This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cowan ,Graham Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/DMQ.2ACIB/1117 Message Board Post: I am looking for any information on my husband`s grandmother Hollie E. Cowan born Jan.25 1909 in Locust Grove Oklahoma died March 13 2001 Oakdale Ca. She married Louie Emmit Graham. They had 9 children all raised in ca.Thanks in advance for any info on who her parents might be.

Magnus Cowan b about 1720 m.(1)Lovedy Arnet (2) Jane McAlister daughter of John and Ann McAlister Cumberland Co.NC Children by 2nd wife Anna m. James Bradley Catherine John b. 14 Jan. 1759 d. 28 Sept. 1810 Bladen Co. Married Elizabeth Salter 1788 Margaret m Robert Draughan John and Elizabeth had: 1 James Bradley Cowan married Catherine Nichoson Bladen Co NC died before July 1846 Brazoria Co. Texas 2 Wm. James Cowan married Charlotte Lesesne Bladen CO Wm died 1864 Washington DC 3 Ann Elizabeth Cowan married 1795 Evander McIver,JR. died 16 Jan.1861 Darlington South Carolina James Bradley had 3 wives Catherine Nicholson, Sarah??, Mary McNeel, widow Children with the first 2 wives: Eliza Jane, Sarah Ann,James Bradley,Nicholson, Wm. Magnus, John Robert, Catherine Charlotte, Margaret Julia Eliza Jane married William Uzziel Wakefield Brazoria Co. Tx. Children: Mary E. married Wm Henry Burke Tx Carrie Lee married John Henry Walker Tx. (my line) Otto Burke Walker married Inez Montgomery Tx. Nita Walker Raybourn

Seven generations down to my paternal grandparents. Note surname spelling change: John Cowan abt 1690-1758 d. Lancaster Cty PA Elizabeth Parke I William Cowin b. 1727 Chester Cty PA Mary Eleanor I William Cowin b. 1755 Donegal Twp Lancaster Cty PA; d. 1842 Clermont Cty OH Margaret b. 1774; buried McCollum Cemetery, Clermont OH I William Cowin b. 1793 Hamilton Cty OH; d. 1875 Shelbyville, IN Barbara Eleanor Sloan b. 1798 Hamilton Cty OH, d. 1875 Shelbyville, IN I George Washington Cowin b. 1828 Clermont Cty OH; d. 1908 Sedan, KS Elizabeth R. Lee b. 1835 Ohio, d. 1913 Sedan, KS I Lewis Henry Cowin b. abt 1858 Effingham Cty Illinois d. 1912 Scott Cty, AK Emma Mae Decker b. 1874 Linn Creek MO; d. 1956 Hubbard Cty, MN I Pearl Frances Cowin b. 1906 Hobart, OK Territory; d. 1979 Hubbard Cty, MN Gurnie Eugene Loomer b. 1888 Charles City Iowa; d. 1977 Hubbard Cty, MN Alane Roundtree Eagan, MN

I realized that when I posted my line, I forgot to include a link to the map that shows the area where they were from. The area is located in South Central Pennsylvania near the Maryland border. The county and state borders have changed many times between the 1700's & present day. See link for Cowans Village at Cowans Gap, Pennsylvania. Also, please note that "Hustontown" is located nearby. I have read that a line of Cowans always moved with the Walker and Houston/Huston families. Cowans Village/Gap was founded by Maj. John "Samuel" Cowan, a British Loyalist in the American Revolution. Clay Township is located in the area of Three Springs and Orbisonia. Selea appears on the map as well as Cowans Village. In reference to a previous post of the Cowan/Cowen individuals found in the Bedford Archives, Ayr & Dublin Townships are located near Richmond Furnace. I will post my line again below. http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&searchtype=address&addtohistory=&country=US&location=Cav3lXegv6LFrdndsb4PZ3jmrOvys%2bBokTQMUHmTWLUc5sNrQli4Dxo77gAJiD3h7H8ijDHvt6AxP5MBYo4kww%3d%3d 1) "James Cowen" b. in Maryland Abt. 1795/96 married "Sarah" (last name unknown) b. in Maryland Abt. 1796/97. They had at least 3 children: Sophia, Ann, & James. James age 54 and Sophia age 53 appear in the 1850 Census living in Clay Twp., Huntingdon Co., PA. Also, living with them was a 62 year old woman named, Ann Sollars probably a sister of either James or Sarah. 2) "Sophia Cowen" b. in Pennsylvania Abt 1826 married Abt 1849 in PA to "Jacob Slates" b. in Maryland Abt. 1818/1819. They had at least the following children: John, Benjamin John (possibly same person as "John"), Rebecca A., Elizabeth A., Sarah "Sadie" C., Joshua, and twins James "Elmer" & Eurith (female). Jacob age 31 & Sophia Slates age 24 appear in the 1850 Census living in Clay Twp., Huntingdon Co., PA with son "John" age 5 months. 3) Sarah "Sadie" C. Slates b. 29 Jan 1857 Clay Twp., Huntingdon, PA m. 23 Jan 1876 Huntingdon Co., PA d. 26 Oct 1941 East Pikeland Twp., Chester Co., PA Methvan Worthman Brown b. 4 May 1845 Springfield Twp., Huntingdon Co., PA d. 5 Jun 1900 Selea, Huntingdon Co., PA Sadie & Methvan Brown had the following 7 children (all daughters): Arimathea "Arrah" M., Naoma B., Daisy, Pearl M., Anna G., Violet "Lillian", Bessie Golden. 4) Bessie Golden Brown b. 7 Aug 1891 Selea, Huntingdon Co., PA m. Abt 1912 Huntingdon Co., PA d. 17 Sep 1965 Altoona, Blair Co., PA Harvey Elec Brodbeck b. 14 Feb 1891/92 (headstone & death certificate have different dates) d. 26 Aug 1938 Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., PA Bessie & Harvey Brodbeck had the following 5 children (all daughters): Kathleen, Alice, Eva, Lillian, Kathryn. 5) Lillian Anita Brodbeck b. 19 Mar 1926 Pitcairn, Allegheny Co., PA m. 31 Dec 1944 Glassport, Allegheny Co., PA d. 1 Aug 1983 Orange, Orange Co., CA Daniel H. Bacon b. 4 Nov 1923 Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., PA d. 24 May 1968 Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., PA 6) Me

In my line I've never seen the Cowin spelling, with an i. But do have a change from a to e: Cowan to Cowen.

1. John COWAN & Margaret PATRICK - Scotland 2. John COWAN & Agnes KNOX - John came to Ontario, CANADA in 1817 3. James COWAN & Elizabeth LANG - both came to Ontario, CANADA in 1817 4. Agnes COWAN & Solomon KNOWLES - Ontario, CANADA 5. Janet KNOWLES & John Henry WINEGARDEN - Ontario, CANADA 6. Lucy Jane WINEGARDEN 7. Mary Ethel ARMSTRONG Irene, Ontario, Canada irene@flarenet.com

Just in case you all did not notice this Hugh Cowan is Immigrant Hugh who is brother to my JImmigrant John Cowan. You have my attention, I don't have them connected back just this way so we need to talk about this and since it is not my line, I am even more interested in your sources. I have 1st wife as Ann Mathias and 5 children then Mary Davidson as 2nd wife. This Elizabeth Parke is which Elizabeth Parke? I have your David as being married the 2nd time to Elizabeth Parke so you need to get me straight on this. <g> Heritage Quest has a couple of the Parke Books in their on-line collection. Good post - thanks for making in, but now you have to get me all straight as to why it is this way. <g> Please contact me off this list so that we can talk about this more.I know that there are very few 4 brother researchers and I love being reminded that they are out there!!!! Laura At 10:40 PM 5/18/2005, you wrote: >Here's my line again: > >Hugh Cowan b. Bet. 1680 - 1700 Newry, County Down, Ireland. d. 1781 >Sadsbury Twp, Pennsylvania > >m. (first) Mary Davidson b. abt. 1718 in Ireland, in 1735 in Pennsylvania. >m. (second) Elizabeth Parke. >They had 12 children, including David Cowan, b. August 31, 1742 Chester >Co, Pennsylvania, d. March 11, 1786. >David married Mary Gray Sept. 12, 1769 in Sadsbury Twp., PA. She was born >Feb. 19, 1746-47 and died 1792. >David and Mary had 8 children, including Margaret Mary Cowan, b. bet. >1770-1775, m. Isaac Jefferson Nicoson/Nickerson, b. Bourbon Co. KY 1770, >d. 1809. >Isaac and Margaret's daughter Polly Nicoson b. 1797 Bourbon Co, KY, m. W. >Isaac Moler June 4, 1818. in Nicholas Co, KY. >W. Isaac and Polly's daughter Merena Edith Moler b. Jan. 22, 1822, married >John Daniel Ockerman/Ockomon/Ackerman Aug. 1, 1839. in Nicholas Co, KY. >Their son Joseph Ockerman/Ackerman b. 1841 Nicholas Co, KY married Julia >Ann Waugh in 1862, died a few months later in the Civil War. >Their one son was Joseph Washington Ockerman, b. 1863, married Bettie Ann >Campbell July 15, 1886 in Carlisle, KY. >Joseph and Bettie's daughter Clarine Virginia Ockerman, b. 1909, married >John Ernest Harmon, son of Irish immigrants, and produced 4 children, >including my father, John Ernest Harmon, Jr.

Hi All, I enjoy reading the posts but haven't had much to add that is not already known. My line is .... going from me backward 1. Joanne (Jody) Dillard (Texas) 2. James Cowan Dillard (Texas) 3. Leona Cowan m. Jerry C. Dillard (Texas) 4. Robert Jackson Cowan m Malissia Lee Trousdale Malissia's father was Matthew Cowan Trousdale m Louisa Bush, her grandmother was Elizabeth M. Cowan wife of John Trousdale, daughter of Matthew Cowan & Catherine Trousdale. So I have Cowans in my family twice.) 5. John Woods Cowan m Margaret Wilson McDowell 6. James Cowan, Jr. m. Agnes Jones (South Carolina) 7. James Cowan, Sr. m. Hannah Woods (County Down, Ireland) James is as far back as I can go. Would like to know more about his ancestors. I am hoping to someday find a photo or tintype or a portrait of John Woods Cowan and his wife Margaret McDowell who was born in Ireland. They both came to Texas with their families and are buried in McDowell Cemetery in Bell County, Texas.

This is down to my grandparents William Cowan 1701 & Elizabeth Woods | William Cowan, Capt 1750-1809 & Jane Walker 1755-1806 | James Walker Cowan 1798-1870 &ca 1823 Catharine Colville 1799-1872 | Elizabeth Houston Cowan 1830-1860 & John Wesley Stroud 1828-1906 | Nancy Elizabeth Stroud 1853-1916 &1871 Cicero Gary Davis 1843-1913 | Wesley Clayton Davis 1882-1951 &1904 Lula May Powless 1882-1962 | Julia Lorene Davis 1905-1976 & Charles Alfred Gibson 1898-1979 -- Chuck Gibson <cathal@flash.net>

I don't have much on my husband's Cowan line, but would love to hear if this looks familiar to anyone. 1 Houston James COWAN b. 1851 ARK d. 1926 K.C., KS m. Mahala C. BAGGETT b. 1851 TN or ARK d. 1927 K. C., KS 2 Dora Clementine COWAN b. 31 Oct 1885 Atchison, Atchison, KS d. 10 Aug 1953 Xenia, Bourbon, KS m. William Newton BAILES b. 29 Apr 1883 Frankfort, Scott, KY d. 2 Dec 1957 K. C., KS gaylelaree@iolaks.com http://www.iolaks.com/softech/gayle "Volunteer of Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness at http://www.raogk.org/"

Hi Laura et al, I'll jump in and post my line though I know you already have it. But it's been a while and my guy is so mysterious! Eliah Cowan b. ca 1800 NC (per later census), m. ca 1830 to Sarah Ann ? in GA?, d. after 1854 Ouachita Parish, LA. That's it! No parents, no sibs, no birth records for him or any of his 7 children (born in GA and AL), no tax or land records, no marriage record or wife's last name, no death info, no church or occupation. I believe he's on 1930 & 1840 census in Henry Co, GA, and then on 1850 census in Ouachita. His last child is born in 1854 so I assume he was alive within 9 months of that! This guy has been a pet peeve for years! Thanks to the DNA project I no longer waste hours and hours trying to link my Elijah of Henry Co GA to the Elijah Cowan who's a bit older in a neighboring county. They just don't match! I also no longer track all the descendants of the immigrant brothers--either set! Again, no match! If it weren't for some other rogue matches (sorry, cousins!), I'd think there was a milkman out there somewhere--that he wasn't a Cowan at all! But my Elijah DOES have matches. And some stem from NC where the census says he was born. So he IS a Cowan and I DO have Cowan cousins! We share a common ancestor--we just have to figure out who he is... (For those who want to look, the project is at http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Cowan/ and we're kit# 7989.) To be honest, I'm close to giving up on poor Elijah & Co. Without some sort of miracle (Family Bible anyone?) I just don't know where else to look. Any suggestions welcomed! Looking forward to hearing from more of you! Cyndi in Baltimore

I'm new to this list, but below is what I currently know about my Cowen/Cowan line. Hope someone recognizes these Cowen names as they are my brick wall: 1) "James Cowen" b. in Maryland Abt. 1795/96 married "Sarah" (last name unknown) b. in Maryland Abt. 1796/97. They had at least 3 children: Sophia, Ann, & James. James age 54 and Sophia age 53 appear in the 1850 Census living in Clay Twp., Huntingdon Co., PA. Also, living with them was a 62 year old woman named, Ann Sollars probably a sister of either James or Sarah. 2) "Sophia Cowen" b. in Pennsylvania Abt 1826 married Abt 1849 in PA to "Jacob Slates" b. in Maryland Abt. 1818/1819. They had at least the following children: John, Benjamin John (possibly same person as "John"), Rebecca A., Elizabeth A., Sarah "Sadie" C., Joshua, and twins James "Elmer" & Eurith (female). Jacob age 31 & Sophia Slates age 24 appear in the 1850 Census living in Clay Twp., Huntingdon Co., PA with son "John" age 5 months. 3) Sarah "Sadie" C. Slates b. 29 Jan 1857 Clay Twp., Huntingdon, PA m. 23 Jan 1876 Huntingdon Co., PA d. 26 Oct 1941 East Pikeland Twp., Chester Co., PA Methvan Worthman Brown b. 4 May 1845 Springfield Twp., Huntingdon Co., PA d. 5 Jun 1900 Selea, Huntingdon Co., PA Sadie & Methvan Brown had the following 7 children (all daughters): Arimathea "Arrah" M., Naoma B., Daisy, Pearl M., Anna G., Violet "Lillian", Bessie Golden. 4) Bessie Golden Brown b. 7 Aug 1891 Selea, Huntingdon Co., PA m. Abt 1912 Huntingdon Co., PA d. 17 Sep 1965 Altoona, Blair Co., PA Harvey Elec Brodbeck b. 14 Feb 1891/92 (headstone & death certificate have different dates) d. 26 Aug 1938 Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., PA Bessie & Harvey Brodbeck had the following 5 children (all daughters): Kathleen, Alice, Eva, Lillian, Kathryn. 5) Lillian Anita Brodbeck b. 19 Mar 1926 Pitcairn, Allegheny Co., PA m. 31 Dec 1944 Glassport, Allegheny Co., PA d. 1 Aug 1983 Orange, Orange Co., CA] Daniel H. Bacon b. 4 Nov 1923 Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., PA d. 24 May 1968 Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., PA 6) Me

Cowan Researcher - Michael Green, I am checking to see if you are on the Cowan List. I can not tell from the list of e-mail addresses at the admin site. Speaking of which, there are a lot of e-mail addresses that appear to be people that I do not know who you are, what your line is, or really anything about you. That is a sad state of affairs - how can any of us help you if you don't post your line. Tonight I just went back to 1996 information that I got from Michael and 1997 information that I got that also connected to his family. Why did I do this or why is this important - well, it has to do with the Cowan DNA project. I do look at what you all post and I do go through my files to see if I know anything that might help you. I look at a lot of Cowan Information since I have permission to correct and re-publish Cowans From County Down by John Kerr Fleming. My problem is that I don't stay focused. So please post your line if you post nothing else and please keep us with a current e-mail address if you post to any of the boards. This is important. I have never had another e-mail address, but that will be changing as soon as we go to high speed. That was the requirement to get me to give up my e-mail address and I see the writing on the wall. How is research going for everyone??? The on-line census and the development of Ancestry.com must be wonderful help. I know that DNA has answered a lot of questions, but we need more lines to get tested so that we have a better sample of Cowan, Cowen, Cowin, etc - this is a more the better especially if you are one of the dead end lines that can't get back very far. Public web page is http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Cowan/ I think that many of you will find it interesting. So, I will post my line Immigrant John Cowan m Elizabeth Parke Henry Cowan, Sr. m Jean ( was she a Varner since so many other's used that as a middle name) Robert Cowan m Elizabeth Campbell Robert Varner Cowan m Nancy Caples John Maxwell Cowan m Florence Elvira Turner Henry Turner Cowan m Anna Mae Gregory Emmett Gregory Cowan m Marjorie Buchanan Laura Dianne Cowan - that's me My group was in PA then Rowan County, NC until in about 1903 they moved to middle Tennessee. Others had moved that way before, but my group did not do so until later. Now post those lines and let me know who you are!!!! It is bad when I don't know. Laura

Here's my line again: Hugh Cowan b. Bet. 1680 - 1700 Newry, County Down, Ireland. d. 1781 Sadsbury Twp, Pennsylvania m. (first) Mary Davidson b. abt. 1718 in Ireland, in 1735 in Pennsylvania. m. (second) Elizabeth Parke. They had 12 children, including David Cowan, b. August 31, 1742 Chester Co, Pennsylvania, d. March 11, 1786. David married Mary Gray Sept. 12, 1769 in Sadsbury Twp., PA. She was born Feb. 19, 1746-47 and died 1792. David and Mary had 8 children, including Margaret Mary Cowan, b. bet. 1770-1775, m. Isaac Jefferson Nicoson/Nickerson, b. Bourbon Co. KY 1770, d. 1809. Isaac and Margaret's daughter Polly Nicoson b. 1797 Bourbon Co, KY, m. W. Isaac Moler June 4, 1818. in Nicholas Co, KY. W. Isaac and Polly's daughter Merena Edith Moler b. Jan. 22, 1822, married John Daniel Ockerman/Ockomon/Ackerman Aug. 1, 1839. in Nicholas Co, KY. Their son Joseph Ockerman/Ackerman b. 1841 Nicholas Co, KY married Julia Ann Waugh in 1862, died a few months later in the Civil War. Their one son was Joseph Washington Ockerman, b. 1863, married Bettie Ann Campbell July 15, 1886 in Carlisle, KY. Joseph and Bettie's daughter Clarine Virginia Ockerman, b. 1909, married John Ernest Harmon, son of Irish immigrants, and produced 4 children, including my father, John Ernest Harmon, Jr.

... DEATHS ... COWAN/MILLIKEN, Rosanna - D25/11/1846 - At George Street, here, on the 25th inst., in the 23d year of her age, Rosanna Milliken, wife of Mr William Cowan, tailor. ... DONNAN/COWAN, Catherine - D20/11/1846 - At Wigtown, on the 20th inst., Catherine Cowan or Donnan, aged 88 years. ... ==== SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE Mailing List ====

I have been attempting to find information about the Cowan family who were the founder's of Cowans Gap AKA Cowans Village currently located in Fulton County, PA. Does anyone know anything about this family? I recently mailed the following email to dacooper@usit.net as I thought this person hosted this website. However, I received no response which is my reason for posting the info here in hopes that one of you kind people might know something. I came upon your website in search of my own Cowen/Cowens/Cowan family. I descend from a woman named "Sophia Cowen" who married Jacob Slates (Slates was derived from the names Schloeg, Schleg, Slate, finally to Slates in the early 1800's). Friedrich Schloeg was a Hessian soldier who fought for the British in the Revolutionary War and decided to stay in America after the war. Jacob Slates was the grandson of Friedrich. Jacob was said to have been born in Maryland. The problem though is that this was an area which is now located in South Central Pennsylvania. The counties of Bedford, Fulton, and Huntingdon of Pennsylvania all were part of one another at various times and also at various times a part of Maryland. This is where my Cowen/Cowan line comes in. I believe that Sophia Cowen's father was James Cowen who was married to Sarah (last name unknown). They lived in Springfield Twp., Pennsylvania. However, Springfield Twp. was once also part of Maryland. James Cowen was born about 1795 in Maryland (which may be Pennsylvania today). What caught my eye about your website was the mention that the Cowens traveled with the Houstons. On the map below (see link), you will see that Cowans Village is very near to a town called Hustontown. In addition while searching through the Bedford County Archives (this part of Bedford County is now located in Fulton County), I located the following records: In the Bedford County, Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. 2, page 21 is recorded Londonderry Township Marriages that were performed by Josiah Miller, Justice of the Peace. One of the marriages recorded is that of: May 14, 1829 Hugh "Cowans" to Druscilla Tomlinson "Huston" So far, I have look through 7 of the 7 volumes of the Bedford County Archives and the book Distillers of Bedford County, PA 1780-1860. Below is what I have found: Vol. I, page 108 Land Record: "John Reese, sr. 300 acres adj. land applied for by John Cowan on Town Creek, August 4, 1767, #4261." Vol. II, page 19 Marriage Records for Bedford Presbyteria Church: August 17, 1882 John Cowen, esq. to Eliza T. Take Vol. II, page 21 Londonderry Township Marriage performed by Josiah Miller, Justice of the Peace May 14, 1829 Hugh Cowans to Druscilla Tomlinson Huston Vol. II, page 21 Marriages by John King, D.D. 22 Dec 1784 Janet Cowen and John Highlands 03 Jan 1799 Hugh Cowen and Polly VanLear Vol. II, page 99 Marriages by John King, D.D.: 17 Dec 1770 James Couan and Catharine Wallace (yes, Cowan spelled with a "u") Vol. III, page 109 Woodbury Township Residents, 1814 Jacob Cowan - farmer Edward Cowan - farmer Edward Cowan, Jr. - farmer William Cowan - laborer Vol. III, page 97 Frankstown Township residents William Cowen - 125 Acres Vol. III, page 119 Dublin Twp. 1814, "Bedford County now in Fulton County" Hughy Cowen, 53, farmer John Cowen, 21, farmer James Cowen, 50, farmer Samuel Cowen, 75 Vol. IV, pages 2 & 6 Page 2 Warrants, Patents, Drafts filed at Fulton County Courthouse, McConnellsburg File Box 2 Ayr Townshi A-Q Hugh Cowan Page 6 File Box 8 Dublin Township Samuel Cowan Vol. V, Page 45 Woodberry Township 1817 Jacob Cowan (spelled that way, with an "a") Edward Cowen (spelled with an "e") William Cowen ("e") Edward Cowen, Jr. ("e") Vol. VI, Pages 58 & 71 Births, Marriages & Partions from Weekly Newspapers Page 58 Zimmers, Mr. Daniel m (no date) Miss Mary Ann Cowen of Altoona, Inquirer 5-21-1858. Page 71 Feather, Mr. Harrison m 1/12/1860 Miss Mary Jane Cowen, both of UnT, Bedford Gazette; Inquirer 1/27/1860 Vol. VII, Pages 22 & 97 Page 22, Cowen ("e") State of Accounts of John piper, Esquire, Late Lieutenent of Bedford County From March 1777 Until Oct 30th, 1780: "Militia Fines" - received of John Piper: #10 William Cowen Page 97 From the Daybook of George Wood, Surveyor. Survey for Westmoreland County now Fulton County (was Bedford County)" Cowan & number of acres Samuel Cowan 114 Hugh Cowan 104 ********************************************************************************************************** From the book, Distillers of Bedford County, PA 1780-1860: Cowen, Edward--Woodberry Twp. 1814-1823, value $1354 Cowan, Edward--Woodberry Twp. 1792-1796, 2 stills (Also included in this book in the same township and two near townships were Waggoners, who were also my ancestors.) ********************************************************************************************************* I believe that my James Cowen descends from the Dublin Twp. Cowens and I am researching to see if that family descends from the Cowens of Cowens Gap, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Maj. John "Samuel" Cowens and his wife Mary Mueller. I will post some info below about them. Do you have any of the family genealogy for the Cowens of Cowens Gap (which is now a Pennsylvania State Park)? Cowans Gap History The history of Cowans Gap State Park is of war, forbidden love and hard work. The French and Indian War began in 1754 as the French and British fought for the Ohio River Valley, which included western Pennsylvania. Key to the control of the area was the Forks of the Ohio (Pittsburgh), which was held by the French. In 1755, British Major General Edward Braddock carved a new road from Cumberland Maryland towards the Forks. To carry additional supplies to Braddock�s army, Colonel James Burd began a road from Shippensburg that was planned to reach Braddock�s forces at Turkey Foot (Confluence, Pa.). Burd�s Road climbed Tuscarora Mountain by passing through an unnamed gap that eventually became named Cowans Gap. Braddock�s army was defeated and Burd�s Road was never completed past Berlin, Somerset County. In 1758, the British again sent a campaign towards the Forks of the Ohio. General John Forbes, along with his aide Colonel George Washington and second in command Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bouquet, carved a new road (Forbes Road) that followed Burd�s Road through Bedford county then headed due west to the Forks of the Ohio. General Forbes drove the French out of Pennsylvania. In 1763, Colonel Henry Bouquet again used Forbes Road to break the siege of Fort Pitt during Pontiac�s War. In 1775, Loyalist John Samuel Cowan met Patriot Mary Mueller in Boston. Although from opposite political parties, the couple eloped several years later and headed for Kentucky. The family story relates that while crossing the Conococheague Creek near Fort Loudon, their wagon broke down. John traded their horses and wagon to a Tuscarora Indian chief for the land that now is known as Cowans Gap. John secured peace pipe and tomahawk rights from the Indians, marking a big chestnut tree with three slashes, a sign of peace to the Indians. In 1785, John secured a warrant for the land from the Proprietors of Pennsylvania. John and Mary built their house along Forbes Road, near what is now the junction of Stumpy Lane and Aughwick Road. Most of Cowans Gap State Park is in Allens Valley, named for neighbors of the Cowans. Nearby, Mount Pleasant iron furnace operated from 1783 to 1835. Richmond iron furnace operated from 1865 to 1885. The furnaces� demand for charcoal led to the clear-cutting of portions of the forests in the gap and the valley every 20 to 25 years. Beginning in 1893, Harrison Kalbach, of Lebanon, Pa., began purchasing land and timbering rights amounting to 4,800 acres around Cowans Gap. Kalbach and Company constructed a railroad of wooden rails from Richmond Furnace up the mountain and into the gap to move the lumber to market. Today�s Richmond Furnace Road follows the old railroad right-of-way. Kalbach and his partner Charles Spangler, of McConnellsburg, operated a portable sawmill in the valley cutting mainly pine and oak. The final cut ended in 1907, leaving a landscape of over cut forests and erosion from non-conservation minded forestry practices. In 1933, to relieve the rampant unemployment of the Great Depression, President Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The young men in the CCC received food, clothes and a small paycheck. The CCC boys built roads, trails and recreational facilities, fought fires, planted trees and did many other conservation activities. Richmond Furnace Camp S-54 was built next to the new forestry station here at Cowans Gap. The camp was locally called Camp Fox for an enrollee killed in an accident while stationed at the camp. The first enrollees to the camp lived in tents while they built a camp for themselves. From 1933 to 1941, the CCC built 30 miles of road, four bridges, 32 miles of fire trails and 11 miles of telephone lines. In Cowans Gap State Park, the CCC built the cabins, picnic shelters and spent three years building the dam. The Cowans Gap Rustic Cabins are on the National Register of Historic Places. Improvements have continued at Cowans Gap, with additions like the campground and modern restrooms. In 2002, Cowans Gap State Park closed to visitors for a year-long renovation to upgrade many facilities. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COWANS GAP INFORMATION: John Samuel Cowan went by his middle name, Samuel and served as a British Officer during the Revolutionary War. He married the daughter of a wealthy Boston merchant when they eloped to Chambersburg. See history below: Copyright: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks-Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks Courtesy of Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks Cowans Gap was named after Major Samuel Cowans. Major Cowans was a British officer during the Revolutionary War. He fell in love with the daughter of a Boston merchant, but being a British officer he was rejected by his love's father. After the war, he returned to Boston and the two eloped to Chambersburg. After a few years, they decided to move to the bluegrass Region of Kentucky. Their wagon broke down en route and they traded their wagon to an American Indian chief for the tract of land that later became known as Cowans Gap. Description - Cowans Gap State Park is a 1,085-acre park located in a beautiful valley of the scenic Tuscarora Mountains of Fulton County. The state forest land surrounding the park offers visitors with an abundance of natural beauty during all seasons of the year. Cowan Gap is a wonderful relaxing park to visit. It offers lake swimming during the summer months, boat launches, trout fishing, shady picnic groves, 10 miles of hiking trails, a campground and 10 rustic cabins. There is also a group tent area for youth and organized groups. The park is used during the winter months for ice fishing, ice skating and cross-country skiing. Cowans Gap State Park also offers a wide variety of environmental education and interpretive programs. Through hands-on activities, guided walks and campfire programs, participants gain appreciation, understanding and develop a sense of stewardship toward natural and cultural resources. Curriculum based environmental education programs are available to schools and youth groups. Teacher workshops are available. Group programs must be arranged in advance and may be scheduled by calling the park office. Programs are offered April to November. Approximately 630 acres of Cowans Gap State Park are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, turkey and squirrel. Attractions - Cowans Gap State Park is a 1,085-acre park located in a beautiful valley of the scenic Tuscarora Mountains of Fulton County. The state forest land surrounding the park offers visitors with an abundance of natural beauty during all seasons of the year. The first park facilities were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and opened in 1937. The CCC built the lake, picnic shelters, cabins and roads. Recreation - Cowan Gap is a wonderful relaxing park to visit. It offers lake swimming during the summer months, boat launches, trout fishing, shady picnic groves, campground and 10 rustic cabins. There is also a group tent area for youth and organized groups. The park is used during the winter months for ice fishing, ice skating and cross-country skiing. There are 10 miles of hiking trails in the park and many more trails in the adjacent state forest land. Due to the terrain, some of the trails are not for beginners especially sections of Cameron, Horseshoe and Three Mile Trails. The 105 mile Tuscarora Trail travels through Cowans Gap. It runs parallel to the Appalachian Trail and junctions with it and the Darling Trail near Deans Gap, north of Carlisle. The Tuscarora Trail is marked with rectangular blue blaze marks painted on trees. Horseshoe Trail is found on the north boundary of the park, while Geyer and Cameron Trails are found on the south boundary of the park. Each may be accessed off Tuscarora Trail. Forbes Road Trail is not a state park hiking trail but a section travels through the park on Stumpy Lane and Allen Valley Roads. Cowans Gap State Park offers a wide variety of environmental education and interpretive programs. Through hands-on activities, guided walks and campfire programs, participants gain appreciation, understanding and develop a sense of stewardship toward natural and cultural resources. Curriculum based environmental education programs are available to schools and youth groups. Teacher workshops are available. Group programs must be arranged in advance and may be scheduled by calling the park office. Programs are offered April to November. Approximately 630 acres of Cowans Gap State Park are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, turkey and squirrel. Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day to March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. The park is used by other visitors during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner's car, trailer or camp. The park land borders state forest land which is open to hunting, trapping and dog training. Climate - Pennsylvania generally has a moist climate with cold winters and warm summers. The Cowans Gap State Park area has cold winter months with temperatures averaging above 28 degrees Fahrenheit (above -2 degrees Celsius). The area's average summer temperatures range around 72 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit (22 to 23 Celsius). Location - The park is located between Chambersburg and McConnellsburg. To reach the park from the west take Exit 13, Fort Littleton, of the PA Turnpike, then US Route 522 North to Burnt Cabins and follow signs to the park. From the east, take Exit 14, Willow Hill, of the PA Turnpike, then PA Route 75 South to Richmond Furnace and follow signs. From US Route 30 take Route 75 North at Fort Loudon to Richmond Furnace and follow signs.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cowan/Farnsworth Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/DMQ.2ACIB/1112.1 Message Board Post: Peggy, I would very much like to have copies of these pictures. I've just this week discovered that all these people were my husband's ancestors. Thank you for sharing the info and copies of the pictures.

I've signed the petition, have you? -v The following is an announcement from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC): The President's budget recommendations for Fiscal Year 2006 slash or eliminate more than 150 federal programs. In that budget, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) has been targeted to receive NO funding. This includes no funds for the grants program and no funds for staffing to support the NHPRC programs. It effectively eliminates NHPRC. The Council of State Historical Records Coordinators, the Society of American Archivists, and the National Association for Government Archivists and Records Administrators are working collaboratively to address this threat to NHPRC and NARA. Archivists across the U.S. are rallying to save NHPRC while also ensuring that NARA has sufficient funding to sustain its current programs and continue to advance in areas that benefit all archival repositories and every citizen of the United States As part of our efforts to continue to express to Congress interest in restoration of funding for NHPRC, we have created an online petition. Please consider signing this petition, and please forward it to any listservs, e-mail groups, or organizations and people you feel would be interested in helping with this effort. It is a quick and easy way for many people to assist. The petition will be forwarded to the House Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Treasury, Transportation, HUD and the Judiciary in late May. The petition can be accessed at: www.savearchives.org Click on the "petition" button. If you have not received a previous action alert on this issue, we encourage you to also write a letter to your members of Congress. For information on writing letters of support, see any of the following websites: www.savearchives.org www.coshrc.org www.archivists.org Thanks for your efforts to save this important program for archives! Members of the NHPRC Joint Advocacy Task Force Council of State Historical Records Coordinators: David Carmicheal, Sandra Clark, Kathleen Roe Society of American Archivists: Nancy Beaumont, Peter Gottlieb, Rand Jimerson, Joan Krizack, Richard Pearce-Moses National Association of Government Archivists and Records Administrators: Timothy Slavin Thanks to Eastman's Newsletter for reprinting this news release. http://eogn.com/

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/DMQ.2ACIB/1116.1 Message Board Post: Would like to obtain copy of picture. Have Cowan family in Montreal & Ottawa areas that I have been researching for the past 4 years.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/DMQ.2ACIB/1116 Message Board Post: A photograph of ALEXANDER COWAN, born about 1845, Montreal, Canada East, died 28 October 1920, Victoria, B. C., Canada, with his daughter MARGARET ELIZABETH LOWRIE COWAN TAYLOR has just been located. The picture was taken about 1917. I am willing to share with relatives and/or folks researching the Cowan line.