december june 19th century american educator school administrator specializing deaf education states virginia west_virginia born rhode_island son episcopal minister reverend grandson rhode_island governor attended graduated institution recommended candidate holy orders connecticut received orders accepted teaching position relocated vice principal institution given charge entire american civil war entered rank major served staff brigadier general served staff briefly returning serve principal position held selected serve principal west virginia schools deaf blind leadership west virginia schools deaf blind experienced unprecedented success student body began grow initiatives served institution principal death active prominent member west_virginia appointed played instrumental role construction church donation property building site financial contribution majority construction costs early life education born december newport rhode_island son episcopal minister reverend named maternal grandfather rhode_island governor spent childhood princess anne maryland received education common schools years attending academy connecticut worked store clerk years seeking education attended connecticut graduated institution graduating recommended candidate holy orders connecticut received orders educator school administrator blind graduating accepted teaching position virginia relocated september continued teaching vice principal institution given charge entire following outbreak american_civil_war entered rank major served staff brigadier general served staff briefly state virginia recalled institution principal according state virginia considered services value manager public institutions soldier field serving principal continued head school remained principal years resignation institution address entitled nobility dignity antiquity sign language delivered convention american instructors deaf indianapolis indiana asserted sign language gain popularity hearing people taught alongside basic universities century prediction added language departments growing number american universities deaf blind june july selected west virginia schools deaf blind west_virginia serve institution principal began tenure august year arrival found schools chaotic condition decreasing attendance situation improved provided leadership order process reorganization leadership west virginia schools deaf blind experienced unprecedented success student body began grow initiatives found west_virginia counties representatives schools urged state students eligible attend institution board approved recommendation resulting investigation identified students counties request schools tenth anniversary west virginia schools deaf blind attendance reached consisting deaf mute blind students death institution grown student body pupils reforms undertook facilities west virginia schools deaf blind urging state install gas lighting install purposes providing tap water addition school infrastructure overhauled school levels introducing classification system students arranged grades introduced tradition publishing reports annual reports continued released year recommendation schools board established deaf mute students instructed manner lip reading educator described instructor rare ability literature science arts gentleman fine abilities experience great personal influence students took interest religious continued serving principal west virginia schools deaf blind death stomach cancer saturday june known excellence executive administrative officer affairs found president school finished remained day death following death honored jackson mississippi principal stated greatly loss institution presided universal death recognize loss friend worthy confidence official marked ability adaptation duties performed efficiency obituary remarked zeal fidelity noble work deaf dumb blind stood equal methods entirely original personal life married december virginia annie june july interred wife annie indian mound cemetery wife children including daughters active prominent member west_virginia belonged appointed west_virginia played instrumental role construction church donation property building site northwestern west virginia schools deaf blind financial contribution majority usd construction cost efforts described work life prior church construction likely allowed utilize chapel west virginia schools deaf blind hold services addition affiliation mason high standing member
John Collins Covell