Cowan

Marquerite Bertha Cowan, Daughter of Hugh Cowan and Mary Portiss Grant.

What I know about my Cowan ancestors

Hugh Cowan was born about 1800 near Glasgow, Scotland (family belief).  He died at Lansing, Iowa on June 4, 1854.  He married at the church of Scotland at Georgetown, P.Q. Canada on May 18, 1834 to Mary Portiss Grant.  This is what I know about their children:

1. Marquerite Bertha Cowan, born Feb 15, 1835 in Beauharnois, Canada, died Nov 24, 1906 in Miller, Nebraska.  She married Darius Benjamin Jones on Nov 29, 1857.  Marquerite is my 3rd great grandmother.

2. Jane Cowan, born at Allen's Corner, P.Q. Canada on July 21, 1836.  Died Feb 23, 1914 at Sumner, Nebraska.  Married (1) George Hansenhart, they had a daughter Mary Elizabeth born at Lansing, Iowa May 15, 1856, died June 4 1936.  Jane married (2) John Haase and had (a) John, (b) Nettie who married a cousin Wesley Haase and had Ernest, Ruth , Blanche, and Gerald (c) Anna who married Robert Putbreeze..

3. Mary Cowan, born Nov. 20, 1838,  bapt. Mar. 27, 1839.  Married to J.P. Raymond.

4. Elisabeth Cowan, born at Allen's Corners P.Q. Canada July 9, 1840, bapt. Aug 16, 1840.   Married ___ Raymond.

5. Ann Cowan, born at Allen's Corners, Canada Dec. 2, 1841.  Married ___ Jacobus.

6. William Cowan, born at Allen's Corners Canada July 13, 1843, died Sept. 10, 1928.   Married Jan 4, 1874 to Caroline Moyer b. 1849, died Mar 11, 1907.  They had the following children: (a) John Dee, born Oct. 12, 1885  d. Jan. 26, 1963 (b) Ethel, born 1875 (c) Hazel, born 1887 (d) Arthur, born ? died 1881 (e) William B. born 1882.

7. James Cowan, born in Canada May 20, 1846, died bef. 1900

8. Flora Colista Cowan, born in Canada on Jan 9, 1848.  Married a Cooley.

9. Jeanette (Nettie) Cowan, born 1851/2 in Canada.  Married Adolph Charles Hagemier, born in Germany in 1854, son of Adolph and Louisa Bornemann.  Adolph died in 1917.

Research towards finding the parents of Hugh

According to Marjorie Eileen Wells, author of "And Then There Was You", Hugh is presumed to have a brother named William.  Here is what her book says about William:

"William Cowan, b.a. 1793, native of Sterlingshire, Scotland d. 1876 in Ontario, Canada.  Married Janet Wallace, a native Dunbartoushire, Scotland, they emmigrated to Canada 1817 had 2 children then, a dau. Ann b. on Atlantic.  William's Father was John Cowan who emm. same time."

I have since found a match for William from Irene Hopper who shows that William is the son of John Cowan and Agnes Knox.   It gives the correct dates for him and lists the wife as Janet Wallace.  Hugh is not among the listed children of John and Agnes or of John's parents.  It is still possible that William and Hugh were related and more research in this area is necessary.

GRANT