Dale County AlArchives Photo place.....Covington Home (Bertha, Al. )1897 &1997 October 29 1997 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Christine Thacker http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00033.html#0008100 June 2, 2004, 10:04 am Source: The Southern Star Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/photos/gph428covingto.jpg Image file size: 78.2 Kb The Southern Star Oct. 29, 1997 BAREFIELD- COVINGTON REUNION HELD IN BERTHA; 1897 STAR ARTICLE RE-PRINTED By Jerri Barefield The Barefield-Covington reunion began with one mother's casual comment that her daughter really did not know her cousins. It climaxed on Saturday the fourth when the October sun rose on a near-perfect day. An air of excitement if not pageantry - prevailed as covered tables claimed their place in the shade of pecan trees, and a big yellow-striped tent stood in contrast beside a proud, weather-beaten barn. Flaunting their faded colors from the clothesline, century-old quilts made by the ancestors of both families added a nostalgic touch to this welcome-home setting. Memorabilia tables displayed treasures such as old photographs, a wooden dough bowl, a collection of needle crafts, a cylinder phonograph, a school bell and many other time-worn, tangible links to the past. Over 160 descendants and friends from four states gathered for this first- time reunion at the home of Jewel B. Covington in Bertha which was described in The Southern Star one hundred years ago as a "model southern home." The house has been lived in and loved by Covingtons since it was built about 1870 and the changes wrought by time have only added charm. The same old dinner bell that once summoned Mrs. Covington's grandfather home from the field for a simple meal signaled everyone to a sumptuous noon meal. Among the descendant present were Mabel Hanes and Jean Claire Voak, daughters of Bertha Covington Redding, for whom this community was named as she played around her father's feet in 1891. And interestingly enough, among those present was a Dempsy Barefield and Perry Covington. Sam Covington, a sixth-generation Covington and seventh-generation Barefield, welcomed the guests and served as emcee for the day. Manonia Snell, a local historian of some renown, gave a brief and interesting history of the two families. Ms. Snell, Chuck Barefield and Robert Enfinger agreed to oversee the Dykes cemetery, an old family burial ground. Awards were given to the oldest and youngest descendants, and to the one who had traveled the greatest distance. Recipients of this special recognition were 92 year-old Lucille Snell, 10 month-old Randy Keahcy, Jr. and Brent Barefield of Houston,Tx., respectively. Among the coveted door prizes of homemade jam, jelly and wine, were a few original hand-rived pine shingles discovered in the attic of the first Covington home built around 1858 near Clopton. After a period of family recognition and the awards, Betty Cochran and Linda West, Barefield descendants, entertained with a selection of gospel songs. This,by chance coincided with the entertainment provided by the Aubum football game via TV a few feet away. This was a family reunion in the broadest and truest sense. A lot of hugs were exchanged among those who had not seen each other in several years and hearty handshakes among those meeting for the first time. After a day full of fellowship, food and fun, these descendants of Perry Ransom and Permelia Covington, and Dempsey and Elizabeth Barefield left with a renewed sense of belonging, if only momentarily. Their collective comments gave reality to the slogan on the t-shirts worn by many, "Other things may change us, but we begin and end with family." Appreciation if extended to each person whose efforts made this day so successful. Special among this number was a group of young men who were the re- union torchbearers. The energy of their heart and hand, from the initial planning to the final clean-up, gave spirit to the occasion. They were Keith, Sam and Clay Covington, Chuck, Jon and Brent Barefield and Ray Grantham. A second reunion is tentatively scheduled in two years. A Prosperous Farmer (Editor's Note: The following article, under the headline A Prosperous Farmer, He Employs Up To Date Methods. A Success In Every Respect, A Happy Man, was printed in the August 18, 1897 issue of The Southern Star. Joseph H. Adams, father of Kirke Adams, was editor of The Southern Star at that time.) The Star has long contended that tilling the soil, is not only a most pleas- ant avocation, but when properly done, and the management is good, is equally as remunerative as any legitimate business in which man can engage. We have here in Dale county many instances to substantiate OUT theory. One of the most notable ones being MR. P.F. Covington, who lives in beat 13 of this county, about whom his farm, and the methods he employs in the cultivation of his land, we shall have something to say. Mr. Covington's farm lies in the northeastern portion of the county, three miles south of Cloplon on the public road leading from Cloplon to Echo. It is one of the most beautiful, best equipped, and comfortable homes in Alabama today. His residence, a large ten room house, finished Throughout, elegantly furnished, sets amid a group of lowering oaks, making it just as cool and shady as one would desire. The flower yard is beautiful. Filled with the choicest flowers and shrubbery, pleasing to the eye, and clearly indicating that the home is presided over by a Queen indeed, Just in the rear of this beautiful home is a large barn, with buggy an wagon sheds, stables for his stock, and best of all, is filled to overflowing with corn, fodder, oats, peas, and other things of like character. Across the road and almost in front of his home is a large saw, gin, and grist mill erected principally for his own convenience, but is patronized liberally by the public, and besides being a great convenience is a source of considerable reve- nue to the owner. Lying all around him is hundreds of acres of the finest farming lands to be found in the State, which yield abundant harvest, responding to his splendid cultivation. It has been frequently remarked and is doubtless a fact, that there is not in the whole State a better appointed or more thoroughly systema- tized farm. How did he acquire this, and why has he succeeded so splendidly, are natural questions. Mr. Covington was raised among the red hills surrounding the little village of Clopton He married in 1875, when but 20 years of age. The woman he married was a poor girl, but was possessed of a wonderful amount of energy and will power. When they commenced life's battles together and took an inventory of their effects, they found that they had about $200 worth all told, and the groom had an outstanding note for $100, drawing interest at a rate of 25 per cent per annum. They appreciated the situation and realized that if they succeeded in life it would require concert of action, and hard work. This they agreed on, and went to work in dead earnest for success. To use Mr. Coving- ton's own words, "my wife is always pulling on the same end of the rope with me." He settled in the piney woods where he now lives, and ran a one horse farm, doing all the work himself. He has continued to increase his farm, as often as his circumstances would justify it, always "staying close to the shore," and never getting himself involved in debt, thereby avoiding the payment of large sums annually in interest. He has always been an untiring worker, from Monday morning to Saturday night, from Christmas to Christmas never finding time to fish, hunt or meddle in the affairs of other people. When not engaged in his farm, he was at his house making such improvements there as he saw would contribute to the comfort and beauty of his home. Being a thoroughly practical man, he did his own carpenters work, black smithing and mill work, never employing a boss workman, as he did all the bossing himself and reduced expenses. Mr. Covington studies farming just as a lawyer studies his profession. He does not depend upon the Government for a living, and only asks at its hands the protection guaranteed to him in the Constitution. He takes a number of ag- ricultural journals, reads them closely and profits by the suggestions contained therein- He thoroughly understands the nature of his land, and knows just exactly what kind of fertilization it requires for any crop he should plant. He is constantly experimenting on a small scale, and if the experiments are successful he adopts them and if a failure he loses but little. He economizes in the purchase of his fertilizers, buying chemicals and making his own fertilizer rather than pay the difference for guano proper. He keeps a regular farm account just as the merchant does. What he buys he charges to himself, and when he sells his products he credits his account and at the end of the year he knows exactly what he has made. Two years ago he bought a stump puller, and at odd times he has with this machine pulled the stumps out of about half the land he cultivates, and he intends to keep pulling them until his plantation is entirely clear of stumps. He is now working what he has cleared in this way with sulky plows, riding cultivators etc. and with these improved implements, one man does the work of from two to four hands, with more ease and more system. He is perfectlycharmed with the improved methods he employs and will continue until he cultivates his entire farm with cultivators. He has on his plantation a herd of fine Jersey cows, which furnish him all the milk and butter he can possibly use, besides selling each year numbers of pounds of splendid butter which is always sought after by those who are not so fortunate. He looks closely after his cattle, providing them with good pasturage, and protecting them from the severe winter. He raises any number of hogs which are of the best strains, and annually kills enough to furnish his entire plantation besides selling hundreds of pounds in this market every year. He does not have scrub hogs but the best breeds, taking the best of care of them, feeding them liberally all during the year, and the consequence is that he never has an epidemic of any kind among his hogs. He looks closely after the smaller crops such as groundpeas, peas, potatoes, cane etc. raising a bountiful supply for home consumption, and annually selling many dollars worth. He manages by looking after the supply crops,in other words, "hog and hominy," to make his entire cotton crop each year a surplus, and has done this for several years. The consequence, is, that during the past five years while, a great majority of the farmers all over the country have been complaining of hard times, Mr. Covinglon has accmulated steadily each year. In politics, Mr. Covington is a democrat but does not make himself obnoxious or offensive in fact he says that he does not find the time to meddle in pol- itics, but votes his conviction when opportunity presents. Mr. Covington has raised a most interesting family, four boys and two girls, all of whom take a great interest in their splendid home, and are a source of great pleasure to their parents. What Mr. Covington has done others can do, if they will slick to it as close and devote as much energy to his work as he has done. He is a success in every particular and it gives us pleasure to speak of him. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 11.8 Kb