Founding of Cove

Early History

Between 1860-1870, Pioneers and settlers gathered to settle in the new land of Cache Valley, Utah. Richmond grew to a staggering 817 settlers, while their state neighbor, Franklin, Idaho, also grew to a nice 150 settlers. South-Field in Utah was an area of land owned primarily by citizens of Franklin for agricultural use. As the settlement grew, some decided to move permanently to their farm land in South-Field.1

Meanwhile, settlers of Richmond also used the area of High Creek for a mill and other agricultural uses as early as 1862. As Richmond grew to its 817 settlers, some began looking to their fields north for their permanent homes.

Between 1871-1880, 13 families from Franklin and Richmond converged to make three settlements: South-Field (Coveville), Mountain Home, and High Creek.

South-Field, Coveville

South-Field was the center of the three settlements and the largest of them. Most families settled in the area. Following the construction of a schoolhouse, after the area's growth, a Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in the summer of 1877 in the Cache, Utah Stake.2 Coveville was named by John C. Goaslind, owing to its geographical location on the east and the foothills and elevation surrounding the community, forming a semi-circle.1

There was considerable confusion in the mailing and directory world due to Coveville. Its name mimicked the more well-known Coalville, Utah, especially when written in cursive. In 1946, Coveville was renamed to simply Cove.1

Mountain Home

Mountain Home was a section of land nestled on the Utah-Idaho border, just northeast of Cove. Primary families that settled the area were the Biggs and Comish families. The people of Mountain Home continued to go to church and school in Franklin, Idaho until the state border was organized. Mountain Home had its own US Census from 1910-1920. By 1930, Mountain Home was discontinued and absorbed by Cove, as mandated by federal law. The only remembrance of the settlement is Mountain Home Rd.

High Creek

High Creek was not necessarily a settlement, but more of an area of land where a small group settled along a creek later named High Creek. The primary family that settled High Creek was the Hyrum Bair family after 1881.

1. Florence Susanna Allen. (1947) History of Cove, Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by Brande Sue Bogden Ridd, March 2, 2020. https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/101996798?cid=mem_copy

2. Author Unknown. (Year made Unknown) Mark Henry Preece Personal History, pg 7. Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by Claudia Detton, Aug 14, 2018. https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/62812080?cid=mem_copy