John William Cove, M.D.

John William Cove, M.D., of Amherst, was born at River Phillip, Cumberland County, N.S., November 8, 1838, being a son of Richard and Elizabeth (Chandler) Cove. He is a grandson of Richard Cove, a native of England, who before his marriage came to Nova Scotia and settled in Hants County, where he followed the occupation of farmer, and where he died at a good old age. Who his wife was is not now known. They had five children, of whom the eldest was Richard. None of them are now living.

Richard Cove, second, father of Dr. Cove, was born in Windsor, Hants County, N.S., in the year 1790. He followed a seafaring life until 1838. Shortly after his marriage he removed to Nappan, N.S. ; and on giving up the life of a mariner, he settled at Claremont, Cumberland County, N.S., where he spent his last years dying in 1878, at the age of eighty-eight. His wife, Elizabeth, who was born in 1797, died also at the age of eighty-eight, in 1885. They had a family of fourteen children, of whom eight are now living - Jane, Elizabeth, Caroline, James A. deB., Henry Pope, Joseph T. C., Richard Banford, and John William. The parents with their family attended the Methodist church. In politics the father was a Liberal Conservative.

John W. Cove obtained his education in the common schools of Cumberland County and at Mount Allison Academy, Sackville, N.B. For four years he taught school in Cumberland County, and then began the study of medicine with the late Dr. Joseph Morse, of Amherst, under whom he remained for some time. His medical studies were completed at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated Doctor of Medicine in 1867. Beginning the practice of his profession at River Phillip, N.S., he remained there for five years, at the end of which time he removed to Springhill Mines. Here he practised for twenty-six years very successfully. He was also the Issuer of Marriage Licenses and a trustee and secretary of the Methodist church. On April 11, 1899, he settled in Amherst, where he has since remained, and where in addition to attending to the duties of his profession he keeps a drug store. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for thirty-one years, and has passed through the chairs of three different lodges. While a resident of Springhill he joined the I.O.O.F and the K. of P., and on his leaving the town was made an honorary member. A man of genial personality and skilful as a physician, he has made many friends.

Dr. Cove was married October 3, 1867, to Emma A. Sharp, daughter of the late William Sharp, of Amherst, and his wife, Maria Black. Mrs. Cove's mother was the daughter of William and Mary (Bent) Black, and grand-daughter of John Bent, one of the early settlers of Amherst. Dr. and Mrs. Cove are the parents of nine children, of whom but three are now living - Winona E., John LeRoy, and Aubrey James.

Biographies Index / 1900 biographies