This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Cowan Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/DMQ.2ACIB/1172 Message Board Post: Edwin Henry Harrison Cowan was born in Decatur, Ill., July 23, 1839, and died at his home in Uniontown, Kas., August 28, 1916, being at the time of his death aged 77 years, 1 month and 5 days. His parents removed to Arkansas when he was a small boy and later settled in Kansas in 1858, a few miles southwest of Uniontown, where the young man took a claim and made it his home up to a few years ago, when he moved to Uniontown and has since lived a retired life. He was united in marriage November 6, 1864, to Mary Elizabeth Johnson, to which union were born six children, four boys and two girls, five of whom survive, one girl having died in infancy. The children are: Mrs. Alice McCalister of Hiattville, Kas., William, George, Harry and Charles, all of Uniontown. He leaves to mourn their loss, besides the wife and children, a number of grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two brothers, William of Uniontown, Loren of Boulder, Col., and two sisters, Mrs. Martha Bordwell of Hepler, Kas., and Mrs. Mollie Mitchell of Park City, Mont. Besides being a man of great usefulness and helpfulness in his own community, he served his township, county and nation in various ways. He made a number of trips across the plains in an early day, when the Indians were hostile and encountered many dangers and hardships incident to the life of the plains. When the government called for volunteers he enlisted in the Tenth Kansas infantry and served three years, being honorably discharged August 4, 1864. After being discharged he did scout duty under General Blunt for three months and eighteen days. When a young man he was converted and joined the church, and was a faithful member for many years. Although he had not been identified with any church for some time previous to his death, he believed in the church. He always insisted that his children be brought up in the church and was very active in helping build the Methodist church in Rockford Valley. When his health began to fail and he knew his days were numbered he talked of death and assured the children and others that he had no fear of death and was perfectly ready to go. He stoutly reaffirmed his faith in Christ as our intercessor and our only means of salvation. The children were all with him during his last days and he talked with them in his conscious moments and called their names and those of his wife and brothers and sisters in his delirium. Though he gave evidence of having suffered much at the last, he bore it patiently, never admitting that he had any pain, and met death like the brave soldier he was, falling peacefully asleep in the early morning as the sun rose and shed its glory on the earth. IN MEMORIAM. The funeral services of Brother Henry Cowan were conducted at the Methodist church by Rev. S. D. Wallace, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Toronto, Kas., an old time friend of the Cowans, Mr. Wallace having worked for Mr. Cowan in 1868. The funeral sermon text was John 17:24: "Father, I will that they whom Thou has given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory." The sermon was preached to a large congregation of friends and relatives who knew Mr. Cowan as a kind and dependable citizen. His definite avowal of his faith in Christ when young and his renewed confession of Christ as his advocate, entitles us to our faith in him as a Christian brother. And the writer of this sketch had and has the utmost confidence in Mr. Cowan's Christian integrity. And this morning, after the funeral, I feel to dedicate one of my original poems to his memory, asking that it be printed in the home paper only, as my poems will be copyrighted. The poem follows: I've listened to the Gospel call Ever since that I was small; And now that I am getting gray It keeps me in the narrow way. Though oft I strayed as I confess, And yet my soul would never rest Away from God, my dearest friend, Who in my youth forgave my sin. Forgave my sin, O blessed day, Within thy courts I'd ever stay; A doorkeeper I would rather be Than live in sin and not be free. The freedom that in Christ in given Is sure to land the soul in heaven, For thus 'tis written and we'll take Heed, "Whom Christ makes free is free indeed" The day will come, I can't tell when, That we'll survive the effect of sin, Which often in our lives crops out And Victory, Victory, will be our shout. S. D. Wallace Read 1 Corinthians, 15:55-57