Jonathan Emerson Cowen

1838 - 1901  (63 years)

• Name	Jonathan Emerson Cowen
  Birth	13 Mar 1838	Bristol Co, MA
  Gender	Male
  Census	4 Jul 1870	Galveston, Galveston, TX
  	Jas E, age 27, born MA, City Assessor & Collector
  Census	8 Jun 1880	Fort Worth, Tarrant, TX
  	J.E., age 42, born MA, widowed, lumber dealer, parents born MA/MA, living with Ed Cowen, 39, widowed.
  Census	7 Jun 1900	Fairhaven, Bristol, MA
  	Johnathan E, age 62, born Mar 1838 in MA, divorced, traveling salesman, parents born MA/MA, living with sister Louisa Gerrish
  Death	4 Aug 1901	Fairhaven, Bristol, MA
  Person ID	I13537	Family Tree
  Last Modified	6 Feb 2019

  
  

  Father	Jonathan Cowing
  Mother	Louisa Briggs
  Family ID	F5250	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Ashley Van Alstyne,   b. 30 Jun 1848, Houston, Harris, TX d. 21 Dec 1913, Richmond, Richmond, VA (Age 65 years)
  Marriage	20 Jan 1868	Harris Co, TX
  Divorce	4 Jul 1873
  Notes	from "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973," (familysearch.org) On 20 Jan 1868 in Harris Co, TX, Mary Van Alstyne married J.E. Cowan
  Children	1. Marie Louise “Daisy” Cowen,   b. 1869, Houston, Harris, TX
  Family ID	F4213	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Apr 2016

  
  

• Notes

  from Wikitree biography from GEDCOM by Alyson X, 5 Jul 2011 He died at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Louisa R. Gerrish on Main Street, suffered from paralysis of throat. Jonathan at the age of ten, family moved to Fairhaven and lived in Nasketucket. Attended school for a while and became a teacher for one winter in Rochester. Became a clerk at R.H.White & Company & later entered the employ, as traveling salesman, of H.B.Claffin, New York. While there the war broke out and he enlisted for nine months in the army. Upon the expiration of his term he returned to Fairhaven. He called the first war meeting in Fairhaven which was held in Phoenix Hall and later opened a recruiting office where E.S.Whiting's market is today. Mr. Cowen assisted in forming the pioneer corps and he again enlisted in the 3d Massachusetts Cavalry. He served all through the war and was in several very severe engagements, in one of which he was wounded in the thigh and had three horses shot from under him. His knee was caught under the pommel of the saddle and broken. He served on the staff of General Witzell, and under Sheridan and Banks, and through bravery won successive promotions to sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. When the war ended he was in line for promotion to the office of colonel. When Captain he was in charge of the preparations for blowing up Fort Hudson and there were a number of local veterans serving under him at the time. It is now a matter of history that when everything was prepared the fort was surrendered. At the end of the war he again entered the employ of H.B. Claffin who placed him in charge of a large store in Galveston, Texas, where he remained for a number of years. He afterwards, in company with his brother Edward, entered the lumber business and in connection with this the building of railroad bridges, in which lines they were very successful. In the early 80's Major Cowen retired and returned to Fairhaven. A daughter and a brother Edward P. Cowen of Baker City, Ohio, and a sister Mrs. Louisa R. Gerrish, survive him. Major Cowen attended Friends' Academy, Providence, and the Fairhaven High School. He was a member of the High School Association. from "Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915" (ancestry.com) Jonathan E. Cowen, age 63y, 4m, 22d, a retired salesman residing Fairhaven MA, born Mattapoisett MA to Jonathan E Cowen b. Mattapoisett and Lousia Briggs b. Mansfield MA, died on 4 Aug 1901 in Mattapoisett of laryngeal tuberculosis. Burial in Friends Cemetery.