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COVINGTON
Family

Georgia~Texas Census: Covington Info
Covington Names in the Civil War



Archibald 'Arch' Covington b. 1826 NC d.? m. Elizabeth MNUkn b. 1830

Children of Archibald 'Arch' Covington and Elizabeth:

1850 US Census: Cass Co. GA, Division 12. Enum: 16 Oct 1850 pg.372.
Dwelling: 1237 Family: 1260
1860 US Census: Red River Co., Enum: August 1860. Dwelling: 512 Family: 512 Georgia to Arkansas 1858-9 then to Red River County, Texas

1880 US Census: Red River Co.,TX. TX. Pct. 2. Enum: 7 June 1880
Dwelling: 70 Family 74

Elizabeth is not listed and may have died between 1860-1880. J.P.Watts a son of a sister to Archibald Covington. Which?

1880 US Census: Red River Co.,TX. TX. Pct. 2. Enum: 7 June 1880
Dwelling: 72 Family 76


Effie Smith - Covington 1875-1958
Effie Smith - Covington
Abt 1940
Effie Smith and Thomas Jefferson Covingtion abt 1920
Effie Smith and Thomas Jefferson Covingtion
Abt 1920

Robert 'Bob' - Eulalia 'Lalia' - Edna 'Eddie' Abt: 1907-08
Robert 'Archie' - Eulalia 'Lalia' - Edna 'Eddie'
Abt: 1906
Edna Maybel Covington - Shawbell
Edna Maybel Covington - Shawbell
Abt: 1955

Thomas Jefferson COVINGTON b. Nov. 1851 GA d. 1931 Pernell, Garvin Co. OK. married abt 1890 2nd wife Effie SMITH b.1874 Tarrant, Hopkins Co.,Texas. d. 6 Mar 1958 Wynnewood, Garvin Co.OK
Children of Thomas Jefferson Covington and Effie:
Thomas Jefferson Covington came to northeast Texas with his family after the Civil War. North Texas was where many who fought for the Confederacy and/or whose sympathy's were with the south lived among kindered kind.

He became a law enforcement officer for the Paris Texas District Court which took him to all parts of north Texas and the Indian Territory. From Paris to Gainsville to Sherman,Texas to Ardmore I.T. and Ft.Smith, AR. Indian Territory was still in devestation after the Civil War in the 1880 and 1890's. Whiskey runner's abounded moving their goods into Indian Territory , murder, and cattle stealing was rife all along the Red River country in those days.
A family story that involved his brother James:
James had a problem with the whiskey and he caused problems with other's because of it. James shot a man (wounded him) over a mule in the man's field and James was fortunate to have his brother's help avoiding any serious consequence. Tom threated to haul him in if he didn't change his ways but instead James left the area. He eventually saw the light after getting arrested and sent to 'Hangin' Judge' Parker's Court in Ft. Smith, AR on a liquour violation according to a Court Docket I found in the Ft. Smith Archives. Ole James was in famous company as Wyatt Earp was docketed for cattle stealing on the Indian lands.

Another story was the Dixon murder in Ardmore, Indian Territory. The incident was reported The State Herald, Ardmore October 17, 1895: M.W. Dixon Killed By J. H. Forlines: Whose Young Wife He Had Hypnotized and Debauched. (yes folks, times don't change much!)
This happened in front of Hutchinson & Lyle's shoe store on Main Street. The young Forlines turned himself into Deputy Hocker who turned him into Deputy Covington by whom he was taken to jail.

Tom finally left his law enforcement occupation and traded it for a Postmaster's position in the town of Powell, Oklahoma about 2 July 1900. Although he was the Postmaster, it was Effie who ran the Powell Post Office.

Tom and Effie were living at Pernell in Walker Township, Garvin County, OK when my grandfather Claude M. Shawbell, Sr. met their daughter Edna Maybel. They married in September 1913. Claude came to Paul's Valley with his parents and siblings in 1909 after his father, Lewis Evans Shawbell sold his 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush Claim in Gutherie, Oklahoma.