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.