The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-10-30

being now in as good financial condi-
| tion as ever before. He has nearly
! reaehed his three score and ten years
| of age, but Is yet as vigorous as man
of fifty, and conducts personally ali of
his business interests which are extern
sive. During his connection with the
| Greenville Coach Factory, that estab-
prietary changes. The firm Of Cover,
Cox 81 Cover, which was formed on
! his accession, was succeeded in order
mentioned by the firm, Cover, Cox g.
Markley, Cover, Cox, Markley 81 Com
pany, and Cover, Cox 81 Markley. Mr..
Covers connection with it ceased in
1877. Meanwhile in 1876 he had form
ed % partnership with a Mr.. Sumner,
and the firm of Cover & Sumner estab-
lished sash, door and blind business.
In 1876 Mr.. Cover purchased the inter-
est of Mr.. Sumner, and January, 1878,
| the firm of Cover, Shumate 81 Reilly
was formed. Mr.. Shumate retired in
| 1882, after which the firm continued
under the name of Cover s. Reilly un-
I'll it was dissolved by the death of Mr..
Reilly in 1889. Since then Mr.. Cover
has taken his eldest son, Arthur G.
Cover, as his partner, and the busi-
II. @. Cover & Son. This firm, besides
dealing in sash, doors and blinds, all
kinds of building material and coal,
does u large insurance and drayage
business. Their main warehouse is
two-story brick, S7x120 feet, metal roof
with storage capacity for 1900 bales of
cotton, for which purpose it was origi-
nally built. The office is located in it
and the whole is fitted up with all
Adjacent to this is another substantial
building used as the stable of the
Greenville Street Railway Company,
of which Mr.. Cover is owner, public
hall in second story and adjoining lot
| is used by them as coal and supply
yard. They also have a ware house
octagonal in form and of largo capa
city, near the Air Line depot, which is
likewise used for the storage OF their
their heavy goods, such as lime, ce-
ment, dressed lumber, shingles, laths,
etc. They do q general drayage busi-
ness in connection with the street rail
way, utilizing twenty wagons and about
| thirty head of horses and mules. In
the insurance line they represent sew
eral Of the leading companies of this
country and Europe.
Mr.. Cover was elected mayor of
Greenville in 1870, upon the issue of
whether or not a bridge should be
erected at the Main street crossing of
the Reedy river. He was in favor of
the bridge, while his opponent was
against it. After q warm contest Mr..
Cover was elected. He pushed ahead
and contracted for the structure, not
withstanding the fact that the alder
manic ticket, opposed to him, was
elected, and he had their opposition to
surmount. The bridge took the name
of the man who was responsible for its
existence, and has ever since been
known as the Cover bridge. 1t has
been so popular that in 1889 it was re-
placed by handsome iron structure,
which goes to show that Covers
course had met with public approval,
and that the bridge is regarded as in
| dispensable.
Mr.. Cover has also been active in
educational matters. At the first meet
ing Of the citizens in 1885, called to de-
| eide whether or not an additional tax
should be levied for the purpose of es
tablishing a graded school in the city,
| he was an ardent advocate OF the tax,
and was, with others, instrumental in
| eifecting an educational organization.
He was elected member of tho board
Of trustees and was chosen its chair
man, which position he still holds.
Soon after this public meeting the
State Legislature was petitioned by
| the citiZens to authorize the issue of
bonds to meet the expense of erecting
the graded school buildings, but that
body refused it's sanction on account of
a protest signed by many OF our prom
| inent citizens. Mr.. Cover took up the
work anew, and in 1887 secured an cleo
tion in the city, by which nearly
unanimous vote was cast in favor Of
issuing the bonds. Yielding to this
unammity, the Legislature passed bill
authorizing and requiring the city
council to issue the bonds. They were
issued to the amount of $4,000, and
! placed in Mr.. Covers hands to nego-
tiate. He sold the bonds and purchas-
ed the most eligible and desirable lots
on which buildings were erected, to the
approval of all the people. Mr.. Cover
was chairman of the building commit
tee; large and commodious buildings
were erected, but owing to the pros.
perity of the city and the increase of
| pupil, these buildings are already in
adequate to meet the wants for which
they were erected, and application was
made to the Legislature, and they au-
| thorized the city council to- issue 81 900
moro bonds to erect new buildings for
the colored schools and enlarge the
! others.
| Upon tho resignation of Capt. e. A.
Smythe, in 1889, as president of the
board OF trade, MIR. Cover succeeded
| W UuuU pooioloh oy NilouO vi Uhc oinCo
he held prior to that time which was
|, that of first vice-president. He has
since been twice elected to that posi-
tion and is now the president of the
board. The Cover family is descended
from an eminently respectable English
line, many members of which were
very prominent. OF Mr.. Covers first
marriage six children were born, three
of his second and his present wife has
brought him five. Mr.. Cover has been
an elder in the Presbyterian church
Der of the F.. s. A. M, the 1. O. o. E.,
and the Democratic party.