WILLIAM ALONZO COVAULT, whose valuable farm of seventy-five acres lies in Staunton Township, belongs to one of the old families of Miami County, his grandfather,. Abraham Covault, being a pioneer settler in Lost Creek Township. William Alonzo Covault was born on his father's farm in Lost Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, July 1, l850, and is a son of Erastus and Frances (Shell) Covault.

Grandfather Abraham Covault was born in the old block-house, at Cincinnati. In early manhood he started out for himself and came to Lost Creek Township when the whole surrounding country was one vast wilderness. He cleared up a farm and lived on it until he reached old age, when he moved to Mercer County, where his death took place. He had the following children: William, Sarah, Erastus, Timothy and John.

Erastus Covault was born in Lost Creek Township and there passed the whole of his life, making farming his chief pursuit. After he married he purchased a tract of fifty-two and one-half acres of land and on that farm he died April 20, 1861, when in middle age. He married Frances Shell, who was born near Casstown, Miami County, Ohio. She survived until 1896. She contracted a second marriage with Carter D. Hathaway. There were four children born to Erastus Covault and wife, namely Viola, who married John Smith; Preston; William Alonzo and Horace P.

William Alonzo Covault grew up on the home farm and lived with his parents and attended the district school. Following the death of his father be purchased the home farm, which later he sold and then bought his present farm, which formerly belonged to his mother. He carries on general farming and understands how to make an agricultural life one of prosperity and contentment. His home and surroundings indicate much comfort.

On November 3, 1869, Mr. Covault was married to Mrs. Mary Yates, widow of Edmund Yates and daughter of Samuel and Mary (Chambers) Miller. Mrs. Yates had one daughter born to her first marriage, Sylvia Ellen, who is the wife of William Edward Gillespie, and has two children. To Mr. and Mrs. Covault there have been nine children born, as follows: Ottie, who married F. Drake; Mirtie, who married Charles Campbell; Flossie, who married Charles Derr; Fleetie, who died aged two years; Harry, who married Rose Trabert; Harriet Frances Orval, who married Jessie Howard; and Clarence and Clifford. Mr. Covault and family are members of the Union Baptist Church. In politics he is a Democrat.