Lewis is recorded on the 1850, 1860 and 1870 censuses at Sanford, York, Maine dwelling in the household of his parents.
Occupations - Carpenter [until ordained]; Baptist minister.
Lewis and Emma married on 7 July 1873 at Somersworth, Strafford, New Hampshire. They were the parents of four children; Arthur Lewis, Edith Mabel {died in infancy},
Ella Agnes, Bela Elmer.
------------
Shortly after their marriage Lewis' father William Gowen wrote the following poem:
Joy to the young and happy pair
Who in each others joys do share.
May richest blessings from above
Descend to bless your trusting love
That in this union you may find
That paradise dwells in the mind.
Though earthly paths be rough to you,
Still heaven will bless the good and true;
And cares shall only serve to bind
Your love still stronger in the mind.
And thus as life shall pass away
True love will never know decay,
But lighten all the cares of life
And guard you from all erring strife.
------------
On 1 June 1873 he entered the ministry. On 3 June 1876 he was ordained a minister of the Free Baptist denomination at Ossipee in Carroll County, New Hampshire.
In 1880 Lewis is listed in the Lewiston, Androscoggin, Maine census with his wife Emma, son Arthur and daughter Emma.
In 1881 he graduated from the theological department of Bates College at Lewiston, in Androscoggin County, Maine. He preached at Effingham in New Hampshire; Parsonsfield, Milo, and LaGrange in Maine; Cape Sable Island in Nova Scotia; and Evansville in Wisconsin.
Sometime after 1883 Lewis brought his family west in a wagon train, driving a 'hack' [a short bed wagon with a rounded canvas dome top]. On a good day they traveled 20 miles, driving from sun-up to sun-down.
About 1885 he accepted a call to the Baptist Church at Alexandria in Nebraska.
While serving as Pastor of the First Baptist Church at Boise, Idaho he helped raise funds to build a church. His name 'Reverend L. W. Gowen' is printed in one of the stained glass windows. In 1900 Lewis is listed in the census at Boise, Ada, Idaho with his wife and children Ella and Belah (sic). In 1910 Lewis is listed on the Census as a boarder in Midvale, Washington, Idaho.
In 1914 Lewis and son Bela collated the records received from his father William and documented the genealogy of the Gowen family; they included records gathered from the book Old Kittery and Lewis' 1912 trip to Maine.
He was afflicted with the inherited eye disease of 'Retinitis Pigmentosa'.
-------------------------
Blindness
by Lewis Woodbury Gowen
Into my life affliction came;
I could not stay its raging flame.
Some hopes were seared that once were bright,
Then shadows fell. How dark the night!
Into my soul there came a ray
From Him who dwells in perfect day;
The morning dawned. A sweet, glad song
Now thrills my heart the whole day long.
That trouble old? The husk is there,
But hides within a jewel rare.
That pure white stone my name conceals,
While joy and peace His grace reveals.
Oh child of God! 'Tis sweet to know
That Christ can take an earthly woe
And make of it a precious gem,
Thy soul's unfading diadem.
--------------------------------------
Lewis is recorded on the 1920 census in Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington living in the household with his daughter, Ella McConnell.
Lewis {Age 79; Widowed} is recorded on the 1930 census at Waitsburg, Walla Walla, Washington dwelling with his daughter, Ella McConnell.
WAITSBURG TIMES - 14 June 1935:
*****************************
Reverend Lewis W. Gowen, age 85 years, died Sunday evening in the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. F. McConnell. He had been in failing health for the past year or two and for the past few days before his death, the end was not unexpected. After holding a number of pastorates in the East and Middle West, he accepted a call to the First Baptist Church at Boise, Idaho in 1888; afterwards serving in Pullman, Caldwell, Emmett, and Weiser. Because of failing eyesight he gave up the active ministry in 1898 when he and Mrs. Gowen began work as colporters for the American Baptist Publication Society serving in Southern Idaho and Western Oregon. For over 13 years they covered this territory distributing Bibles and religious literature, organizing churches and Sunday Schools in neglected districts. In 1911 they retired because of Mr. Gowen's eyesight and moved to Waitsburg to be near their daughter. He was totally blind for the last ten years of his life but learned to read with two sets of raised print systems and spent the last years of his life with his Bible.
Occupations - Carpenter [until ordained]; Baptist minister.
Lewis and Emma married on 7 July 1873 at Somersworth, Strafford, New Hampshire. They were the parents of four children; Arthur Lewis, Edith Mabel {died in infancy},
Ella Agnes, Bela Elmer.
------------
Shortly after their marriage Lewis' father William Gowen wrote the following poem:
Joy to the young and happy pair
Who in each others joys do share.
May richest blessings from above
Descend to bless your trusting love
That in this union you may find
That paradise dwells in the mind.
Though earthly paths be rough to you,
Still heaven will bless the good and true;
And cares shall only serve to bind
Your love still stronger in the mind.
And thus as life shall pass away
True love will never know decay,
But lighten all the cares of life
And guard you from all erring strife.
------------
On 1 June 1873 he entered the ministry. On 3 June 1876 he was ordained a minister of the Free Baptist denomination at Ossipee in Carroll County, New Hampshire.
In 1880 Lewis is listed in the Lewiston, Androscoggin, Maine census with his wife Emma, son Arthur and daughter Emma.
In 1881 he graduated from the theological department of Bates College at Lewiston, in Androscoggin County, Maine. He preached at Effingham in New Hampshire; Parsonsfield, Milo, and LaGrange in Maine; Cape Sable Island in Nova Scotia; and Evansville in Wisconsin.
Sometime after 1883 Lewis brought his family west in a wagon train, driving a 'hack' [a short bed wagon with a rounded canvas dome top]. On a good day they traveled 20 miles, driving from sun-up to sun-down.
About 1885 he accepted a call to the Baptist Church at Alexandria in Nebraska.
While serving as Pastor of the First Baptist Church at Boise, Idaho he helped raise funds to build a church. His name 'Reverend L. W. Gowen' is printed in one of the stained glass windows. In 1900 Lewis is listed in the census at Boise, Ada, Idaho with his wife and children Ella and Belah (sic). In 1910 Lewis is listed on the Census as a boarder in Midvale, Washington, Idaho.
In 1914 Lewis and son Bela collated the records received from his father William and documented the genealogy of the Gowen family; they included records gathered from the book Old Kittery and Lewis' 1912 trip to Maine.
He was afflicted with the inherited eye disease of 'Retinitis Pigmentosa'.
-------------------------
Blindness
by Lewis Woodbury Gowen
Into my life affliction came;
I could not stay its raging flame.
Some hopes were seared that once were bright,
Then shadows fell. How dark the night!
Into my soul there came a ray
From Him who dwells in perfect day;
The morning dawned. A sweet, glad song
Now thrills my heart the whole day long.
That trouble old? The husk is there,
But hides within a jewel rare.
That pure white stone my name conceals,
While joy and peace His grace reveals.
Oh child of God! 'Tis sweet to know
That Christ can take an earthly woe
And make of it a precious gem,
Thy soul's unfading diadem.
--------------------------------------
Lewis is recorded on the 1920 census in Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington living in the household with his daughter, Ella McConnell.
Lewis {Age 79; Widowed} is recorded on the 1930 census at Waitsburg, Walla Walla, Washington dwelling with his daughter, Ella McConnell.
WAITSBURG TIMES - 14 June 1935:
*****************************
Reverend Lewis W. Gowen, age 85 years, died Sunday evening in the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. F. McConnell. He had been in failing health for the past year or two and for the past few days before his death, the end was not unexpected. After holding a number of pastorates in the East and Middle West, he accepted a call to the First Baptist Church at Boise, Idaho in 1888; afterwards serving in Pullman, Caldwell, Emmett, and Weiser. Because of failing eyesight he gave up the active ministry in 1898 when he and Mrs. Gowen began work as colporters for the American Baptist Publication Society serving in Southern Idaho and Western Oregon. For over 13 years they covered this territory distributing Bibles and religious literature, organizing churches and Sunday Schools in neglected districts. In 1911 they retired because of Mr. Gowen's eyesight and moved to Waitsburg to be near their daughter. He was totally blind for the last ten years of his life but learned to read with two sets of raised print systems and spent the last years of his life with his Bible.
Lewis is recorded on the 1850, 1860 and 1870 censuses at Sanford, York, Maine dwelling in the household of his parents.
Occupations - Carpenter [until ordained]; Baptist minister.
Lewis and Emma married on 7 July 1873 at Somersworth, Strafford, New Hampshire. They were the parents of four children; Arthur Lewis, Edith Mabel {died in infancy},
Ella Agnes, Bela Elmer.
------------
Shortly after their marriage Lewis' father William Gowen wrote the following poem:
Joy to the young and happy pair
Who in each others joys do share.
May richest blessings from above
Descend to bless your trusting love
That in this union you may find
That paradise dwells in the mind.
Though earthly paths be rough to you,
Still heaven will bless the good and true;
And cares shall only serve to bind
Your love still stronger in the mind.
And thus as life shall pass away
True love will never know decay,
But lighten all the cares of life
And guard you from all erring strife.
------------
On 1 June 1873 he entered the ministry. On 3 June 1876 he was ordained a minister of the Free Baptist denomination at Ossipee in Carroll County, New Hampshire.
In 1880 Lewis is listed in the Lewiston, Androscoggin, Maine census with his wife Emma, son Arthur and daughter Emma.
In 1881 he graduated from the theological department of Bates College at Lewiston, in Androscoggin County, Maine. He preached at Effingham in New Hampshire; Parsonsfield, Milo, and LaGrange in Maine; Cape Sable Island in Nova Scotia; and Evansville in Wisconsin.
Sometime after 1883 Lewis brought his family west in a wagon train, driving a 'hack' [a short bed wagon with a rounded canvas dome top]. On a good day they traveled 20 miles, driving from sun-up to sun-down.
About 1885 he accepted a call to the Baptist Church at Alexandria in Nebraska.
While serving as Pastor of the First Baptist Church at Boise, Idaho he helped raise funds to build a church. His name 'Reverend L. W. Gowen' is printed in one of the stained glass windows. In 1900 Lewis is listed in the census at Boise, Ada, Idaho with his wife and children Ella and Belah (sic). In 1910 Lewis is listed on the Census as a boarder in Midvale, Washington, Idaho.
In 1914 Lewis and son Bela collated the records received from his father William and documented the genealogy of the Gowen family; they included records gathered from the book Old Kittery and Lewis' 1912 trip to Maine.
He was afflicted with the inherited eye disease of 'Retinitis Pigmentosa'.
-------------------------
Blindness
by Lewis Woodbury Gowen
Into my life affliction came;
I could not stay its raging flame.
Some hopes were seared that once were bright,
Then shadows fell. How dark the night!
Into my soul there came a ray
From Him who dwells in perfect day;
The morning dawned. A sweet, glad song
Now thrills my heart the whole day long.
That trouble old? The husk is there,
But hides within a jewel rare.
That pure white stone my name conceals,
While joy and peace His grace reveals.
Oh child of God! 'Tis sweet to know
That Christ can take an earthly woe
And make of it a precious gem,
Thy soul's unfading diadem.
--------------------------------------
Lewis is recorded on the 1920 census in Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington living in the household with his daughter, Ella McConnell.
Lewis {Age 79; Widowed} is recorded on the 1930 census at Waitsburg, Walla Walla, Washington dwelling with his daughter, Ella McConnell.
WAITSBURG TIMES - 14 June 1935:
*****************************
Reverend Lewis W. Gowen, age 85 years, died Sunday evening in the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. F. McConnell. He had been in failing health for the past year or two and for the past few days before his death, the end was not unexpected. After holding a number of pastorates in the East and Middle West, he accepted a call to the First Baptist Church at Boise, Idaho in 1888; afterwards serving in Pullman, Caldwell, Emmett, and Weiser. Because of failing eyesight he gave up the active ministry in 1898 when he and Mrs. Gowen began work as colporters for the American Baptist Publication Society serving in Southern Idaho and Western Oregon. For over 13 years they covered this territory distributing Bibles and religious literature, organizing churches and Sunday Schools in neglected districts. In 1911 they retired because of Mr. Gowen's eyesight and moved to Waitsburg to be near their daughter. He was totally blind for the last ten years of his life but learned to read with two sets of raised print systems and spent the last years of his life with his Bible.
Occupations - Carpenter [until ordained]; Baptist minister.
Lewis and Emma married on 7 July 1873 at Somersworth, Strafford, New Hampshire. They were the parents of four children; Arthur Lewis, Edith Mabel {died in infancy},
Ella Agnes, Bela Elmer.
------------
Shortly after their marriage Lewis' father William Gowen wrote the following poem:
Joy to the young and happy pair
Who in each others joys do share.
May richest blessings from above
Descend to bless your trusting love
That in this union you may find
That paradise dwells in the mind.
Though earthly paths be rough to you,
Still heaven will bless the good and true;
And cares shall only serve to bind
Your love still stronger in the mind.
And thus as life shall pass away
True love will never know decay,
But lighten all the cares of life
And guard you from all erring strife.
------------
On 1 June 1873 he entered the ministry. On 3 June 1876 he was ordained a minister of the Free Baptist denomination at Ossipee in Carroll County, New Hampshire.
In 1880 Lewis is listed in the Lewiston, Androscoggin, Maine census with his wife Emma, son Arthur and daughter Emma.
In 1881 he graduated from the theological department of Bates College at Lewiston, in Androscoggin County, Maine. He preached at Effingham in New Hampshire; Parsonsfield, Milo, and LaGrange in Maine; Cape Sable Island in Nova Scotia; and Evansville in Wisconsin.
Sometime after 1883 Lewis brought his family west in a wagon train, driving a 'hack' [a short bed wagon with a rounded canvas dome top]. On a good day they traveled 20 miles, driving from sun-up to sun-down.
About 1885 he accepted a call to the Baptist Church at Alexandria in Nebraska.
While serving as Pastor of the First Baptist Church at Boise, Idaho he helped raise funds to build a church. His name 'Reverend L. W. Gowen' is printed in one of the stained glass windows. In 1900 Lewis is listed in the census at Boise, Ada, Idaho with his wife and children Ella and Belah (sic). In 1910 Lewis is listed on the Census as a boarder in Midvale, Washington, Idaho.
In 1914 Lewis and son Bela collated the records received from his father William and documented the genealogy of the Gowen family; they included records gathered from the book Old Kittery and Lewis' 1912 trip to Maine.
He was afflicted with the inherited eye disease of 'Retinitis Pigmentosa'.
-------------------------
Blindness
by Lewis Woodbury Gowen
Into my life affliction came;
I could not stay its raging flame.
Some hopes were seared that once were bright,
Then shadows fell. How dark the night!
Into my soul there came a ray
From Him who dwells in perfect day;
The morning dawned. A sweet, glad song
Now thrills my heart the whole day long.
That trouble old? The husk is there,
But hides within a jewel rare.
That pure white stone my name conceals,
While joy and peace His grace reveals.
Oh child of God! 'Tis sweet to know
That Christ can take an earthly woe
And make of it a precious gem,
Thy soul's unfading diadem.
--------------------------------------
Lewis is recorded on the 1920 census in Walla Walla, Walla Walla, Washington living in the household with his daughter, Ella McConnell.
Lewis {Age 79; Widowed} is recorded on the 1930 census at Waitsburg, Walla Walla, Washington dwelling with his daughter, Ella McConnell.
WAITSBURG TIMES - 14 June 1935:
*****************************
Reverend Lewis W. Gowen, age 85 years, died Sunday evening in the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. F. McConnell. He had been in failing health for the past year or two and for the past few days before his death, the end was not unexpected. After holding a number of pastorates in the East and Middle West, he accepted a call to the First Baptist Church at Boise, Idaho in 1888; afterwards serving in Pullman, Caldwell, Emmett, and Weiser. Because of failing eyesight he gave up the active ministry in 1898 when he and Mrs. Gowen began work as colporters for the American Baptist Publication Society serving in Southern Idaho and Western Oregon. For over 13 years they covered this territory distributing Bibles and religious literature, organizing churches and Sunday Schools in neglected districts. In 1911 they retired because of Mr. Gowen's eyesight and moved to Waitsburg to be near their daughter. He was totally blind for the last ten years of his life but learned to read with two sets of raised print systems and spent the last years of his life with his Bible.
Inscription
LEWIS W. GOWEN
April 15, 1850 - June 9, 1935
'Minister of the gospel'
'His beloved wife'
EMMA J. GOWEN
March 10, 1844 - March 31, 1925
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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