William M. Covington was the son of David Covington (1792-1830) and Judith Julia (Kindrick) Covington (1801-1872), both of whom were born in Virginia. David died in Rutherford County, TN and Judith died in Polk County, MO. William's parents were married January 29, 1817 in Rutherford County, Tennessee. William was their first child. Their other known children were:

Andrew Jackson Covington 1818-1893
Joseph A. Covington 1820-
James Madison Covington 1823-1900
Lucinda E. Covington 1824-1899
Thomas Gwinn Covington 1826-1897
Frances J. Covington 1827- (female)

On April 9, 1845, in Christian County, Kentucky, William married Frances Ann Payne. In the 1850 census, they were living in District 1 of Christian County, Kentucky, where William was a farmer, and they had one son David William Covington age 2.

William and Frances Covington had the following known children:

Infant Covington 1846-1846
*David William Covington 1848-1929
Mary Elizabeth Covington 1850-1877
James Thomas Covington 1853-1944
Sarah Francis Covington 1855-
Infant Covington 1857-1857
Sue Belle Covington 1859-
Infant Covington 1861-1861
Nannie Price Covington 1862-1926
Robert Benjamin Covington 1869-1951

Son James Thomas Covington was the last child born in Kentucky before the family moved to Polk County, Missouri. The rest of the children were born in that location.

1880 Census of Marion Township, Polk County, Missouri:

William M. Covington 63, farmer
Frances Ann Covington 53
James T. Covington 25
Sue Belle Covington 19
Nannie P. Covington 16
Robert B. Covington 11

- Information gathered by Blytha (Dennis) Ellis

Note: *David William Covington married Susan Fields (1845-1916), daughter of William Fields and Sarah (Hillbrant) from Scotland County, Missouri.