Bowie County, TX Family Group Sheet for John Cowen Family

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SUBMITTED BY: Rebecca Cowen-Rutter
e-mail: rebalee53@hotmail.com
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HUSBAND: John COWEN
date and place of birth: July 5, 1853 (approx. birth yr) NC
date and place of marriage: 1892  Bowie County, TX
other marriages: Virginia Jones, Sally Gay
military service:
date and place of death: Jan 30, 1923  Bowie County, TX Buried Springhill Cem.
father: Joseph COWEN
mother: Mary Malinda LONG
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WIFE:  Cora Edna ASKEW  (3rd wife)
date and place of birth: Aug 3, 1874
other marriages:
date and place of marriage: 1892 Bowie County, TX
date and place of death: Oct 1, 1922 Bowie Co, TX Buried Springhill Cem.
father: Britton Gatewood ASKEW
mother: Susan Powell WARD
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CHILD 1: Maggie May COWEN
date and place of birth: Jan 1, 1893 TX
married:
date and place of marriage:
other marriages:
date and place of death: June 20, 1909, Bowie County, TX
buried Springhill Cemetery
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CHILD 2:Thomas Powell COWEN, Sr (I)
date and place of birth: Nov 24, 1894, TX
married: Abbie Lee MANOR
date and place of marriage: July 14, 1913, TX
other marriages:
date and place of death: Mar 23, 1917, DeKalb, TX
buried Springhill Cemetery
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CHILD 3: Susan Vela COWEN
date and place of birth: Sept 18, 1896, TX
married: Quitman "Son" POPE
date and place of marriage: Dec 21, 1913
other marriages:
date and place of death: March 3, 1917, TX
buried Springhill Cem
...........................................................................
CHILD 4: Madie Ora COWEN
date and place of birth: Sept 7, 1898, TX
married: Arthur DUNSON
date and place of marriage: Dec 20, 1918, TX
other marriages:
date and place of death: Aug 24, 1956, TX
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CHILD 5: Vadie COWEN
date and place of birth: Dec 18, 1900, TX
married: Julian Ambrose BREWER
date and place of marriage: Dec 18, 1918 Bowie County, TX
other marriages:
date and place of death: Oct 2, 1983
buried Woodmen Cem. DeKalb, TX
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CHILD 6: Johnnie Aubrey COWEN
date and place of birth: June 1, 1902, TX
married: Myrtle Louise CLEGHORN
date and place of marriage: June 16, 1928 TX
other marriages:
date and place of death: Sep 3, 1969 TX
buried Springhill Cem
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CHILD 7: Myrtle E. COWEN
date and place of birth: May 8, 1904, TX
married:
date and place of marriage:
other marriages:
date and place of death: Aug 9, 1907 Bowie Co., TX
buried Springhill Cem
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CHILD 8: Ruby COWEN
date and place of birth:  Jan 3, 1909, TX
married: SEMLINGER
date and place of marriage:
other marriages:
date and place of death: Dec 27, 1984
buried Springhill Cem.
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FIRST WIFE:  Virgina JONES
date and place of birth:  1860
date and place of marriage:
other marriages: 
date and place of death: Mar 16, 1884 Bowie County, TX
father: William M. JONES
mother: Dorcus J. McCRARY
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CHILD 1: Mary Johana COWEN
date and place of birth: Sept 12, 1879 TX
married: James Garrison POPE
date and place of marriage: Sept 18, 1910
other marriages:
date and place of death: July 12, 1942 TX
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CHILD 2: Hewett COWEN
date and place of birth: Feb 11, 1884, TX
married:
date and place of marriage:
other marriages:
date and place of death: May 2, 1899, TX
buried Springhill Cem.
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SECOND WIFE: Sally GAY
date and place of birth:
date and place of marriage:
other marriages:
date and place of death: Jan 29, 1892
father: Joseph GAY
mother: Jane O'NEIL

CHILD 1: Eva Jane COWEN
date and place of birth:
married: CALDWELL
date and place of marriage:
other marriages:
date and place of death:
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CHILD 2:  Estelle COWEN
date and place of birth: Dec 30, 1884  TX
married: J.B. McCRARY
date and place of marriage: Dec 5, 1901 TX
other marriages:
date and place of death:
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CHILD 3: Charley M. COWEN
date and place of birth: Sept 3, 1887, TX
married:
date and place of marriage:
other marriages:
date and place of death: Oct 5, 1887, TX
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CHILD 4: Infant son COWEN
date and place of birth: Jan 14, 1892, TX
married:
date and place of marriage:
other marriages:
date and place of death: Jan 15, 1892, TX
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SOURCES: Census records, burial records, land records, and numerous descendants of this line.
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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.