Joseph "Ed" J. Covington

J. J. Covington, Old Timer of Guernsey, Dies at Age of 81

Most of the old timers of this vicinity will learn with regret of the passing of J. J. Covington of Guernsey as he was well-known to many here in the early days.

He passed away at the Wheatland hospital on February 3rd at the age of 81 years and was taken to Guernsey for burial.

"Ed" as he was commonly called, came up the old Chism trail from Texas and arrived in this section of Wyoming in 1882. It was in the days of the big cattle outfits and Ed was an expert cowhand and shortly went to work for the Keeline outfit and later became owner of the home ranch of the same outfit, and for many years was one of the successful cattlemen of Wyoming.

Shortly after the turn of the century he moved to Guernsey where he built a home and established a transfer and livery business which he successfully operated until the horse and buggy were outmoded.

Mr. Covington was born in Lampassas, Texas on February 14th, 1856, and was married on October 14th, 1883 to Miss Ada Bohnstedt at Fairbanks, Wyoming and to this union eight children were born, all of whom are living.

February 1937
Guernsey Gazette
J. J. Covington, Wyoming Pioneer, Passes At 81

Funeral services were held on Saturday afternoon for J. J. Covington, 81, pioneer resident of Wyoming, who passed away at the Wheatland hospital last Wednesday February 3. Services were held in Community church and interment made in the Guernsey cemetery.

Coming up over the old Chisum trail from Texas, he arrived in this section of Wyoming in '82, 55 years ago, in the days of the big cattle outfits. Ed was an expert cow hand and shortly went to work for the old Keeline outfit. He worked for the big outfits for a time, and then branched out for himself, to become owner of the home place of the Keeline outfit, and for many years was one of the successful cattlemen of Wyoming. His first home, however, was on the banks of the Platte south of the present townsite of Guernsey, where he took his bride in 1883. Ed had a part in the winning of the west. Those days made strong characters. Shortly after the turn of the century he came to Guernsey, built a home, and established a transfer and livery business, which he successfully conducted until the horse and buggy was outmoded. He built the first building in Douglas.

Joseph J. Covington was born in Lampassas, Texas on February 14, 1856 and passed away at the Wheatland hospital on February 3, 1937. On October 14, 1883 he was united in marriage to Miss Ada B. Bohnstedt at Fairbanks, Wyoming. To this union were born eight children, all of whom are living. They are Mrs. Ruda Winship of Sunrise, Mrs. Lulu Lee of San Francisco, Mrs. Sarah Hamilton of San Francisco, Mrs. Leona Blaine of Casper, W. B. Covington and C. D. Covington of Kingman, Arizona, W. D. Covington of Ogden, Utah, and A. L. Covington of Oklahoma City. There are also sixteen grand children and many other relatives. All the children were home except Brice and Mrs. Hamilton who were kept at home on account of illness.

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