Biography - HENRY JOSEPH HOVEN

The Rev. Henry Joseph Hoven, the pastor of St. Joseph’s parish, was born in Cologne, Germany, in 1835, and is a son of Joseph and Anna Mary (Bollig) Hoven, also natives of Germany.

Reared in his native land, in the acquirement of his classical education Henry Joseph Hoven attended the Gymnasium of his native city. Having elected to enter the church after the completion of his course, he went to Rome, where he pursued philosophical studies. From there he proceeded to Dublin, Ireland, and entered the Missionary College, where he took his theological course, being qualified to enter the priesthood at the age of twenty-six. Having decided to follow his calling in the United States, in 1861 he came to America, being ordained at Alton, Illinois, by Bishop Juncher, the first bishop of Alton. He was then placed in charge of the parish at Saint Marie, Jasper county, Illinois, where he remained a year. From there he was sent to Marshall, this state, for two years, at the expiration of which period he went to Paris, Illinois. Four years later he was made head of the parish at Carlinville. In 1870 he received instructions to build St. Mary’s church, of which he was pastor for eight years, during which time he started St. Joseph’s congregation. He then went to Pittsfield, Illinois, removing from there to Pana two years later and in 1881 was transferred to Shelbyville, Illinois. Eleven years were spent in the latter place, following which he was placed in charge of the church at Carrollton, where he remained a similar period, going from there to Morrisonville. At the end of four years he was returned to Carlinville, as head of St. Mary’s parish, being transferred to St. Joseph’s in 1909.

Father Hoven is Spiritual Director of the Macoupin County Federation of Catholic Societies, also of the Western Catholic Union. He is a man of high ideals, broad and liberal in his views, charitable in his judgments and kindly and helpful in his attitude toward the well-meaning and penitent. His scholarly instincts and finely trained mind draw about him intellectual people, whether Catholics or Protestants, and he is held in high regard by both the laity and clergy of Carlinville.

Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 435-436.