Gathings College

Col. James Jackson Gathings
  Col. James Jackson Gathings

James Jackson Gathings, a relative of United States President Andrew Jackson, and his wife Martha Wall Covington Gathings, were born and married in North Carolina. They lived for a while in Mississippi before migrating further west with the promise of cheap, fertile land in Texas. In 1853 they arrived in what was soon to become Hill County.  They acquired about ten thousand acres of land and built their home on the frontier.

To the west on a neighboring hill was Jose Maria Village.  Chief Jose Maria and his group of Indians often visited the Gathings’ home where they traded hides for red calico.  Despite their believing that the land was rightfully theirs, they never harmed the family and proved to be friends on more than one occasion.

Soon after settling in his new home, Colonel Gathings, as he came to be known, laid off 100 acres of land for a new town, which he named after his wife, Martha Wall Covington Gathings. He also set aside ten acres for a burial ground and twelve acres for church purposes. The town land was subdivided into lots of from 2 to 10 acres each and offered free of charge to anyone who would build his home and "lend his influence in building up the school." The only restriction was that no strong drink be sold in the town. Thus, Covington became one of the first "dry" areas in Texas.

Martha Wall Covington Gathings
Martha Wall Covington Gathings  




The Colonel was interested in machinery and established a steam mill, saw mill, tannery, machine and wood shop, cloth loom, brick yards, and a shoe, boot and saddle plant. Covington grew quickly and far surpassed Ft. Worth in population and significance.

In the early 1860’s, James and his brother Phillip established Gathings College, which immediately became the largest and soon the best school in Texas.  A famous educator, Dr. Church, arrived in Covington and became the first President of the school.  He brought with him a staff of teachers trained in the languages, literature, music and art. With an enrollment of over 200 students from all over the state, the school was said to have offered college classes that could not be obtained locally by these young men and women.
  

Gathings College Building, 1908
  Gathings College Building, 1908

In addition to the college, there was a military school established to prepare young men for military duty. During the Civil War many of the twenty five colleges in Texas closed due to shortages of teachers and books.  Gathings College remained open, providing military training to Confederate soldiers. The Colonel’s businesses supplied food and clothing to the soldiers and their families.  In addition to equipping soldiers with free mounts and clothes, he gave flour, meat and shoes to hundreds of families left behind when their men went off to war.

In later years, the Gathings sold the college building and it became a public school, admitting students of all grade levels. Col. Gathings' son, William Covington Gathings, continued the family tradition of running numerous local businesses.

W. C. Gathings Coal & Wood Yard, early 1900's
William Covington Gathings Coal & Wood Yard, early 1900's  
W.C. Gathings Grocery Store, 1895
  W.C. Gathings Grocery Store, 1895


True Texas Tales of the People, Places, and Events of Hill County, Texas