack) Hovater, natives of Lancaster County, of German parentage.  He was 
reared in his native county, and in his boyhood worked in the shop of his 
father, who was a blacksmith.  When he was fifteen years old he was able to 
take the place of a journeyman, and worked for his father till his majority.  
He then went to Ohio, and for four years was in business for himself in 
Holmes County.  Then was associated with a Mr. Oten in Dalton a year, and 
from that time on till 1850 lived in different places in Ohio, the last 
being Sugar Creek, where he bought a home and remained seven year.  In 1850 
he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought eighty acres of wild land in 
Fairfield Township, which he has cleared, and now has a good farm.  He has 
worked at his trade in addition to caring for his farm, and will long be 
remembered as the pioneer blacksmith of Fairfield Township.  He has, by his 
many years of upright and honorable dealing, won the confidence and respect 
of all who know him.  He was married Dec. 4, 1834, to Nancy, daughter of 
John and Betsey (Roop) Wyers.  To them have been born thirteen children, 
nine of whom are living.  They are members of the United Brethren church.  
In politics he is a Democrat.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com