- GEORGE COVERT, M.D. This well-known and popular physician
of Clinton, Rock County, is
- not only one of the oldest practicing physicians of that
thriving little village, but also one of its pioneer residents.
He located at Clinton in December, 1855, and has lived there
ever since, being with one exception the pioneer of longest residence
in the village. His life of more than forty-five years in the
community has been most active, influential and useful. The
Nestor of his profession, he has won honor among his fellow practitioners,
and the lasting confidence and high regard of a large clientele.
- Dr. COVERT is of Holland-Dutch extraction. His grandfather,
Abraham A. COVERT, a native
- of New Jersey, became one of the earliest settlers of Seneca
County, N.Y., migrating with his father, and followed the vocation
of farming through life, living to the age of ninety-nine years,
and leaving a large family. His ancestors had earlier settled
in New York, and a Mr. COVERT erected the first church in the
city of Brooklyn.
- John A. COVERT, the father of our subject was reared a farmer
on the Seneca County
- homestead. He married Miss Catherine B. HUFF, a native of
New Jersey, and a daughter of Isaac HUFF, who was of Holland-Dutch
descent, the family originally being of French Huguenot extraction.
Isaac HUFF was a man of superior education, and followed farming.
He married a Miss VAN NOSTRAND. He moved to Ovid, N.Y., and
later to Oakland, Mich., where he died at the age of seventy-five,
having reared a large family. His widow later came to Clinton,
Wis., where she died, having attained the remarkable age of one
hundred and one years and seven months. In 1852 John A. COVERT
moved from New York State to Oakland County, Mich. Ten years
later he settled at Clinton, where he remained until his death,
at the age of eighty-four years. His wife survived him one year,
dying at the age of eighty-three. They were reared in the Dutch
Reformed Church, but later united with the Presbyterian, and
then the Congregational Church. Mr. COVERT was for a number
of years a justice of the peace, and he was a man of unusual
force of character. Of the six children of John A. and Catherine
B. COVERT, four sons and two daughters, four are now living::
Dr. George, our subject; Augustus, of Cheney, Spokane County,
Wash.; Rynear, of Paw Paw, Mich.; and Elizabeth, wife of Norton
WINSLOW, of West Bloomfield, Oakland Co., Mich.
- Dr. George COVERT was born at Ovid, N.Y., Dec. 7, 1829.
He was reared in Seneca County
- and received his education in the common schools there and
at Washington Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, N.Y. Determined
to prepare himself for professional life, he taught school for
several years, then prepared himself for the practice of medicine,
receiving his professional education at Starling Medical College,
Columbus, Ohio, and the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute.
Dr. COVERT began practice at Oakland, Mich., in 1854. In 1855
he settled at Elgin, Ill., and in December of the same year located
at Clinton, Wis., where he has remained continuously in practice
as a physician and surgeon ever since. He has always been a
progressive physician, and during his long and successful practice
he has kept thoroughly abreast with the rapid advance in the
medical profession. He graduated from the Cincinnati Eclectic
Medical Institute in 1863; in 1878 received a diploma from the
College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago, became a lecturer
at that institution on chronic diseases, and later was professor
of obstetrics. Dr. COVERT is a member of the State Eclectic
Medical Society, and has twice been honored by election to the
presidency thereof. He is also a prominent member of the National
Eclectic Medical Association, served as its president one term,
and as vice-president for two terms. He is a member of the Illinois
State Medical Society, and of the Pennsylvania and Oregon State
Medical Societies. He is a noted contributor to medical journals,
one of the most extensive writers in general practice in Wisconsin.
Dr. COVERT built the first drug store at Clinton which he conducted
for twenty-five years. His practice has been general in character,
and lucrative.
- Dr. COVERT married, in January, 1858, Miss Mary Janette BARKER,
daughter of Cyrus J. and
- Eliza (KING) BARKER. Three daughters were born to them,
Effie Grace, Kittie May and Georgia K. Effie Grace is the widow
of C. B. SHEPARD, and lives in Elkhorn, Wis., where she is employed
in an abstract office. Kittie May married T. J. CREETH, of Hastings,
Neb., and they have two children, Claire J. and George Alexander.
Georgia K. married Calvin S. THOMAS a merchant of Clinton.
Mrs. Mary Janeete COVERT died June 30, 1873, and for his second
wife Dr. COVERT married, June 13, 1887, Miss Jennie MUZZY, daughter
of Lorenzo and Mary J. (BARKER) MUZZY, who were natives of Massachusetts,
and early settlers in Rock County, Wis., where Mrs. COVERT was
reared. She was educated at the State University at Madison,
being graduated with the degree of Ph. B. in 1872. Two years
later she received the degree of A.B., being the first lady to
receive this degree from the University of Wisconsin, and then
taught Latin and Greek for three years in the high school at
Madison. She possesses the culture and accomplishments which
make her a prominent factor in social functions. Dr. and Mrs.
COVERT have an adopted daughter, Julia Gertrude. They are prominent
members of the Congregational Church. He was superintendent
of the town schools many years ago, and has always been deeply
interested in educational matters. The Doctor has been twice
president - in 1887 and 1899 - of the COVERT Association, the
largest family association in the country, which meets in June
of each year in Seneca County, New York.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c) 1901, pp. 24-25.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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