Jesse Ortweiller Covell (1891-1957)
 
B 1891 to William Sylvester Covell and Mariah E. Crawford
M Married to Margaret Beck
D October 8, 1957
C William, Walter, Catherine, Rosalind, Elsie, Madeline, Lyman, Lilah, Bob, Al
  "The Name and Family Covell" (by Jesse O Covell)
  Jesse O. Covell was born at the Covell homestead in Scott township on August 9, 1891, the son of William S. and Maria Crawford Covell. He was educated in rural schools and as a young man was engaged in farming for his father, for neighbors and later on his one acres. He became a member of Company B of the Indiana National Guard in 1907, serving on the Indiana Rifle Team in 1917, 1918 and 1919. When the Angola company was mustered into Federal Service, he served his comrades as Captain of Batter B 137th Field Artillery, on the Mexican border and in World War I. His first concern was ever for the welfare of his men.

Mr. Covell held the office of Auditor of Steuben County for three terms, from 1929-1933 and 1937-1945, serving the county with honesty and efficiency and the people with such fairness and understanding as to make many friends.

Since retirement he has been in his farm home, his activities limited by diabetes.

He was a member of I.O.O.F in Angola for many years and of Angola F & A.M., receiving the 32nd degree in Meridian, Miss in 1918. He was a member of the Angola Post 31 of the American Legion.

In 1919 Mr. Covell was united in marriage with Margaret Edith Beck of Syracuse, and to them were born ten children, five sons and five daughters: William G. of Danville; Walter V. of Scott Township, Catherine of Washington, D.C., Rosalind, wife of Howard Beard of Scott Township, Elsie, wife of William Butler of Havana Cuba, Madeline, wife of Raymond Porter of Angola, Lyman G. of Plainfield, Lilah, wife of Gerald Sellers of Millgrove Township; Robert Jesse of Miami, Florida, and Alvin Beck of Johnson City, Tenn. Mrs. Covell finished her life of loving unselfish service in 1949.

In 1951, Mr. Covell married Florence Parsell of Angola. They have resided at the farm in Scott Township until Mr. Covell's passing.

He was a man of rigid adherence to duty, honesty and sobriety, instilling those virtues in his children. He believed in a kind Heavenly Father who cares for and guides the destinies of his children. He loved the land and the changing seasons and wild life. He was always a loyal friend and good neighbor.
  Army Pictures
   
 

Written by Elsie Butler, 1984:

Jesse O. Covell was born in Scott Township, Steuben County, Indiana in 1891.  His father, William Sylvester Covell died in 1909 and young Jesse could not attend high school because there was no high school in Scott Township at that time.  He worked at the old County Farm and then joined the Indiana National Guard in 1914 and was sent to Brownsville to chase old Pancho Villa, the most famous Mexican bandit who was terrorizing and robbing with his band of outlaws.  When old Pancho was subdued finally, Jesse remained in the National Guard and served until the end of World War I.  He rose to the rank of Captain, was written up in the Hattiesburg, Miss. social column of the local newspaper there as being on of the most handsome and debonair officers of Uncle Sam's army.  He was truly a man of high principles all of her life.

 

 
The fine family of auditor and Mrs. Jesse O. Covell attracted much attention when they attended the Ringling Circus at Ft. Wayne last week.  Probably no family in Steuben County has ever been more interesting, more attractive and more promising than this fine line of children who are naturally the source of great pride of their parents.

Angola Herald, June 24, 1938

  Margaret Edith Beck (Mother), Jesse O. Covell (Father)

Children (l-r) Alvin, Lyman, Lilah, Robert, Madeline, Elsie, Rosalind, Catherine, William, Walter.

   

with army buddy

with General Hershey

 

In Michigan, 1957