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Lyman Covell was born in Wilkesbarre, Pa., April 16, 1795. His
father, Dr. Matthew Covell, was a native of Glastonbury, Conn., born in
the year 1760, and settled at Wilkesbarre when a young man, where he practiced
the profession of medicine the remainder of his life, and ranked among
the first as a physician and surgeon. He was a man of devout Christian
principles, and had the confidence of a large circle of acquaintances.
He died in 1813, leaving a widow (maiden name was Orello Tuttle) and five
sons and one daughter. The mother died in 1845, aged eighty-one years.
Of this family of children only two are living, -Mrs. Dr. Howell, now
a resident of Elmira, N. Y., and in her seventy-sixth year of age, and
the subject of this narrative who has resided longer in Elmira than any
man now living here. His father dying when he was only fourteen years of
age, Lyman two years after came to Elmira and engaged as a clerk in his
eldest brother, Robert’s, store, where he remained until he became thoroughly
schooled in the business, and until about the year 1820, when he established
a general mercantile business for himself, which he continued for nearly
forty years, and retired from the active duties of life. As a business
man he was active, prompt, and upright, and during all these years retained
the respect and confidences of the citizens of Elmira. |
