Guide to the Papers of John Covode,1838 - 1892(bulk 1854 - 1868)
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Papers of John Covode
- Creator
- Covode, John (1808 - 1871)
- Collection Number
- MSS#18
- Extent
- 0.75 cubic feet 2 boxes
- Date
- 1838 - 1892
- Date
- 1854 - 1868
- Abstract
- John Covode was a prominent Westmoreland County businessman and member of the United States House of Representatives in the mid-nineteenth century. These Papers of John Covode include incoming correspondence with political associates and businessmen throughout Western Pennsylvania, correspondence from family members and other sundry material. The John Covode Papers have been digitized and are available online, as part of Penn State's Civil War Era Digital Archive project.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Biographical Sketch of John Covode (1808-1871)
John Covode was a prominent Westmoreland County businessman and member of the United States House of Representatives in the mid-nineteenth century. Covode was born in Fairfield Township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. After school, Covode quickly embarked upon a career in business, specializing in the wool manufacturing industry. Later, Covode became involved with lumber, brick, lime and coal companies including the Westmoreland Coal Company, which he co-founded with William Larimer in 1847. As his fortunes grew, Covode continued to purchase stock in the Pennsylvania Railroad. Covode's influence in the operations of the Railroad were strengthened by his close relationship with its founders J. Edgar Thompson and Herman Haupt.
John Covode entered politics at the age of 24 in 1832 and remained active in Pennsylvania and national politics until 1870. He began his career with an appointment as justice of the peace for Fairfield and Ligonier townships in Westmoreland County. Starting with the 1845 election, Covode ran two unsuccessful candidacies on the Whig Party ticket for the Pennsylvania Senate. Covode was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1854 and served until 1861. In 1861, Covode became a member of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, which helped President Lincoln make strategic decisions. After the Civil War, Covode rejoined the House and served from 1865 until 1868. Covode was an active member of Congress and is best known for his investigation of corruption in the Buchanan administration, and his role in the impeachment of President Johnson in 1868. Covode was a prominent national figure in the Republican Party and was a member of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania from 1869 until his death in 1871.
John Covode married Sarah Hay of Johnstown, Pennsylvania and they had nine children. Local histories often include the names of three of these children, daughters Susan (Covode) Graham, Annie (Covode) Reed, and son George H. Covode. Of note to these papers is his son George (1835-1864), a Civil War colonel who died at the battle of St. Mary's Virginia on June 24, 1864. George Covode recruited a company of the Fourth Pennsylvania Calvary (64th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers) in 1861 and rose in the ranks from Captain to Colonel during the war. Covode died while leading a retreating raid with General Sheridan between the Chickahominy and James Rivers in Virginia. George was married to Betty St. Clair Robb in 1861 after his first wife died shortly into marriage.
Scope and Content Notes
The John Covode Papers are housed in two archival boxes and are arranged alphabetically by folder title. These papers include incoming correspondence with political associates and businessmen throughout Western Pennsylvania, correspondence from family members and other sundry material. These papers primarily document Covode's political concerns in three basic areas. First, there are letters requesting Covode's assistance in securing government positions, including numerous requests by James McQuaide throughout these papers. Many of these letters are primarily of an introductory or patronage nature. Second, there are letters which discuss the political climate of the United States and Pennsylvania with regard to local elections, presidential elections of 1860 and 1864 and the reconstruction of the Confederate States of America after the Civil War. Third, there are letters concerning the local and national Republican Party. Relatively little documents Covode's role with the Joint Committee on the Conduct of War, the investigation of President Buchanan's administration, and the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. Material relating to Covode's business interests primarily includes material documenting his role in the coal and railroad industries throughout Western Pennsylvania. Correspondence between Covode and prominent businessmen Herman Haupt, William Larimer and J. Edgar Thompson have been separately arranged within these papers and contains information on the growth and operation of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Westmoreland Coal Company. Also included are numerous letters from associates in Indiana (Indiana County), Kittanning and Brady's Bend (Armstrong County), Pennsylvania. Correspondence with family members primarily includes incoming letters from Covode's son, Colonel George Covode, during George Covode's service during the Civil War. These letters contain information regarding promotions, staff changes and personal information rather than George's experience on the battlefield.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials came in one accession. Acc# 231 Purchase by the Historical Society in the name of Thomas Mellon, II, (Papers. Purchase from Charles F. Beaufort of Bolivar, Pennsylvania).
Existence and Location of Copies
The John Covode Papers have been digitized and are available online, as part of Penn State's Civil War Era Digital Archive project.
Preferred Citation
Papers of John Covode, 1838 - 1892, MSS#18, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania The collection was previously cited : Covode, John, Papers, 1838 - 1892 (bulk 1854 - 1868), MSS#18, Historical Society of Western PennsylvaniaGeneral
The collection was previously cited : Covode, John, Papers, 1838 - 1892 (bulk 1854 - 1868), MSS#18, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This guide to the collection was originally prepared byWestern Pennsylvania Historical Survey Staffin 1933. ; the papers were rearranged and the inventory was rewritten by Victoria Nimick and Corey Seeman on September 7, 1993. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in the Spring of 1999.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Kate Colligan in March of 1999.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- Pennsylvania Calvary -- 4th Regiment
- Pennsylvania Railroad Company
- Westmoreland Coal Company
- Covode, John (1808 - 1871)
- Covode, George (1835 - 1864)
- Haupt, Herman F. (1817 - 1905)
- Larimer, William (1809 - 1875)
- McQuaide, James
- Thompson, J. Edgar (1808 - 1874)
- Armstrong County (Pa.) -- Businesses
- Armstrong County (Pa.) -- Politics and Government
- Coal Mines and Mining -- Pennsylvania
- Patronage, Political -- Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania -- Politics and Government
- Railroads -- Pennsylvania
- Republican Party -- Pennsylvania
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States -- History -- 1865 - 1898
- United States -- Politics and Government--Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States--Politics and Government -- 1865-1877
- United States -- Congress -- House
- Westmoreland County (Pa.) -- Businesses
- Westmoreland County (Pa.) -- Politics and Government