History of Benjamin Covey and Almira Mack

From FamilySearch Memories for Almira Mack 1805–1886 (KWVS-3CY)

Written by Grace Covey Jorgensen (retyped by Tiffany McKellar Coleman, 14 October, 2005)

Almira and her twin brother, Almon, were the youngest children of Stephen Mack and Temperance Bond Mack. They were born in Tunbridge, Vermont, April 28, 1805. She grew up with the other members of the family. She was educated in private schools in New England. When she was 17 the family moved to Detroit and soon after to Pontiac, Michigan. After her father’s death in 1826 she lived with her widowed mother until 1830. In this year she visited her aunt Lucy Mack Smith in New York. Her aunt has preserved this record:

“On April 6, 1830 the Church was organized. Shortly after this my sons were all ordained to the ministry, even Don Carlos, who was but 14 years old. Samuel was directed to take a number of Books of Mormon and go on a mission to Livonia to preach and sell the books if possible. While he was making preparation to go, Miss Almira Mack arrived in Manchester. She received the Gospel as soon as she heard it and was baptized immediately by David Whitmer and confirmed by Joseph Smith. She was the 36th member to join the Church.”

In 1832, Hyrum Smith was directed to go to Missouri by way of Detroit so his mother thought it would be a good opportunity to visit the family of her brother, General Mack. Her niece, Almira, Hyrum, brothers Murdock, Wight and Corril along with Lucy set out for Detroit. On visiting Almira’s sister, Mrs. Cooper, she was ill with a nervous condition. At first she refused to see her Aunt Lucy. After a while her nerves were settled sufficiently, but would not see her cousin Hyrum. Her Aunt Lucy told her it was a good and evil spirit acting on her and the bad spirit has almost gotten possession of her, the good spirit was almost ready to be gone. She said, “These men have the authority of the Priesthood and through their administration you might receive a blessing.” She agreed and was administered to twice. A fine dinner was prepared and they spent the day there. When she learned they were not expected back she was disturbed that she had not urged them to stay and preach. The next morning they visited Mr. and Mrs. Whitemore at Pontiac and were treated with attention and respect. Then they visited her sister-in-law, Temperance Mack, Almira’s mother. At first she did not wish to hear about the religion, but later she asked to hear it. She was convinced and by the end of their four week visit another sister, Mary Mack Dart, was convinced. Almira’s mother joined her and journeyed westward with the Saints.

Almira and Benjamin endured persecution in Kirtland and Illinois. Three times their homes were burned by angry mobs. Their first child was Enoch Covey, born in Caldwell Co., Missouri, August 26, 1837, just before the persecution there reached its height. Their second son, Joseph Covey, also was born in that same county just as the Saints were being forced to leave their homes under the merciless exterminating order of Governor Boggs. They named their third son Almon after Almira’s twin brother. This child was born in Nauvoo, Illinois, June 20, 1841, died April 29, 1842. He was 10 months old. Their fourth child was named Hyrum after her nephew(cousin), Hyrum Smith. He was born in Nauvoo, Illinois, August 6, 1843.

In 1840, Almira Covey was baptized in Nauvoo Temple for her dead father, Stephen Mack and her departed sister, Achsah Mack, in 1841. Elder David Dart was baptized for his wife, Mary Dart (Almira’s sister).

Almira’s mother, Temperance Bond Mack, was with her during these troubled years.

There are some members of the family that have copies of four letters Almira wrote to her sister, Harriet Mack Whitemore, at Pontiac, Michigan. In the one from Liberty, Missouri, she said there was plenty of grain, meat, milk, butter and we have plenty of hackberries, blackberries, strawberries, gooseberries, mulberries, blue grapes, little wine grapes, percimons, black and red haws, paupaus, raspberries, wild plums, nuts and some apples and sweet potatoes. She said she was well satisfied with the place but the Saints were forced to leave there also. She also urges her to follow the commandments of the Gospel and have faith. In another from Nauvoo she tells in her own words about the imprisonment and martyrdom of her cousins, Joseph and Hyrum, and the great sadness of the families.

Benjamin Covey received two patriarchal blessings, one from John Smith. He was told on account of his faithfulness and persecution and loss of property without murmuring, his losses would be made up four fold, his friends multiplied 100 fold and his knowledge and wisdom increased 1000 fold, continuing, “Thou shalt be a counselor in the House of Israel, shall preside over a city or stake of Zion and have wisdom to direct affairs right and other great promises. The other patriarchal blessings by Joseph Smith, Sr., and Hyrum Smith he was promised to have a name of honor and posterity of honor. He was ordained an elder March 7, 1842 in Nauvoo.

Almira also received two patriarchal blessings from Hyrum Smith and John Smith. She was promised the same blessings as her husband, and that she would be resurrected with the just.

Some members of the family have copies of these patriarchal blessings.

Temperance Mack received two patriarchal blessings. The patriarch commended Temperance saying, “Thou hast obeyed the Gospel in thine old age, not withstanding the opposition and anxiety of thy friends to lead thee away, the persecution of thy enemies with all the sorrow and afflictions thou has been called to pass through. Thou hast been faithful.” He blessed her that she should have the power to overcome the opposition of her family.

The Prophets Journal at Nauvoo made two entries of visits by Aunt Temperance Mack.

Benjamin was arrested and incarcerated in the Liberty jail with the Prophet Joseph Smith and Hyrum and several others, charged with several crimes of high treason against the state, murder, burglary, arson, robbery, and larceny. They were later released because there was no evidence against them.

In a letter from Alexander McRae to Deseret News he relates that he was in prison at Liberty Jail, Missouri, with the Prophet and some of the brethren. He said, “We had many visitors, both friends and enemies. Among the friends who visited us was Benjamin Covey who brought each of us a pair of boots and made us a present of them.” Benjamin was a shoemaker by trade.

After the prophet and Hyrum were martyred the Saints had to leave Nauvoo. On went Benjamin, Almira, her mother and children.

In 1848, when Brigham Young took about 1500 Saints from Winter Quarters across the plains, Benjamin and his family were in 1st Division of Brigham Young’s Co., Lorenzo Snow’s Company of 100 wagons. Benjamin was chosen captain of ten wagons. They arrived in Salt Lake City September 20, 1848.

Benjamin was chosen to be the first Bishop of the 12th Ward and was set apart February 22, 1849 and served 7 years until 1856.

The first census of Utah in 1851 lists Benjamin, Almira and their three children, but no mention of Temperance Mack.

In 1856 Almira accompanied her husband on a mission to Carson Valley, Nevada, from which they returned the following year.

He died in the 12th Ward area March 13, 1868. Age 76.

When Sally Clark (Benjamin’s first wife) left she took one son and two daughters. She left them on her way back to New York. Later Benjamin found his two daughters and brought them back. The son, Benjamin Nilson Covey, was located in Ft. Worth, Texas. One of the older members of the family corresponded with him and exchanged photographs.

Benjamin is said to have had four wives. They were Sally Clark, Almira Mack, Diana Cole and Elizabeth Skinner. The latter was said to have left with two sons and not heard of again.

After Benjamin’s death, Almira lived with her son Hyrum and his family for 16 years. She lived with Enoch while Hyrum moved into a new home. She moved with Hyrum for another year and a half. Her home was near 2nd South and 6th East.

When Enoch’s wife passed away, Enoch requested her to come to his home to assist with the children. On March 12, 1886, she passed away at the age of 81. She was the oldest member of the L.D.S. Church at that time.

The Deseret News pays high tribute to her in an article after her death. It reads in part: “Sister Covey, who died at her home in the 12th Ward of this city yesterday of old age and Pneumonia, has been for many years regarded as the oldest living member of the Church, having been baptized by David Whitmer and confirmed by Joseph Smith. She was a cousin of the Prophet. Her father, Stephen Mack, being a brother of Lucy Mack, the prophet’s mother.” An account was given of her life. It continued by saying: “She was a remarkably bright and active woman for her age, being able to attend to many household duties up to last Friday, when she was taken sick, and her mental faculties being unimpaired up to the last.

Before she died she called her family to her bedside and charged them to be true to their religion and left instructions for ordinances, in behalf of dead relatives which she had failed to have performed in the temple.

She had filled a consistent life and died without regrets, feeling tranquil in the assurance that she would gain the reward of righteousness. She leaves three sons and twenty one living grand children.” It continues giving time and place of funeral.

Interest attaches to the immediate family of Almira Mack Covey because through them are descended many who are living in various parts of the Church today, and all of them honored in being descended from the noble pioneer, and faithful Latter Day Saint.