Covington is situated in the Northwestern part of Hill County and about five miles from the Johnson County line.

Covington was founded in 1852 by Colonel James J. Gathings.  Mr. Gathings was born in Anson County, North Carolina in 1817.  He was married to Martha Wall Covington in 1838.  The family left North Carolina in the late 1840"s.  Its members had twenty wagons loaded with merchandise they expected to need for months ahead.  With all their worldly possessions and about one hundred slaves, they traveled off toward the far "black lands of Texas".  It was springtime when the caravan reached Hill County.

The Gathings family became the owner of about ten thousand acres of land located on the east side of the timber belt.  He established his home about one mile north of the present site of Covington.  This land was subdivided into lots from one to ten acres and offered free to anyone who would build, make it his home and lend his influence in building up the school.  This consisted of one hundred acres and was the nucleus of the town he named for his wife, Martha Wall Covington.  The only restrictions put on the land offered free were that no strong drink be sold on the premises.  Thus Covington was one of the first prohibition towns in Texas.  Ten acres of ground around the embryo town were set aside for a burial ground and twelve acres were designated for church purposes.

On his own holdings Colonel Gathings erected about twenty houses as homes for himself and slaves.  In addition he constructed a store, house and office.  They were built from logs and boards hewn from the timber.  Into a wilderness they came and fashioned a true, old colonial homestead, whose hearthstone was a sacred place to the family and whose door smiled a cheery welcome to every passing traveler.  It was indeed "beyond the fringe of civilization".  The Indians made their home on the adjoining hill.  Headed by Chief Jose Maria, they often visited the Gathings home where they traded hides for bits of red calico.  Despite their believing the land was rightfully theirs, they never molested the family and proved to be friends on more than one occasion.

Covington, at one time was a manufacturing center that supplied all this portion of the country with shoes, clothing, furniture and bricks.  It far surpassed Ft. Worth both in population and significance.  James Gathings was interested in machinery and during the fifties established a steam mill, saw mill, tannery, machine and wood shops, cloth loom and brick yards, as well as a shoe, boot and a saddle plant ----- all a first in Hill County and among the first in Texas.  Considering that all the tools and machinery for the plants had to be hauled by ox team from New Orleans, 700 miles away, the magnitude of the achievement becomes apparent.  All these establishments were run full time during the fifties and sixties.

After the reconstruction days, Texas continued to develop more and more.  New and modern machinery were brought into the state and manufacturing concerns were established over the country.  The various shops and plants were discontinued, one by one, and now there is little left to show of the "hustle and bustle" of days gone by.

A year after James Gathings came to Texas, his brother Philip came with his family, livestock and slaves.  He settled in an oak grove two miles south of Covington.  The tow brothers developed tow of the largest and best stock farms in Texas.  Colonel Gathings also owned one of the largest hog farms.  Grazing on acorns, the hogs grazed the cross timber for miles around.  He was also a stock farmer and introduced Durham cattle to Texas.

All the activities of these pioneers were not material.  There were three institutions sacred in their hearts --- the home, the church, and the school.

In the early 1860's, James and Philip Gathings established Gathings College, which immediately became the largest and best school in Texas.  It had an enrollment of over two hundred boys and girls from all over Texas.  In connection with the college, a military school was established to prepare the young men for military duty.  A famous educator, Dr. Church, was at the head of the college.

In 1852, a small group of women met under the shade of a tree for prayer service.  As a result of that meeting the Methodist Church of Covington was organized under the auspices of Martha Wall Gathings.  In 1854, this organization was known as the Clearfork Circuit and Mission.  B. F. Kemp was presiding elder.

In 1855, the Circuit was supplied by Reverend Walker, and in 1856, Lewis J. Wright was the Circuit Rider.

In 1857, the Methodist Church, South of Covington, Texas was organized with thirty-seven members.  Reverend Fountain P. Ray was the pastor in charge.

Then in 1897, a building was started by Reverend C. L. Ballard and was completed during the pastorate of Reverend Charles Davis.  It was in 1929, that the present church building was erected during the pastorate of Reverend Hayden Edwards.  Reverend J. F. Renfro was District Superintendent.  The present location was deeded to the church by Nettie Gathings in 1915.

There were also in Covington the Church of Christ and the First Baptist Church.

The Church of Christ was organized more than seventy-five years ago.  It was originally located near the school house and at the place were Leonard Owens lives today.  Mr. and Mrs. Burks and family were early members of the church.  Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Thames and the Nix family have served the church devotedly for many years as well as many others.  There have been three buildings that have served as church homes.

The Cowley family was instrumental in the organization of the Baptist Church.  The members of the family came to Texas by wagon train in 1972.  They were mostly of the Baptist faith.  Cowley's Chapel was first built and later the church was constructed in the town of Covington.  Some descendants of the original family still worship at the Baptist Church.

The first post office was established on July 11, 1855, with Colonel Gathings as the first postmaster.  Mrs. Willie Gathings, widow of a grandson of Mr. Gathings served as postmaster from February 5, 1914, until 1942.  Mr. Ben Sanford and Mr. Andy Campbell followed in this position after the retirement of Mrs. Gathings.  Mrs. Bertie Marbut is the present postmaster.

The Texas and Brazos Valley Railroad came to Covington about 1904.  One of the social events of the day was meeting the train in the afternoon.  The railroad was lost in the early 1930's.  After this time there was a gradual decline in the town.

When Covington was at its peak, some of the businesses were as follows:

Covington Garage -- T. E. Love Owner

Cowan Brothers Grocery

Bradshaw Company -- Hardware and Farm Implements

Marvin McCall -- Lumberyard

C. H. Cartwright -- Cotton Yard and Building Supplies

J. D. Jones -- General Merchandise

First Guaranty State Bank -- M. T. Davis, President; J. W. Harper and R. C. Smith, Cashiers

Cecil and Company -- Dry Goods

Fuller Drug Store -- L. E. Fuller, owner

Martin and Gathings -- Blacksmith Shop

J. W. Rivers -- Grocery

E. C. Henderson -- Barber and Tailor

R. A. Norton -- Meat Market

W. M. Harris -- Mill

M. T. Sprouse -- Restaurant

Livery Stable -- Jim Gathings

S. C. Thames -- Drug Store and Ice Cream Parlor

Hotel -- Operated by a Mr. Green

Gathings Gin

The Sanford Gin

Dr. Joseph P. Wier, grandson of James J. Gathings was the only doctor in the town for many years.  Many of the inhabitants were brought into the world by "Doctor Joe".

The greatest heritage of the founders of Covington is their children.  There were thirteen descendants of Mr. and Mrs. James J. Gathings.  They are as follows:

Jennie --married James Demumber

Lottie --married (1) Capt. Joseph Wier;  (2) Dr. A. M. Douglas

James Jackson -- married Annette Sedberry

William Covington -- married Idella Rushing

Benjamin C. -- married (1) Mollie Clark; (2) Ida Brin

Mattie -- married James McKown

Carrie -- married A. B. Cogdell

George Wall -- married Martha or Mathilda Cole

David Anderson -- married Sue Vivian

Cornelia -- married Thomas Williamson

Ervin Wilder -- married Ada King

Emma -- married James McKown

Susan -- died in infancy

At the time, the Civil War had just begun and men were making the tremendous decision of whether they should fight for the nation or for the cause of the South.  Robert E. Lee, looking over the forts and strongholds in the area is said to have stayed over night in the home of Philip.

Philip was married to Elizabeth White of North Carolina and they had two children when they made the long journey to Texas.  Their children are as follows:

Lucy J. -- married Thomas J. Yarbrough

Mary Elizabeth -- married John A. Stevens

Josephine -- married Henry McKinley

Philip -- died of yellow fever on a drive to New Orleans for supplies

In 1980, as in previous years, Covington is a town that has much pride in its schools, churches, and its community.  It is proud of its heritage of memories.

In November 1974, the town was incorporated.  Mr. John H. Milburn was elected Mayor followed by the present Mayor, J. B. Caruthers.  The members of the council over the period of time are as follows:

W. J. Gathings Marie Rodgers

J. B. Caruthers Myrna Thurston

Jack Hargis Jim Jutson

Nancy Kiblinger Monte T. Richardson

Wileta G. McCall Wileta G. McCall, City Secretary

Since the incorporation of the town, an old building has been renovated and made into a beautiful, modern structure for civic affairs It adds much to the culture of the town and provides a meeting place for community gatherings.  Another abandoned building has been made into a new home for the Masonic Lodge.

A new high school building was built, using part of the old college, in 1922.  This was replaced, with a modern building, in 1965.  The present enrollment is about one hundred fifty five students.  Superintendent for the next school term will be Mr. David Wood.  David is a great-great grandson of Martha Wall Covington and James J. Gathings.

The bank closed in 1960.  This added to the already decaying of the town.  Today there are few businesses left to remind one of the busy little place Covington once was.  Businesses today are as follows:

Post Office -- Bertie Marbut, Postmaster

Cameron's Grocery -- Mr. and Mrs. Day Cameron, Owners

Bradley's Service Station -- Kenneth Bradley, Owner

Farmers Gin 

Covington Water Works -- Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Harris, Owners

Many new people are moving into the community and surrounding area to enjoy the peace and quiet of country living.

Colonel James J. Gathings died December 24, 1860.  Martha Wall died June 8, 1870.  Philip Gathings died April 24, 1895, and his wife died February 28, 1896.  But an atmosphere of past glory and the pioneer spirit of these aristocratic families of the old south continues to live in Covington today.