Covil, Watson J. (1843-1920)

COVIL, FISHER, BECK

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 10/28/2016 at 09:35:55

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Thursday, October 7, 1920

W.J. COVIL DIES AFTER LONG LIFE USEFUL SERVICE

Well Known Legal Counselor and President of First National Bank is Dead.

FUNERAL TOMORROW

Had Been Leading Spirit in Webster City for 57 Years.

W.J. Covil, president of the First National bank of this city, and a leading law counselor in this section of Iowa since his admission to the bar here fifty-five years ago, died at 10:30 o'clock last night at his home on Willson avenue, following a period of ill health extending over several years. He had been confined to his home and bed, however, only a few weeks.

The funeral will be held from the family home tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Arthur Metcalf.

W.J. Covil was probably Webster City's best known and most prominent citizen. Born in Fabius, New York, Jan. 20, 1843, he was in his 78th year. He was born and reared to young manhood on a farm and his early education was obtained at a private school taught by his aunt, Julia A. Covil, a graduate of the New York state normal school. In 1862 he graduated from the Oneida Conference seminary at Cazenovia, N.Y. While in school there, he taught winter terms of country schools to earn his way through the seminary, having taught his first school at the age of 17 years.

In 18-- the lure of the west and its unchartered prairies brought him to Hamilton county, where he went to work on the farm of his uncle, Hiram Carpenter. The Carpenter place was the famous Ten Eyek farm at Hook's Point, a pioneer settlement north of the present site of Stratford. He came there in May and the following winter, he taught the McKinney school, a mile and a half north of Hook's Point. So prominent did his work in the schools stand out that in the spring of 1861 the young country school master was elected principal of the Webster City schools, which then consisted of two departments. The principal's salary was $35 per month.

While teaching school, Mr. Covil studied law with Judge D.D. Chase, father of D.C. Chase. The elder Chase was then district attorney. After a year's hard work, Mr. Covil was admitted to the bar and later formed a law partnership with Judge Chase, the firm name being Chase & Covil.

On Aug. 28, 1876. Mr. Covil was married to Miss Mary E. Fisher at West Medway, Mass., following which the couple returned to Webster City to make their home. The wife and one daughter, Mrs. R.F. Beck, are the immediate surviving family.

While in his earlier life, Mr. Covil was best known as an attorney, his latter years were largely spent in work incident to his connection with the First National bank. It was in January, 1896, that he was first elected to the board of directors of this institution, succeeding C.T. Fenton. In 1896 he was made vice president, L.L. Estes being president. Upon the death of the latter in April, 1909?, Mr. Covil was elected to the presidency, a position he had held ever since.

Having lived in Webster City more than 57 years, Mr. Covil had seen the city grow from a mere frontier inland settlement. And during all these years he had been connected with and a part of every movement that meant for the advancement of the city and community and the betterment of the people. Upon the death of Kendall Young in 1896 and the establishment of the Kendall Young library, under his will, Mr. Covil was named a member of the board of trustees of the estate for life. And as a member of this board, he had a large share of the work in the erection of the present building and the establishment of the library, to which he gave unselfishly of his time and energies. The outstanding characteristics of his whole life, in fact, may be judged by the public service he had rendered the city as a member of this board. Always on the lookout for the betterment of the whole community, he had conceived a plan in his latter years for the ultimate establishment in Webster City of a community house, as a permanent part of the Kendall Young library and a memorial to its donor, to be paid for and maintained by the trustees of the Kendall Young estate.

But not only was W.J. Covil active as a banker, a member of the library board and along other lines of public service, but, until his health forbade, he had always been an active spirit in the Congregational church. For many years he taught a Bible class of young ladies, following which he spent many more years as Sunday school superintendent.

While not a man who, in his latter years, had come into contact a great deal with the general public, nevertheless he was a man held in the highest personal esteem by every resident of the city and community. He had been held for many years as the city's leading law counsellor and when W.J. Covil gave a legal opinion on anything, his word was final, both with the public and the bar of the county.

In the passing of this widely known citizen, Webster City has suffered a distinct loss. His opinions on a varied list of subjects was sought through the years by all classes of people. He possessed a fine legal mind, tempered by a judicial disposition that made his opinions valuable. Probably no other man ever lived in this community whose opinions were held in as high regard, or so generally looked upon as final, than W.J. Covil. Always public spirited, he was identified always with every forward movement. The history of his life, in fact, is a history of the growth and development of this community. It was men like W.J. Covil who gave character, stamina and personality in the community when it was a struggling settlement, as well as in his more recent days.

Webster City will miss W.J. Covil. His excellent judgment, his great generosity and his inspiring influence in matters of public [?] will likewise be greatly missed among the counsels of those who will steer the future course of the activities in which he had so large a part. But the memory of his unselfish life and his large part in the upbuilding of this community will ever be a source of solace both to relatives and friends.