There are 2 Covington family homeplaces under or near the lake belonging to the Rev. John Henry Covington and his son, Elisha Benjamin Covington. The Rev. John Henry Covington’s land was located in Mecklenburg County just above where the dam is now. Elisha Benjamin Covington’s land was in Catawba County near Monbo.
Biographical sketches of John and Elisha Covington
16 Dec 1844 – John Covington bought 127 1/2 acres from Thomas Pryor for $550. Bordering Wilson Tucker, Burton’s, Robertson’s, John Little. This being part of several tracts of land formerly owned by John Martin, and by him conveyed to George Little, and by him to Thomas Pryor – Lincoln Co deed book 42, pg 449
15 Sep 1851 – John Covington sold 108 acres for $125 to Henry Hagar, bordered by land of John Covington, B H Abernathy, John McIntosh, and James Nixon – Lincoln Co Deed book 45 pg 525
27 Sep 1852 – John Covington sold 99 ¾ acres [ balance of 127 ½ acre tract] to John Hagar McIntosh for $337.50, bordering land of John Littes, Gary Luckey, ? Norwood , H Hagar, ? Abernathy.
Rev John Covington:
Born 1798 – In SC per daughter, Elizabeth Ann’s death certificate
1816 married a Randall
14 May 1836 – married Lucy B Hagar in Lincoln Co
1840 census in Lincoln Co
1850 census in Lincoln Co
Death 24 May 1854 in Mecklenburg Co. Rev John was a Methodist circuit rider and died while in Mecklenburg Co and is buried in Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Elisha Benjamin Covington – 5th child of John and Lucy Hagar Covington
1 May 1874 – Ben bought 20 acres joining lands of S & E Brown, and P C Shuford, for $160
6 Sep 1907 Ben sold his 20 acres to Frank W Rowe Deed book 185 pg 13. In 1959 This tract was owned by Max Robert Rowe deed book 580 pg107
Elisha Benjamin Covington:
Born 13 Dec 1846 in Lincoln Co
1850 census Lincoln Co, at home on farm of Rev John Covington
1860 census Gaston Co – factory hand, with his mother
21 Jul 1863 Military, Co I, NC Light Artillery, living in Mecklenburg county per military records
9 Sep 1866 Married Lucinda Eisley Abernathy in Catawba Co,
1870 census in Hamilton, Catawba Co – Living with mother-in-law Ben and wife both work in cotton mill
30 Oct 1877 Married Mary Emma Day
1880 census in Catawba, Catawba Co – Farmer
1894 from articles in the Newton Enterprise Ben was #1 boss of the Long Island Mill and son Tom was # 2 boss of the second floor
1900 census Catawba Twp, Shawnee Precinct, Catawba Co – Farmer
15 Aug 1901 Married Adella Moore in Catawba Co
1910 census Huntersville, Mecklenburg Co – Farming, own farm
1920 census Poplar Tent, Cabarrus Co –Carder, in Cotton Mill
Died 28 Aug 1924 at home of a daughter and is buried in Concord church Cemetery, Catawba Co. – has no marker
Family stories record that Ben grew up on family farm, worked in either Long Island or east Monbo Mills and became superintendent of East Monbo Mill. In 1905, he lived in Huntersville, Mecklenburg County and worked in meat market. In 1910, he farmed while on the Sloan Place at Caldwell Station in Mecklenburg Co. In 1916, a flood destroyed the mill. In 1917, he helped install machinery in the new Norcott Mill in Concord, Iredell Co [Cannon # 10] and then worked on the frames there.Worked in several mills in that area till he became sick and moved to his daughter’s home in Davidson, where he died.
Elisha’s family Bible was found by a Sidney Covington in possession of another cousin. The birth record pages were falling apart, had to be put back together like working a puzzle, and much info was not readable.
Clara … Covington was born between 1893 & 1895 and died about 1908. Family lore says she died in a work accident in either Long Island, or East Monbo Mills
Above info from Covington’s Along the Catawba by Sidney Covington, July 1978, census records, and family lore.
Map available showing approximate locations of the two home places by Sidney Covington