- GEORGE COVERT, M.D., Clinton; he was not one of Fortune's
petted ones, born with a silver
- spoon in his mouth, but, being the eldest of a large family
in moderate circumstances, has known what it is to fight life's
battles single-handed, only inspired by native ambition and a
desire for usefulness and position among men; he is a descendant
of the long-lived COVERT family which settled in New Jersey in
the seventeenth century; son of John A. and Catherine B. COVERT,
born in Ovid, Seneca Co., N.Y., and grandson of the late centenarian,
Abram A. COVERT, one of the pioneers of western New York; the
Doctor spent the early part of his life upon the farm, there
developing his muscle and gaining no little notoriety by feats
of physical prowess and endurance; he finally injured a muscle
in his back by over-exertion and was forced to look to a professional
career - taste, inclination and opportunity leading him to the
profession of medicine; while a youth, he attended, respectively,
the district, village, high and select schools during the winter
months, and at 18, entered the Washington Collegiate Institute,
Brooklyn, N.Y., where he also became tutor; subsequently, he
taught in Pineville, N.Y., and Orion, Mich., reading medicine
in the mean time; in 1852, he entered the office of Drs. Van
Epps & Thrawl, Columbus, Ohio, studying medicine and attending
lectures, becoming thoroughly consistent with the systems of
homeopathy, allopathy and electropathy; in close sympathy with
the progressive spirit of the age, he felt unwilling to accept
the fetters of a name, of an exclusive system, or of an illiberal
code of ethics, and, being fully convinced that the choosing
(or eclectic) mode of practice is the common sense method, and
truth and science the only satisfactory guides for the true physician,
he betook himself to the institution most in accord with his
ideas - the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, receiving
a diploma from it, also; a season of work, study and practice
in Michigan, a year spent in Elgin, Ill., and in December, 1856,
he hung out his shingle in Clinton, Wis., before the (so-called)
Racine & Mississippi and Chicago & St. Paul Railroads
were built to the crossing; Clinton was then in its infancy,
and the young practitioner had a chance to grow up with the place
and overcome the virulent opposition of older and ungenerous
rivals. For two years, he was School Superintendent for the town,
bringing him into acquaintance with the people and enlarging
his practice, which is now widespread and yearly increasing.
Feb. 5, 1858, he married M. G. MUZZY, daughter of Cyrus G. and
Eliza BARKER, who was a worthy helpmeet for seventeen years;
she died June 29, 1875, leaving him three daughters. In temporal
matters, he has been prospered; in 1868, he built a large and
commodious residence upon his grounds, corner of Church and Milwaukee
streets; he also erected a drug store to meet the wants of his
extensive practice, having associated with him as partner, at
this time, Hon. D. G. CHEEVER. He is a strong champion of right
and progress everywhere, being an enthusiast in his particular
line of thought and work; as indicating his close attention to
business, it is noteworthy that, during the twenty-three years
of residence in Clinton, six weeks covers his entire absence,
exclusive of time devoted to attendance upon medical societies,
he being a fellow of the State and National Eclectic Medical
Associations. It may be stated, as a personal peculiarity, that,
in the matter of fees, he has always chosen to be governed by
his individual conscience rather than by the rulings of any society
or clique of men; he has taken the Golden Rule for his criterion,
and has, consequently, never been accused of exorbitant charges;
notwithstanding the claims of his large practice upon his time
and attention, he is interested in literary and linguistic studies,
and needs no interpreter among most of our foreign population
and immigrants. In a quiet way, he furnishes much to the press,
giving such experience and discoveries as may benefit the profession
at large.
-
- Taken from "The History of Rock County, Wis."
(c)1879; p. 778.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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