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The Cove Ward, originally the Coveville Branch, is a ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Cache, Benson, Richmond, and Lewiston, Utah Stakes. It was organized in 1877 as the Coveville Branch, reorganized as a ward in 1882, and renamed the Cove Ward in 1947. The Cove Ward is the longest continuous ward without being split in Richmond and Cove history.
Between 1871-1877, Pioneer families from Richmond and Franklin, Idaho began settling in the area now known as Cove. The original name of the area was South-Field, as many Franklin citizens used it to farm.3 After the area had grown and was recognized as its own settlement, John C. Goaslind named the area Coveville, after its geographical location.1
Between its early years of 1871-1877, the Cove citizens were part of the Richmond Ward. However, after the area's growth, the Coveville Branch was organized in the summer of 1877 in the Cache, Utah Stake, following the construction of the Coveville Schoolhouse. Charles H. Allen was set apart as the Branch President.1
On May 12, 1878, the Cove Relief Society was organized. Wallace K. Burhnam and Christopher M. Funk of Richmond, along with Charles H. Allen and Robert H. Dowdle of Coveville, were present for the organization. Emma Bloomfield was set apart as President with Susan Goaslind as 1st Councilor and Henretta Dowdle as 2nd Councilor.4
The Coveville Branch was reorganized as a ward in 1882 with John C. Larsen as the Bishop for 35 years—the longest serving Bishop in R&C history. In 1901, the Cache Stake was divided into the Hyrum, Utah Stake in the south and the Benson, Utah Stake in the north.1
In 1884, it was decided that a new chapel would be constructed. Built by donations, the one-room frame building was 30x44 feet, large enough for the small ward. It was located on a long parcel of land owned by the church. Later, two more rooms were added to the building.1 Before her death in 1902, Eliza Ann Bickmore donated 2 acres of land adjacent to the chapel.2 In 1947, plans were in operation to construct a larger redbrick building on those 2 acres.
There was considerable confusion in the mailing and directory world due to Coveville. Its name mimicked the more well-known Coalville, Utah, especially when written in cursive. In 1946, Coveville was renamed to simply Cove.1
In 1978, the Cove Ward was organized into the Richmond, Utah Stake, and in 2023, the ward was organized into the Lewiston, Utah Stake.
1917 - 1931
1955 - 1959
1959 - 1962
1962 - 1967
1967 - 1972
1972 - 1977
1977 - 1982
Dennis Gibson
1982 - 1987
Melvin G. Sadler
1987 - 1992
Russell Drake
1992 - 1997
Monte L. Carlson
1997 - 2002
Mark T. Irvine
2002 - 2007
Spencer Geddes
2007 - 2012
Gary Anderson
Present
1878 - 1881
1881 - 1885
1885 - 1914
1914 - 1919
1933 - 1941
1941 - 1944
1944 - 1945
1945 - 1952
1952 - 1954
1954 - 1955
1955 - 1957
1957 - 1959
1959 - 1962
1962 - 1970
1970 - 1972
LaDawn Allen
1972 - 1977
Florence Susanna Allen. (1947) History of Cove, Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by Brande Sue Bogden Ridd, March 2, 2020. https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/101996798?cid=mem_copy
Allan, Clarence. (Year made unknown) James Carson Allen -- Biography with Mission Experiences, Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by comishjames, June 20, 2013. https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/1422796?cid=mem_copy
Lulu Gregory Preece. (Year made Unknown) Charlotte Maria Gregory Preece Personal History, Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by Claudia Detton, Aug 14, 2018. https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/62816558?cid=mem_copy
Agatha Allen, Lydia Comish, Tonna Rue Rawlins, Darla Lee Toone. (1986) Our Legacy From the Cove Ward Sunbonnet Sisters. Cove Ward Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. pg 1. Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by GayleHendricksProfaizer, Jan 9, 2022. https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/139122962?cid=mem_copy