My Genealogy Hound

ALPHONSO A. COVELL, Superintendent of the Davis Milling Company at Benton Harbor, was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, June 21, 1842. He is the son of Alpheus D. Covell, a native of New York and an early settler of Ashtabula County, Ohio, having settled there in 1840. The paternal grandfather, Jonathan Covell, was born in New York State, where his ancestors had located at an early period in its history. Mr. Covell’s mother was Lucretia, daughter of Alanson Lyons, the latter being a native of Vermont and the former of Pennsylvania, while the ancestors were originally from Germany. In 1855 the subject of this sketch accompanied his parents to the village of Montgomery, Kane County, Ill., where he completed his education in the common schools. He had scarcely attained the age of twenty years when, anxious to defend the Union and fight for the Old Flag, he enlisted in the volunteer service, becoming a member of Company H, Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry, Col. Christopher commanding. The regiment was assigned to the Fourth Army Corps, and, marching to the front, participated in numerous engagements with the foe. Among the battles in which Mr. Covell took part may be mentioned those of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. He was also a participant in frequent skirmishes, not less hazardous to life though less decisive in results. On account of wounds received in the service, Mr. Covell was honorably discharged from the army and was mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1865, after three years of brave service for the preservation of the Union.

After returning home our subject learned the carpenter’s trade under his father, who followed that occupation, and as soon as he acquired a thorough knowledge of the work he went to Erie County, Pa., where he engaged in building and contracting, remaining there until 1869. Subsequently he went to the oil regions of the Keystone State, where he followed his chosen occupation for a number of years. In 1882 he came to Benton Harbor, and, forming a partnership with A. J.Young, embarked in the planing-mill business, under the firm name of Covell & Young. One and one-half years after the establishment of the firm, Mr. Covell purchased his partner’s interest and formed a stock company, known as the Eicholtz Lumber Company, of which he was Superintendent for two and one-half years. The name was then changed to the Graves Lumber Company and later to the Lake Shore Lumber Company and is now known as the Davis Lumber Company, Mr. Covell having retained the superintendency throughout the various changes of the company, and now having control of the planing-mills.

An outspoken Republican, Mr. Covell was elected in July, 1891, to represent the Third Ward in the City Council, and at the expiration of his term of office was re-elected in 1892, serving until April, 1893. Socially, he affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum, Uniformed Rank, and is also a member of George H. Thomas Post No. 14, G. A. R. March 16, 1867, he married Miss Vina Taylor, of Pennsylvania, by whom he became the father of two children, Bertie G. and Mattie E. In 1882 he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Johnson, who is the daughter of Solomon Johnson, a native of Vermont. Mrs. Covell is a most estimable lady and occupies a position of prominence in the social circles of Benton Harbor. She is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which Mr. Covell is also identified.