Coverdale, E. A.

COVERDALE, WILSON, BENTON, JEPSEN, TESKEY, HEINER, VINE, ANDERSON, PHILLIPS, PIERCE, BROWN, SADLER

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Date: 4/4/2003 at 16:22:16

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

E. A. COVERDALE.

Prominent among the prosperous and substantial citizens of Brookfield township is E. A. Coverdale, who is the owner of a large and valuable farm, and his management of the place is marked by the scientific knowledge and skill which characterize the modern farmer. He is a native of this county, born May 4, 1858, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Wilson) Coverdale, who were born, reared and married in Lincolnshire, England, and came to the new world in 1849 as passengers on a sailing vessel which was seven weeks in crossing the ocean, during which time they encountered some severe storms. They landed safely in New York, however, and first located near Aurora, Illinois, where the father worked for fifty cents per day for two years. At the end of that time he came to Clinton county, Iowa, and bought eighty acres of raw prairie land in Brookfield township, which he proceeded at once to break and cultivate, after building thereon a log house. At that time there were only two houses in Maquoketa, and no other town nearer than Lyons, Clinton or Davenport. He did most of his trade in Lyons. He continued to make his home in Brookfield township until his death, which occurred September 13, 1890, and his remains were interred in the Union church cemetery. He accumulated over four hundred acres of land, and was able to spend his last years in retirement from active labor. He supported the Republican party, but always refused to accept public office. His widow is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Ada Benton, in Maquoketa. Of the twelve children born to this worthy couple only three are now living, namely: E. A., our subject; Frank, a retired farmer of Maquoketa, who married Susan Benton, and is now interested in bee culture; and Ada, wife of Delman Benton, of Maquoketa.

In early life E. A. Coverdale attended the district schools of Brookfield township until eighteen years of age, and also took a course at the Davenport Business College. On the 6th of January, 1881, in Brookfield township, was celebrated his marriage with Miss Sarah Jepsen, who was born in that township, November 7, 1860, a daughter of H. J. and Gertrude (Teskey) Jepsen, the former a native of Schleswig, Germany, the latter of County Cork, Ireland. Mr. Jepsen spent eighteen years as a sailor, and in 1855 came to America. He first went to California, and afterward came to Clinton county, Iowa, where he was successfully engaged in farming for many years, but is now living a retired life in Elwood, Brookfield township. He owned two hundred and forty acres of land in that township, and also twenty acres in Jackson county, Iowa. In his political views he is a Democrat. He was married in Maquoketa to Miss Gertrude Teskey, who died August 25, 1881, and was buried in the Elwood cemetery. They had ten children, of whom nine are still living, namely: Margaret, wife of Joseph A. Heiner, of Elwood; Fred, who married Ada Vine, and lives in Wyoming, Iowa; Sarah, wife of our subject; Hannah, wife of J. W. Anderson, a farmer of Brookfield township; Gertrude, wife of W. P. Phillips, also a farmer of that township; George, who married Alta Pierce, and is engaged in general merchandising in Eldora, Iowa; Charles, who married Gertrude Brown, and resides in Brookfield township; Ella, wife of E. D. Anderson, of that township; and Bertha, wife of R. M. Sadler, of the same township. Mr. and Mrs. Coverdale have four children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: John, April 4, 1883; Charles, April 15, 1885; Roy, April 30, 1887; and Erma, October, 13, 1891.

On leaving the parental roof Mr. Coverdale rented a farm of one hundred and forty-five acres in Bloomfield township, which he operated four years. He then purchased eighty acres on section twenty-three, Brookfield township, to which he has since added three hundred acres, and now has a large and well-improved farm, supplied with all modern conveniences and accessories. He is one of the most extensive and successful stock dealers of the county, feeding and shipping from twelve to fifteen carloads of horses, cattle and hogs annually. He not only feeds to his stock all the grain raised upon his own farm, but is compelled to buy more from his neighbors. He is an up-to-date and practical agriculturist, who has made a scientific study of farming and there is probably no one better posted on live stock in this county than he. During the cyclone which occurred about four p. m. on the 18th of May, 1898, he put his family in a carriage and drove out of the path of the storm, but his place was at the center of it, and house, barn and fences were all swept away. He lost two hundred hogs, eighty head of cattle and six horses, while six other horses were crippled. His loss amounted to about twelve thousand dollars, but with characteristic energy he at once set to work to redeem his losses, and to-day has a better improved farm than ever before. Mr. Coverdale is a member of the Modern Woodmen Camp at Elwood, and is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, but has absolutely refused to hold office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests.