The Covert family was originally from France, where the orthography of the name was formerly Couver. They were refugees, who, having espoused the Protestant faith, found persecution and trial their lot, and fled to the mountains. Later they found their way to Holland, where the Dutch prefix Van was adopted, which rendered the name Van Couver, signifying "from concealment."

The famous navigator, George Vancouver, was a descendant of this race, and two members of the family emigrated to the United Staes, and located in New Jersey, where many of the decendants now reside. Among the members of this family were Bergen and Anna Housel Covert, whose son Mahlon, the subject of the biography, was born in Seneca Co., N. Y., to which he removed at an early day with his parents, Sept. 16, 1808. They reared a family of eight children, of whom Mahlon was the seventh.

Mr. Covert the elder was a man of religious instincts, of high moral character, energetic and industrious, and so successful as to have secured a competency. The mother was a frugal housewife, and spun and wove to make provision for the family needs. Their son Mahlon lived beneath the homestead roof until his twenty-second year, having during the time enjoyed such educational advantages as a common school afforded. He was in 1830 married to Miss Sallie, daughter of Isaac and Mary Childen, early settlers, and among its most respected families. Mahlon, after his marriage, labored upon the farm for a period of seven years, when he decided to emigrate to Michigan. In October, 1837, he came with his family and located upon land for which he had exchanged a tract previously purchased of the government in Vevay township. This land was uncleared, and the family of newly-arrived settlers endured all the hardships peculiar to pioneer life. He has since that time been a prominent citizen of the township of Leslie, has filled official positions, and been active in promoting its advancement. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and are at present the only survivors of the original band which organized the society. He is a Republican in his political predilections, though not an active partisan. Mr. and Mrs. Covert have four children, -- Ansel, Samantha, Mary Ann, and Maynooth, the latter having been in the old homestead.

Taken from:
"History of Ingham and Eaton Counties Michigan, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Their Prominent Men and Pioneers", by Samuel W. Durant.
Published by D. W. Ensign & Co., 1880.
Page 267

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