San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1583
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 11/6/2009
ELBERT ALLEN COVELL
Prominent among the well-to-do citizens of Woodbridge is Elbert Allen Covell, a native of San Leandro, Alameda County, where he was born on February 5, 1874. His father, Allen T. Covell, came to California in 1856 from New York state; he was a carpenter by trade, but like thousands of others at that time, he joined the rush to the mines. He did not follow mining long, however, but turned to civil engineering, and in 1876 removed to Fresno County, where he helped to lay out and establish the Washington Irrigated Colony. In 1888, he came to Woodbridge, where he acquired land, which in time he set out as a vineyard. Allen T. Covell lived to be eighty-two years old; his devoted wife, who was Mary Elizabeth Sherwin before her marriage, reached her sixtieth year. They had four children, three boys and a girl.
Elbert Allen Covell attended the Woodbridge common school, and afterwards was a student at the San Joaquin Valley College. When he was old enough to do so, he took up farm work, taking charge of a portion of the vineyard which his father had set out; while his brother, George F., also took over a part of the vineyard ranch. The whole property consisted of 160 acres. Today Mr. Covell owns thirty choice acres set out to Tokay grapes, west of the town, and this trim little farm is well irrigated. He and his brother together own a ranch of 270 acres in Stanislaus County, between Salida and Modesto, mostly set out to vineyard.
At Stockton, on August 3, 1904, Mr. Covell was married to Miss Florence McMurtry, the daughter of Lewis C. McMurtry. She was born in Gold Hill, Nev. Her father, a well-known hotel man, came to Woodbridge when she was a little girl, and here she was reared and educated. Mr. Covell was made a Mason in Woodbridge Lodge No. 131, F. & A.M., of which he is a past master. He is a member of Stockton Chapter No. 28, R.A.M.; Stockton Commandery No. 8, K.T.; and Islam Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., San Francisco; and with his wife he is a member of Woodbridge Chapter No. 118, O.E.S., of which he is a past patron and Mrs. Covell is a past matron. In 1922 Mr. and Mrs. Covell made a four-month trip to Europe, visiting England, Scotland and the Continent.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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