January 3 Town of Covert Supervisors

For most of the 20^th and 21^st century early January, or in a few cases, December 31^st, marked the start of the new governmental year for the Town of Covert. 

In the 19^th century this change occurred in March or April. As we begin this Bi-Centennial year it seems appropriate to recall the men and women who have served the Community.

In the beginning there was a supervisor, two trustees and two justices of the peace who made up the board. A town clerk was also elected to record the proceedings of the meetings as well as other duties as assigned over the years. On January 1, 1980, the laws were changed. The Justice of the Peace positions were no longer board members, they performed judicial functions only.

Who are the people who have led the Town of Covert since 1817? Mr. Morrison in his Town of Covert book lists the supervisors from1817 until 1842 (page 26). Mr. Patterson in the 1976 volume notes the supervisors since 1817 and the full board in 1975/76 (pages 74-75).

Mike Reynolds, the current Town of Covert supervisor, in his article in the 2015 Covert Memories book provided a list of supervisors from 1950 until 2015, as well as the board members and town clerks.

Rather than repeat or link all of those references here, I’ve elected to just note the Supervisors, an alphabetical list rather than chronologically, as some served a year or two, then returned a few years later to again serve.

These men, and the men and women who have served as town board members, Justices of the Peace and Town Clerks, have given of their time and talents for 200 years. Each trying in their own way to make the Town of Covert a better place for the residents, businesses and visitors.

As we celebrate this Bicentennial, I hope you will reflect on their service, and if you see one of those who have served, thank them for their service. 

Almy, Ira

Avery, John B

Bassette, Myron W

Bloomer, Hiram

Boardman, Allen

Boardman, Allyn

Boardman, Truman

Boorom, Alton J

Bradley, LeRoy C

Case, Frank C

Coburn, Minor T

Cole, Myron C.

Day, Theodore D

Demott, John

Dimon, Jonathan

Emmons, Arthur O

Foster, Brayton

Frost, Eldred

Glazier, Henry

Hall, Ira C

Hall, John C.

Johnston, William

LaTourette, Daniel

Kellogg, D M

Kenyon, Donald

Medlock, Morris K

Moore, John B

Ogden, Charles

Porter, Lewis Jr.

Poulsen, Arthur

Rappleye, Jeremiah

Seymour, Richard

Skinner, Joseph L

Smith, James H

Stout, Isaac H

Swanson, John Jr

Thompson, John S

VanLiew, John F

Wakeman, Nathan

Wheeler, DeWitt C

Wheeler, John R

Wheeler, William Wirt

Wiggins, John C

Williams, John C

Woodworth, Erastas

Woodworth, George

Woodworth, Nestor

Wheeler, Levi

Sources: State Law Town justices. At one time, town justices served as members of the town board in some towns. This is no longer the case. Beginning January 1, 1980, all town justices perform judicial functions only (Ch. 739, L. 1976).

Morrison, Town of Covert as noted, Patterson, Between the Lakes, as noted.

Dewitt's Diary 1919 Friday January 3, Snowing this morning with prospects for sleighing. Expect to play basket ball with Ovid tonight on the Ovid court. Two members of the team are sick but will take Ed Demund, C. Doolittle, David Williams, LJB [his brother Lemuel], and myself to Ovid tonight. Played five games this season, lost three of them, to Odessa, Ithaca, and Geneva.
We trimmed Ovid tonight in regular style, Interlaken 43 Ovid 10. Stopped snowing tonight and some colder. Temperature 18 which is the coldest this winter so far.