John Thomas Covington
History of John Thomas Covington by a granddaughter Lourie Meeks.
John Thomas Covington was born Aug. 7, 1840 in Summerville Noxube Co., Mississippi. His father Robert Dockery Covington, a son of Thomas B. and Jane Thomas Covington was born Aug. 20, 1815 in Rockingham, Richmond Co. North Carolina. His mother Elizabeth Thomas was born April 21, 1820 in Marlboro Co. S. Carolina and died Sept. 7, 1947 in Big Cottonwood Utah.
Johns father Robert Dockery Covington was overseer on two plantations. He was loved by the African-Americans. Who respected his word at all times. Whole taking care of the plantations he and his wife joined the Mormon Church and when they left for Utah their departure was loudly lamented by the African-Americans. We have no record of this part of his life but some of his grandchildren said they remembered hearing that before he left, the African-Americans were against, them leaving, but they will were given their freedom.
John was a very small boy when his parents joined the church. Too small to be lead into the waters of baptism, but big enough to baptize the little negro playmates in the muddy pond much to the consternation of their owners who didn't want the children to be Mormons.
In 1847 the Covington family consisting of the father and mother and two children John and Emily, came to Utah. Robert Laborus was born Aug. 1, 1847 at Scotts Bluff Nebraska. When baby Robert was two weeks old the mother died before they reached the Valley but was taken to the Valley to be buried. Milk was so scarce that the baby was raised on clabber or anything else they could get for him. Meriam Adair was the good samaritan who cared for the baby. Later the father married a widow Malinda Kelley. She had one child, Kate. To their Union was born a daughter Mary. Later Robert took as his plural wife a girl maned Nancy Roberts. To them were born three children, Pheobe, Thomas, and Malinda. The family were in Big Cottonwood when the locusts destroyed the crop in Salt Lake Valley. The Covingtons crop were unmolested but instead of living in the midst of plenty while their less fortunate neighbors were starving Bro. Covington accepted the call to Dixie. They settled in Washington and Robert was made Bishop of that Ward. He took his position seriously and endeavored in every way to be the father of his Ward. Whenever and one needed help, his bishop helped him even if he had to use his own means forituntil before died he owned only a small part of the property he started with. He was a friend of the indians and was often called upon to settle disputes among them. One day Bishop Covington saw an indian beating his wife. He found a good stout willow and after showing the indian the error of his ways proceeded to give him a good switching.
Sometime during his years in Washington Bishop Covington filled a mission. He was famous for his Southern hospitality. His home was always open to friends and strangers and his table was always full. He was extremely proud of his family and one day while playing with a little granddaughter, remarked in his Southern broque, "There thust never was an ugly Covington." He lived to a ripe old age and died after a full and eventful life in Washington, Utah. When John Thomas was twenty-two years old he made a trip north for supplies. As he neared Washington, on the return trip he was met by his father who during the rest of the journey brought him up to date on the town news. "Any new girls in town?" asked John. His father answered that there were several new girls in town. "But the prettiest of all is a Swedish girl and if you don't marry her I thust will." It was not long after that until John after a brief courtship married the sixteen year old Swedish girl Johanna Lundblad and they began a happy life together. From Washington the young couple moved up into Cache Co. They returned to Washington but again moved. This time they moved to Beaver to be near Johannas parents. From there they went to Adamsville. John was a good musician especially with the Violin. Often he composed his own music. One night the whistling of a bird kept ringing through his head until he could not sleep. He arose and wrote the music for his Violin. This tune proved so popular with the ladies he called it, "The Ladies Favorite". He and his brother-in-law Winslow Farr wrote a song called, "The Big Cottonwood Waters". Where ever he lived he and his Violin were called into service. It was a usual sight to see him playing his instrument as he danced the square dances with his partner clinging to his coat tail. Often he walked miles to play for a dance and after the dance was over he would walk home again. He was full of fun and took great pleasure in teaching his children to play and sing. He had a whole orchestra in his family and their friends as well as his children liked to gather around the organ and sing. While living in Adamsville John took as his plural wife Elizabeth Adams. Daughter of David Barkley and Lydia Catherin Mann who was born Sept. 17, 1854. To this union was born thirteen children. They were married in the endowment house and at the same time his wife Johanna was sealed to him.
The family was not satisfied in Adamsville but were undecided whereto go. It was finally settled that they should join the Untied Order in Orderville. They left Beaver Apr. 5, 1877 and immediately upon their arrival joined the United Order. John T. and his wives were good workers. He worked in the gardens and fields part of the time, but most of his time was spent caring for the Order sheep. The indians were bad at the time and exercised great influence over them. He with others were often called upon to make peace with the indians. The United Order owned a great deal of the Buxkin Mountain. They had a big dairy there and also used it for range for their sheep. The indians resented the occupancy of the whites and claimed the land for their own. They were very ugly and the white people were in constant danger from them. Brother Covington was herding sheep on Buxkin when his dog "Queen" a prized imported dog for which the Order had traded a cow was shot while on duty with the sheep. Reports reached John T. that George and indian with a mean temper was making threats against his life. One day while out with the sheep he crossed a deep wash. When he reached the opposite bank he came face to face with George . John T. was unarmed but putting on a bold front said, "I heard you were going to kill me. Now is your chance." George impressed by his bravery would not shoot and later became a very good friend.
About the time the Order was broken up John T. married his third wife Lydia May Carling daughter of Isaac Van Wagoner and Miriam Hobson Carling. She was born Mar. 1, 1866. They became the parents of seven children. When the United Order was broken Bro. Covington Jonathan Heaton and George Adair rented the Order sheep. During the summer the sheep were herded in the mountains and in the winter were kept- Out on the Sand- When Bro. drew out from the partnership he bought a dairy ranch that had belonged to the Order. The ranch was located in the mountain of "Dairy and Main Canyon" Two of John T.'s families lived on the ranch in the summer milking cows and making cheese and butter. Late in the fall they would move to town for the winter. Bro. Covington raised wonderful gardens on the ranch. His was a generous nature and he would give sacks of vegetables to anyone who called. Often he would start for Orderville with a load of vegetables for winter for his families but by the time he reached town he would have given away most of his load to people he met along the way. His home the humble was always open. Everyone was welcome. At the time of the raid of the Polygamists he and his son-in-law Thomas Chamberlain were arrested and sent to the Penitentiary for having more than one wife. He served six months in the Pen. in 1839 with his Violin for company. One morning he wasn't feeling very good and didn't get up at the regular time. He was still in bed when the doors were unlocked for breakfast. When he tried his door he found it locked again. The other prisoners said, "You won't get out now." John T. took his violin and played, "The Old Methodist Prayer," he fairly made the violin talk. When the guard came along he found the corridor crowded with prisoners listening to the music. He swore and said, "Covington if you will stop that Violin I'll let you out." So John T. got breakfast with the rest. After his first wifes family was able to care for themselves John T. with his two wives Lizzie and Lydia May moved to Rabbit Valley Wayne Co., Utah. Where he spent the remainder of his life. June 13, 1908 he died peacefully in his sleep at the age of sixty-eight. He had spent the evening before playing the Violin until bed time. At his funeral his friends filled the building to over flowing. Bringing arms full of flowers to show their respect. Glowing tributes were paid to him for his fine qualities. He never accumulated worldly wealth but he was rich in friends.
Lourie Meeks