‘Forever grateful’ for pioneer women, Washington City honors Covington as new statue is unveiled

Written by Stephanie DeGraw
April 26, 2023

WASHINGTON CITY — Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson commended the city of Washington at the recent unveiling of a pioneer statue for remembering how women help build communities.

Mayor Kress Staheli praised the early women settlers at the unveiling of the Malinda Covington statue, Washington, Utah | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News

“What you have here in Washington City is unique,” said Henderson, who was one of several dignitaries who attended the unveiling of the bronze statue of Malinda Allison Hunt Kelley Covington on Monday. “Not everyone pays attention to the women who helped build up their community,”

Covington was the second wife of Robert Dockery Covington, one of the area’s original settlers. Both statues reside at the Veterans Park in front of the Old School and Museum at 75 E. Telegraph St. The dedication launched Washington City’s Cotton Days festivities.

Henderson said her research showed Southern Utah was a place to “try to survive, rather than a place they would come to try to prosper in.” She said early settlers experienced challenges such as having too little or too much water, as well as flooding.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Washington Mayor Kress Staheli, who praised the early women settlers.

“Pioneer women like Melinda Covington, who was strong, held true and faithful to their mission to build out our now thriving community through much sacrifice and with an abundance of the Dixie spirit,” Staheli said. “Pioneer women stood shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts to ensure the quality of life we now enjoy. Washington City is forever grateful for its pioneer women’s strength, sacrifice and spirit.”

Staheli recognized many people who made the statue and Cotton Days successful. He thanked the Washington City Youth Council for having the vision to help raise money for the figure and their “fearless leader” Carmen Snow, for the lasting legacy memorialization of Covington. The mayor also acknowledged Sherrie Lou Staheli Tate, who is the chairperson of the weeklong Cotton Days.

The bronze statue of early pioneer Malinda Covington was unveiled at the Cotton Days celebration, Washington, Utah, April 24, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News

“Saying that Sherry Lou loves Washington, its heritage and tradition is a major understatement. She helps keep everything in Washington alive,” Mayor Staheli said. “In fact, I often refer to her as the heartbeat. Much of the work that she does, goes on behind the scenes.”

The event featured a flag ceremony by members of the Mormon Battalion, the National Anthem sung by Dr. Melisa Hinton and the Pledge of Alliance led by Sgt. Brad Coleman of the Washington Police Department, who recently survived a severe accident.

Also honored were Cotton Days Grand Marshal Gail Cooper Smith and Advisor to the Washington City Youth Council Carmen Snow.

The statue was the focus of Monday’s events. Covington was born Oct. 14, 1815, in Crawford, Kentucky, and was the ninth of 14 children. She and her first husband, her cousin Milton Kelley, helped the Mormon Battalion Company A in Colorado.

The couple had a son and a daughter, who passed away young. After her husband passed from pneumonia, Covington traveled by wagon train with a 6-month-old daughter to Northern Utah in 1847. There she met Prof. Robert D. Covington, a widower with three children. Together she and Covington had a daughter. Her husband also took a 17-year-old plural wife, Nancy Roberts, from England.

The Covingtons also adopted a 3-year-old Paiute Native American girl they rescued from being sold into slavery by a band of Indians who had stopped at their home for food and supplies. They were taking her to sell as a slave to the Mexicans in California.

The Covingtons named her Alice. She died around the age of 15 of one of the common childhood diseases of the era. Covington passed away in 1894 at the age of 79. She is buried next to her second husband in the Washington City Cemetery.

Washington Cotton Days activities planned:

  • Thursday, April 27, 8 p.m., free concert with the Bell View Band in the park.
  • Friday, April 28, 6 p.m., Historical Night, free ice cream, wagon rides to the Covington Home for a live tour. Also a free movie in the park at sunset.
  • Saturday, April 29, 6 a.m., Cotton Days 5K lineup; 7 a.m. Lions Club Breakfast at Veterans’ Park; 7:30 a.m. mayor historical walk; 9 a.m. parade. The park activities open at 10 a.m., with vendors, exhibits, games, food, a kids’ area, live entertainment and awards. There will be a car show at Nisson Park, Heritage Show at the Old Relief Society building, with local art, western poets, music, spinning and activities for the kids.
    11 a.m. Tractor pull begins.
  • Sunday, April 30, 5:30 p.m. at the Old School Museum and rec hall; a presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. with a play called “Strength, Sacrifice and Spirit” about pioneer women woman who helped settle the Dixie Cotton Mission. Refreshments will be served.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephanie DeGraw is an award-winning journalist. For 25 years, she engaged in journalism, broadcasting and public relations. DeGraw worked for the Salt Lake Tribune, Associated Press and The City Journals. She was a reporter for a CBS television station in Twin Falls, Idaho. She graduated from Weber State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Broadcasting.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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