TX Family Group Sheet for John Cowen Family *********************************************** Copyright © by the submitter. All rights reserved. http://www.fgs-project.com/copyright.html *********************************************** SUBMITTED BY: Rebecca Cowen-Rutter e-mail: rebalee53@hotmail.com =============================================================== HUSBAND: John COWEN Birthdate: July 5, 1853 - (approx. birth yr) NC date and place of marriage: 1892 Bowie County, TX other marriages: Virginia Jones, Sally Gay military service: Death date: Jan 30, 1923 - Bowie County, TX Buried Springhill Cem. father: Joseph COWEN mother: Mary Malinda LONG ........................................................................... WIFE: Cora Edna ASKEW (3rd wife) Birthdate: Aug 3, 1874 other marriages: date and place of marriage: 1892 Bowie County, TX Death date: Oct 1, 1922 - Bowie Co, TX Buried Springhill Cem. father: Britton Gatewood ASKEW mother: Susan Powell WARD ........................................................................... CHILD 1: Maggie May COWEN Birthdate: Jan 1, 1893 TX married: date and place of marriage: other marriages: Death date: June 20, 1909, Bowie County, TX buried Springhill Cemetery ........................................................................... CHILD 2:Thomas Powell COWEN, Sr (I) Birthdate: Nov 24, 1894, TX married: Abbie Lee MANOR date and place of marriage: July 14, 1913, TX other marriages: Death date: Mar 23, 1917, DeKalb, TX buried Springhill Cemetery ........................................................................... CHILD 3: Susan Vela COWEN Birthdate: Sept 18, 1896, TX married: Quitman "Son" POPE date and place of marriage: Dec 21, 1913 other marriages: Death date: March 3, 1917, TX buried Springhill Cem ........................................................................... CHILD 4: Madie Ora COWEN Birthdate: Sept 7, 1898, TX married: Arthur DUNSON date and place of marriage: Dec 20, 1918, TX other marriages: Death date: Aug 24, 1956, TX ........................................................................... CHILD 5: Vadie COWEN Birthdate: Dec 18, 1900, TX married: Julian Ambrose BREWER date and place of marriage: Dec 18, 1918 Bowie County, TX other marriages: Death date: Oct 2, 1983 buried Woodmen Cem. DeKalb, TX ........................................................................... CHILD 6: Johnnie Aubrey COWEN Birthdate: June 1, 1902, TX married: Myrtle Louise CLEGHORN date and place of marriage: June 16, 1928 TX other marriages: Death date: Sep 3, 1969 TX buried Springhill Cem ........................................................................... CHILD 7: Myrtle E. COWEN Birthdate: May 8, 1904, TX married: date and place of marriage: other marriages: Death date: Aug 9, 1907 Bowie Co., TX buried Springhill Cem ........................................................................... CHILD 8: Ruby COWEN Birthdate: Jan 3, 1909, TX married: SEMLINGER date and place of marriage: other marriages: Death date: Dec 27, 1984 buried Springhill Cem. ........................................................................... FIRST WIFE: Virgina JONES Birthdate: 1860 date and place of marriage: other marriages: Death date: Mar 16, 1884 Bowie County, TX father: William M. JONES mother: Dorcus J. McCRARY .......................................................................... CHILD 1: Mary Johana COWEN Birthdate: Sept 12, 1879 TX married: James Garrison POPE date and place of marriage: Sept 18, 1910 other marriages: Death date: July 12, 1942 TX ........................................................................... CHILD 2: Hewett COWEN Birthdate: Feb 11, 1884, TX married: date and place of marriage: other marriages: Death date: May 2, 1899, TX buried Springhill Cem. ........................................................................... SECOND WIFE: Sally GAY Birthdate: date and place of marriage: other marriages: Death date: Jan 29, 1892 father: Joseph GAY mother: Jane O'NEIL CHILD 1: Eva Jane COWEN Birthdate: married: CALDWELL date and place of marriage: other marriages: Death date: ........................................................................... CHILD 2: Estelle COWEN Birthdate: Dec 30, 1884 TX married: J.B. McCRARY date and place of marriage: Dec 5, 1901 TX other marriages: Death date: ........................................................................... CHILD 3: Charley M. COWEN Birthdate: Sept 3, 1887, TX married: date and place of marriage: other marriages: Death date: Oct 5, 1887, TX ............................................................................ CHILD 4: Infant son COWEN Birthdate: Jan 14, 1892, TX married: date and place of marriage: other marriages: Death date: Jan 15, 1892, TX ........................................................................... SOURCES: Census records, burial records, land records, and numerous descendants of this line. ........................................................................... NOTES: John was a respected businessman. It is known that on display for many years, in the bank of Clarksville, TX., there was a IOU written on a piece of bark signed by John Cowen. In about 1863, a Methodist Church was organized at Spring Hill, Bowie Co. TX. In the early 1890's, Rev. J.T. Johnson was pastor and also school teacher. In 1896-97 Rev. R. J. Smith reorganized the church at Spring Hill and the Ingram family gave 7 acres of land for the purpose of having a church and burying grounds. Chris Fromm, Hardy Jones, and R.A. Jones were trustees of the church at that time. Mrs. Silas (Clemmie) Jones collected enough funds to buy the lumber. Then she called the people together and all the could hammer and nail were put to work. By that evening the church was ready for services. The church building was a one room box house, stripped up to keep the wind out. It was built on a knoll just west of the present building. Some of the early members were William Jones, Bob and Hardy Jones, who had come to this community in 1862, the Joseph W. Gay family, the Murray family, the Farris family, the John Cowen family, the Chris Fromm family, and the McCrary family. In the town of Marsh (ten miles northwest of DeKalb.) John Cowen was appointed Postmaster on June 7, 1888. The office was discontinued Dec, 26, 1888: after that date, mail ordered was sent to DeKalb. Virginia Jones (1st wife of John Cowen) was the grand daughter of Silas McCRARY, a very prominent man in Bowie County, TX. About 1880 Miss Sally Gay (2nd wife of John Cowen) taught two to three terms, at Springhill School Dist 52. These consisting of two or three months each in the summer for which she was paid $12.00 or $15.00 per month. In 1885, J. W. Gray and others went to Boston, the County seat, and made arrangements for publlic money to pay the teachers. The teacher then received about $35.00 per month as a salary for two or three months. This was paid by the county. Johnson, a preacher taught for several years. Then a Dr. Williams taught the school. He later built himself a home and practiced medicine at Spring Hill. Charles Hightower, a Mr. Strong, Mrs. Bell Cain and Bat Merchant were all teachers, during the period from 1880 to 1900. During this period J. W. Gay, John Cowen, Bill Day, Boy Gay, Norman Hamilton and B. P. Phillips were among those who served as trustees of the school.