General Merritt Covel led a contingent of men during the Black Hawk War and was postmaster and clerk for a time in McLean County.  He was married to Catherine Stapp in 1833 in McLean County. In 1845 he took a position in the government in Washington D C and died there. After his death his two sons lived with another family in Madison County. Lee Covel enlisted in 1864 in the 144th Ill Infantry. After that time, no trace of General Covel’s family can be found in Illinois.

 

            In 1833 William Covell (who later moved to Wisconsin) had a grocery in Kimler’s log building at Front and Main Street. He sold out to Merriot Lyon after being in business a short time.