Joseph V. Covert was born in Mercer County, Ky., December 4, 1821, son of Daniel and Rachel (Voorhies) Covert; the former born in Mercer County, Ky., April 21, 1799, and died October 28, 1887, at the home of our subject; the latter a native of the same county, born October 21, 1797, and died December 2, 1871. His paternal grandfather was Isaac Covert, born near Morristown, N. J., December 1, 1755, and who served seven years as fife major in the War of the Revolution. In the spring of 1825, he came to Johnson County, and here located land for his children, after which he returned to Kentucky, where his death occurred in Mercer County, September 14, 1825. The maternal grandmother of our subject was Anna (Vanarsdall) Covert, born in New Jersey, April 9, 1756, and died in this county, October 24, 1828. The Covert family was first represented in this county in 1823, by Simon Covert. The immediate subject of this sketch came to this county with his parents in the fall of 1825, and settled five miles northwest of Franklin. He is the eldest of seven children, three of whom yet live. Our subject remained at home until about twenty-two years of age, when he began farming for himself, and in 1843, settled where he now resides, and owns 128 acres of good land. Mr. Covert was married October 12, 1843, to Miss Sarah Banta, who died in 1862, and he was again married the same year to Miss Rilla DeMott, a native of Kentucky. To this union are two children: Sarah I., born September 8, 1863, and William D., born February 14, 1869. Mr. Covert is a republican, and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and are highly esteemed by all who know them.