Biography - Wilson Covington

WILSON COVINGTON has been a resident of Bossier Parish, La., since 1841, and his example of industry and earnest and sincere endeavor to succeed in life, is well-worthy the imitation of the rising generation. He was born in Tippah County, N. 0., March 29, 1831, and is a son of Miles and Margaret (Weeks) Covington, who were also born in that State, and came to Bossier Parish, La., in 1841, locating near Red Land, near where the subject of this sketch now resides. Here both parents died, he in 1859, at the age of sixty-one years, and she in 1861, when seventy years of age, both Baptists, the former having been a farmer throughout life, and as such was successful. He was considered one of the best and most practical farmers in this section, was very persevering and industrious, and as a result accumulated an abundant share of this world’s goods. Although at first a Whig in politics, he afterward became a Democrat, and remained such the rest of his life. He first removed from his native State to Alabama, then made a six weeks’ overland trip to this parish, at which time there were very few people here, there being only four families within a radius of four miles. Of nine children born to himself and wife, Wilson is the sixth. When twenty-one years of age he began farming for himself, and is now the owner of a good farm of 380 acres, a considerable portion of which is under cultivation and well improved with excellent buildings. He raises some stock, but makes a specialty of cotton and corn. In March, 1862, he joined the Third Louisiana Cavalry, and remained with the same until the close of the war, participating in many sharp skirmishes. In May, 1865, he left the command at Alexandria, La., and came home, and here, in 1870, opened a dry goods store at Red Land, being a member of the firm of Swindle, Crawford & Co. This firm was afterward dissolved, and Mr. Covington and Mr. Crawford became associated in business, and remained thus associated for five years, since which time Mr. Covington has devoted his attention to farming exclusively. In 1852 he was married to Mrs. Helen (Moore) Montgomery, a daughter of Charles Moore, of Arkansas, in which State she was also born. They are members of the Baptist Church, and he is a Democrat in his political views and belongs to the Farmers’ Alliance.

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Contributed 29 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass, extracted from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, published in 1890, pages 130-131.

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