Founder of the town of Covington Texas

Born in Anson County, NC. His father held property in Anson and Union Counties, as well as a cotton plantation in Monroe County, MS. He spent his youth in these places. As a young man he met and fell in love with Martha Wall Covington. They were married 05 Apr 1838.

By reviewing the census for this family and considering the birth dates of their children I have been able to summized this family's trek from North Carolina to Mississippi and Mississippi to Texas. By late Nov 1846 Martha had given birth to their first six children and James made the descision to move to Texas. His father owned a cotton plantation at Prairie Station near Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi. During 1847 James loaded up his wagons with his family, their belongings, their many slaves and departed North Carolina for Texas with a stop off in Mississippi.

Their next two children were born while they were living in Mississippi. George was born Jan 1849 and David was born Dec 1850. At some point during 1851 James moved his family to Texas. James founded Covington Texas in 1852. Their next daughter was born in Covington Texas in Jan 1853. James and Martha had 4 more children in Covington Texas.

In total 13 children were born to James and Martha. With the exception of little Susannah all lived to adulthood.

About 1860, with the help of his brother Philip, James established Gathings College. It contained a military academy and enrolled hundreds of students from all over Texas as well as surrounding states.

Gathings and his brother Philip also developed a successful ranching operation that at one time included 1,200 cattle and 700 horses. He and T. M. Westbrook are credited with introducing Durham cattle into Texas.

In 1861 civil war broke out and James' sons enlisted in Co A 12th Texas Calvary. His sons survived the civil war, however he lost his son-in-law Joseph Weir Captain of Co A 12th Texas Calvary.

After the civil war during reconstruction James' son James was wrongfully accussed of killing someone and the state police were sent by the governor to arrest young James. An account can be read regarding this matter at TSHA online article titled "Hill County Rebellion".

Martha passed away in 1870. On 11 Sep 1872 James married Eliza Jane Powell Covington. She was the widow of John Covington, Martha's brother.