Milton Coverdale, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller

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Milton Coverdale is a comparatively young man, but has had many years of experience in public office in Ouachita Parish, of which he is now sheriff.  His parish contains the greatest natural gas field in the world, and its sterling development and activity in recent years has imposed heavy responsibilities upon the officials of law and order.  Mr. Coverdale has proved adequate to his task in every emergency.

He was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in 1891, to his parents, George and Georgia (Pearson) Coverdale, being born in England and shortly after their marriage came to America, locating at Natchitoches, later in Vernon Parish, and in 1910 established their home at Monroe.  George Coverdale was a student and possessed of intellectual talents that enabled him to take up and master almost any branch of learning.  Much of his life was devoted to education, and he taught at Natchitoches and other places in Louisiana.  He died at Monroe in 1918.

Milton Coverdale, under the inspiration of his father, made wise advantage of the opportunities of his boyhood in school and home.  Since early manhood he has had experience in public affairs at Ouachita Parish and Monroe.  For some time he served as deputy parish assessor, and from 1913 to June 5, 1916, was deputy clerk of the district court.  From 1916 to 1924, a period of eight years, he was deputy sheriff, and in June, 1924, entered upon his duties as sheriff of the parish, having been elected in the regular election of January, 1924.

He has made a splendid record for the enforcement of laws and has aided in giving Ouachita Parish a high rank as a law abiding community.  Since the enactment of the Federal prohibition law and the supplementary state enforcement law, the duties of the office of sheriff in all portions of the state have been greatly increased, but in this situation Sheriff Coverdale has discharged his duties with an alertness and aggressiveness that have greatly diminished the violation of law.  He has received high commendation for his work by both the press and the public.

Mr. Coverdale married Miss Eleanor LaBume, a native of Monroe.  She is a descendant of the Chevalier LaBume, who was the founder of LaBume.  The three children of the Sheriff and wife are:  Milton Jr., Harold and Mary Eleanor.  The family are worshippers at the Baptist Church, and Mr. Coverdale is a Mason, and a member of the Woodmen of the World.

NOTE:  The sketch is accompanied by a black and white photograph/drawing of the subject.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 315-316, by Henry E. Chambers.  Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.