Washington in Washington County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Adair Spring

Birthplace of Utah's Dixie

— Washington City, Utah —

Adair Spring Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, August 28, 2012

1. Adair Spring Marker

Inscription.

Adair Spring. Birthplace of Utah's Dixie. In early 1857 Brigham Young called a group of Southerners on a cotton mission to southern Utah to raise cotton. Samuel Newton Adair, the leader of ten families, arrived at this spot Apr. 15, 1857, after leaving Payson, Utah on Mar. 3. They camped here a short time and then moved down near the Virgin River on what became known as the "Sand Plot." Apostle Amasa M. Lyman who was passing through the area recommended that they move back to the spring area which they did. Robert Dockery Covington arrived here May 5 or 6, 1857, with 28 more southern families. They left the Salt Lake area shortly after the L.D.S. Spring Conference held around Apr. 6. On May 6 or 7 a two day meeting was held at this sight under direction of Isaac C. Haight, President of the Parowan Stake. They sang, prayed and selected Robert D. Covington to be President of the L D S branch, and Harrison Pearce and James B. Regan as assistants. Wm. R. Slade and James D. McCullough were appointed Justices of the Peace, John Hawley and James Matthews as constables, G.R. Coley was stray pound keeper and Wm R. Slade, Geo Hawley and G. W. Spencer as school trustees. They named their city Washington. It was too late to plant wheat, so they prepared the ground for corn and went right to work making dams and ditches to water their crops. Their first homes were their wagon boxes, willow and mud huts and dugouts dug in the bank east of this monument. Their new home soon was called "Dixie." Those who came in the spring of 1857 were: , Adair, George W. . Adair, John R. . Adair, Joseph . Adair, Newton (L.N.) . Adair, Samuel . Adair, Thomas . Clark, John W. . Coley, Gabriel Reynolds . Couch, John Jr. . Couch, John Sr. . Covington, Robert D. . Crawford, William H. . Dameron, William . Dodge, Enoch . Duggins, William (Dugas) . Fream, William . Freeman, John W. . Hatfield, Joseph (Hadfield) . Hawley, George . Hawley, John . Hawley, William . Holden, J. . Johnson, Alfred . Lloyd, Robert . Mangum, John . Mangum, William . Matheny, Sims B. . Mathew, James Nichols . McCullough, James D. . Pearce, Harrison . Price, John . Reagan, James B. . Rencher, Upsted . Rickey, James . Slade, William R. . Smith, Joseph . Smith, Thomas W. . Spencer, George W. . Sprouse, Balus (Spouse) . Thomas, Preston . Tyler, Oscar . Wilkins, James B. . Young, William J. and others.

In early 1857 Brigham Young called a group of Southerners on a cotton mission to southern Utah to raise cotton. Samuel Newton Adair, the leader of ten families, arrived at this spot Apr. 15, 1857, after leaving Payson, Utah on Mar. 3. They camped here a short time and then moved down near the Virgin River on what became known as the "Sand Plot." Apostle Amasa M. Lyman who was passing through the area recommended that they move back to the spring area which they did. Robert Dockery Covington arrived here May 5 or 6, 1857, with 28 more southern families. They left the Salt Lake area shortly after the L.D.S. Spring Conference held around Apr. 6. On May 6 or 7 a two day meeting was held at this sight under direction of Isaac C. Haight, President of the Parowan Stake. They sang, prayed and selected Robert D. Covington to be President of the L D S branch, and Harrison Pearce and James B. Regan as assistants. Wm. R. Slade and James D. McCullough were appointed Justices of the Peace, John Hawley and James Matthews as constables, G.R. Coley was stray pound keeper and Wm R. Slade, Geo Hawley and G. W. Spencer as school trustees. They named their city Washington. It was too late to plant wheat, so they prepared the ground for corn and went right to work making dams and ditches to water their crops. Their first homes were their wagon boxes, willow

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and mud huts and dugouts dug in the bank east of this monument. Their new home soon was called "Dixie." Those who came in the spring of 1857 were:
Adair, George W. • Adair, John R. • Adair, Joseph • Adair, Newton (L.N.) • Adair, Samuel • Adair, Thomas • Clark, John W. • Coley, Gabriel Reynolds • Couch, John Jr. • Couch, John Sr. • Covington, Robert D. • Crawford, William H. • Dameron, William • Dodge, Enoch • Duggins, William (Dugas) • Fream, William • Freeman, John W. • Hatfield, Joseph (Hadfield) • Hawley, George • Hawley, John • Hawley, William • Holden, J. • Johnson, Alfred • Lloyd, Robert • Mangum, John • Mangum, William • Matheny, Sims B. • Mathew, James Nichols • McCullough, James D. • Pearce, Harrison • Price, John • Reagan, James B. • Rencher, Upsted • Rickey, James • Slade, William R. • Smith, Joseph • Smith, Thomas W. • Spencer, George W. • Sprouse, Balus (Spouse) • Thomas, Preston • Tyler, Oscar • Wilkins, James B. • Young, William J. and others.

Erected 1996 by Citizens of Washington City and the Washington City Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1961.

Location. 37° 7.923′ N, 113° 30.386′ W. Marker is in Washington, Utah, in Washington County. Marker is on North 200 East

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, August 28, 2012

2. Adair Spring Marker

, 0.1 miles north of East Telegraph Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Washington UT 84780, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Covington Mansion (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Robert D. Covington House (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named Robert D. Covington House (about 800 feet away); Utah’s Dixie Birthplace, Washington City (approx. 0.2 miles away); “Utah’s Dixie” Washington City (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Granary (approx. 0.2 miles away); Prominent Pioneer Men and Women Who Helped Settle Washington City (approx. 0.2 miles away); Thomas W. Smith's Corn Cracker & Grist Millstone (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Washington.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, August 28, 2012

3. Adair Spring Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 555 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 9, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.