OBIT: John N. COVER, 1930, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________


JOHN N. COVER

Meyersdale Mourns Tragic Death of One of Best Beloved Citizens

John N. Cover, Retired Merchant, Obsessed by Dire Hallucinations Due to Nervous 
Breakdown, Ends His Unblemished Life by Shooting Himself

  Broken in health and daunted by dire hallucinations, John N. Cover, retired 
businessman and highly esteemed citizen of Meyersdale died by his own hand about 
3 o'clock last Saturday afternoon.
  Never has this community been more profoundly shocked than by this tragedy 
which was so unexpected and so out of harmony with the pleasant home in which he 
lived and the high place he occupied in the love and esteem of his family and 
neighbors, and the fine character of the man.
  Only the members of his household, his pastor and a few of his intimate 
friends and business associates were aware of the deplorable mental state he was 
in for several days before he took his life.
  Fearing that some harm might befall him on account of the overwrought state of 
his nerves and the clouded condition of his mind, his wife and daughter, Julia, 
who were his most constant companions during the last days of his life, kept 
close watch over him and seldom trusted him out of their sight.
  As his mind appeared to be a little clearer last Saturday afternoon, Mrs. 
Cover left the house for a short while to call on her sister, Mrs. W. C. Irwin, 
leaving her daughter, Julia, to look after her father.  Miss Julia, believing 
that outdoor exercise would be good for him, tried to persuade him to take an 
automobile ride, and failing to get him to do that, asked him to rake the back 
yard, but he refused to leave the house.  Having some work to look after in the 
kitchen, Miss Julia left him alone for a few minutes, during which time he 
telephoned his pastor, Rev. B. A. Black, to come to see him.  Mr. Black was not 
at home when the phone call was answered by a member of his family.  Mr. Cover 
was informed, however, that the message would be given him when he returned and 
that he would call to see him.

Shot Himself

  Immediately after phoning, Mr. Cover went into the bathroom upstairs and 
taking a .32-calibre revolver that was kept in the bathroom, without any thought 
of Mr. Cover ever using it on himself, he shot himself in the right temple.  
Mrs. Cover had returned home meanwhile, and on hearing the shot both she and her 
daughter, Julia, rushed to the bathroom where they found the unfortunate man 
lying on the floor with blood gushing from the wound in his temple and from his 
mouth and nose.
  Drs. W. T. Rowe and C. C. Glass were both immediately summoned by phone, but 
life was extinct when they reached the scene of the tragedy, about 15 minutes 
after the fatal shot was fired.
  The news of the tragedy created a tremendous sensation and profoundest sorrow 
throughout the town and county, for there was not a better known nor more highly 
esteemed citizen in the entire county.

Long Business Career

  John N. Cover was born at Stanton's Mill, Somerset County, Pa., April 27th, 
1874, and was 55 years, 11 months and 8 days old when he brought his life to a 
close.  His parents were Peter J. and Mary Appel Cover.  His father had a store 
at Stanton's Mill when John was born, but soon thereafter moved to Stoyestown 
where he engaged in the mercantile business and where John spent most of his 
boyhood.
  About the year 1890 Peter J. Cover disposed of his interests and moved to 
Meyersdale and was engaged in the hardware business here until his death in 
1915.  When his son, John, attained man's estate and married, he was taken into 
partnership with his father, the firm being known thenceforth as P.J. Cover & 
Son.  After his father's death, the son continued the business under the well 
established firm name until his health broke down and he sold the P.J. Cover & 
Son store, including store building, warehouse, stock, fixtures and good will, 
to the Swank Hardware Company of Johnstown, which continues to operate the 
business under the name of P.J. Cover & Son.
  During his entire business career John N. Cover had an enviable reputation as 
a businessman, being affable, capable and upright in all his dealings.  He was 
one of the incorporators of the Second National Bank in 1904 and was a member of 
the bank directorate until his death.  He took an active interest in the civic 
and social life of Meyersdale and there were few who did more for the welfare 
and prosperity of the town.  He was an elder and one of the most faithful 
supporters of Amity Reformed Church.  He practiced social equality with high and 
low, rich and poor, his friendly and cheerful spirit making friends of all with 
whom he came in contact.  He was apparently a man of many virtues and no vices, 
and about the last man one would expect to think of himself as a failure and not 
fit to live, as was his obsession during the last days of his life after 
shattered nerves had dethroned his reason.

Devoted to Family

  Mr. Cover married young and happily, Miss Nancy Hammond of Meyersdale.  They 
were blessed with three daughters and two sons, all of whom and their mother 
survive.  The children are: Mary, a trained nurse employed at Detroit, Mich.; 
Julia, at home; Sara, a student in a girls' school at Winter Garden, Fla.; John, 
a student in Massanutten Military Academy, Woodstock, Va., and William, a high 
school student at home.
  The Cover home on Front Street is one of the finest and best furnished in 
Meyersdale.  Mr. Cover was devoted to his home and family.  He had an artistic 
nature and was probably the best art connoisseur in Somerset County.  He 
patronized the leading art galleries and art exhibitions of Eastern cities.  On 
the walls of his late home hang many beautiful and costly paintings from the 
ownership
of which he derived much pleasure.  In this collection are pictures by quite a 
number of distinguished artists, such as Costigan and other well known landscape 
painters.

A Circus Enthusiast

  One of Mr. Cover's outstanding fads was that of being a circus "fan."  From 
boyhood until past middle age he was an inveterate patron of tent shows.  There 
was something about the circus business that fascinated him, and during his life 
time he probably learned to know more circus people intimately than any one not 
connected with the circus business.  He helped more than one stranded show to 
get back on the road again.  He was a regular reader of "The Bill Board," and 
kept track of everything that was going on in the tent show line.
  About a month ago Mr. Cover, who had been in ill health, left for Texas.  Most 
of his friends thought he went for the benefit of his health, or possibly to 
make some real estate investments.  It has developed that he went to attend the 
opening performance of a circus in which he had purchased an interest before he 
started on his trip.  He returned home about two weeks ago a very sick man - so 
ill that he almost perished before the end of his journey.  After his return he 
did not seem to be the same man he used to be.  To a number of his intimate 
friends he confessed that he made a bad investment and expressly regret that he 
became financially interested in the circus business.  He seemed to feel that it 
was a disgrace to himself, his family and his church.
  He sent his friend, Fred L. Wilmoth to Texas with a power of attorney to sell 
his interest in the circus.  Mr. Wilmoth telegraphed soon after his arrival in 
the Lone Star State that he had made a sale
and would be home soon.  He arrived Saturday evening, a few hours after Mr. 
Cover had shot himself.

Had Hallucinations

  At intervals last week Mr. Cover called on intimate friends, or telephoned 
them to call to see him, and informed them that he felt he had made a bad mess 
of his affairs and that his family would be better off without him.  He seemed 
to have an obsession that he had lost the respect of his friends and was no 
longer in good standing in the church and the Masonic fraternity with which he 
was affiliated.  He asked friends and relatives and his pastor to pray for him.  
All these things plainly indicated dementia, but none foresaw the tragedy that 
was impending.
  Mr. Cover's last public appearance was on Saturday morning when he attended a 
meeting of the board of directors of the Second National Bank.  He sat 
throughout the meeting without taking any part in the deliberations or voting on 
any question that came up.  At the close of the meeting, before returning to his 
home, he asked his most intimate friend, Cashier J. H. Bowman, of the Second 
National Bank, to take care of his wife and children if anything happened to 
him.  He and Mr. Bowman and Elbridge Kyle had been boys together in Stoyestown, 
and it was through Mr. Cover and Mr. Kyle that Mr. Bowman was persuaded to come 
to Meyersdale to accept the cashiership of the Second National Bank.
  Coroner Kimmel was called to Meyersdale after the tragedy to make an 
investigation, but as it was so clear a case of self-destruction, a formal 
inquest was not deemed necessary.
  Undertaker J. L. Tressler took charge of the body and prepared it for burial 
so skillfully that all traces of death by violence were removed.

Impressive Funeral

  Funeral services were held in the Cover home at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, and were 
largely attended.  Nearly all business places in Meyersdale were closed during 
the afternoon as a mark of respect.
  Rev. B. A. Black, pastor of Amity Reformed Church, conducted the funeral 
services, assisted by Rev. J. Luther Frantz, of the Lutheran Church and next 
door neighbor of Mr. Cover and family, Rev. D. S. Stephan, pastor of the Berlin 
Reformed Church, and Rev. Dr. A. E. Truxal, of Somerset, retired, former pastor 
of Amity Reformed Church. Rev. Frantz read the hymn, "My faith looks up to 
thee."  Rev. Stephan offered a beautiful prayer and read the hymn, "Come ye 
disconsolate." Rev. Dr. Truxal, who was Mr. Cover's pastor for many years, read 
a beautiful tribute to the life and character of the deceased, and his last 
pastor, Rev. B. A. Black also paid a high tribute to Mr. Cover whom he 
pronounced the most loved and useful member of Amity Reformed congregation.  
Both of the ministers who had enjoyed the help and fellowship of the deceased 
brother consoled the bereaved relatives and friends with the assurance that he 
would not be held accountable for the taking of his own life since he was 
manifestly in a condition mentally and physically which made it impossible for 
him to realize what he was doing.
  There were many beautiful floral tributes from friends and organizations to 
which Mr. Cover belonged.
  Interment was made in the family plot in Union Cemetery under direction of 
Funeral Director J. L. Tressler.

Meyersdale Republican, April 10, 1930