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.