Judge G. Evans Cowan has been much in the public service in Franklin County. His life, in a business way, has followed the channel of lands, titles and surveys, and in the execution of his public duties he has come to be regarded as one of the real landmarks of the county. He has held the office of County Surveyor for something like 20 years at various times, and a perusal- of the record would seem to indicate that he has been returned to office of county surveyor on every occasion when his public service in other quarters did not preclude the possibility of his serving in that capacity.
Born in Cass County, Texas, on Dec. 11, 1856, G. Evans Cowan is the son of William J. and Harriet (Evans) Cowan. The father came out of Kentucky into Arkansas as a young man and in Clark county he met and married Miss Evans.
He was distinguished for having built the first house in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Among their children Judge Cowan was the seventh son, and in keeping with a popular superstition regarding the destinies of seventh sons. Judge Cowan was ticketed with the nickname "Doc" but the fates seem to have made an error in his case, for he never evinced aught of desire to embrace the medical profession for his own. Of the other children of William J. and Harriet Cowan, William and Albert lost their lives while serving in the Confederacy around about Richmond, Virginia. Thomas died in Arkansas during the rebellion; James died in infancy, and John met his death in 1880 at Searcy, Arkansas. Two survive,—George W., a resident of Mineola, Texas, and G. Evans Cowan, of this review.
Judge Cowan was reared chiefly in Clark, Polk and Sebastian counties, Arkansas. The death of his parents in 1860 left him orphaned at a helpless age, and he continued to be among relatives in those Arkansas counties until he reached his sixteenth year. His education hardly might be designated by that name, so scantily had he been instructed, and when he assumed charge of his own affairs at the age of sixteen he was meanly enough fortified by knowledge. Taking affairs into his own hands at this juncture he took service with a farmer at a small wage including three months' board in the summer months, while he expected to attend school, and the very fact that he set about in this way to mend his lack augured well for his future. It was along these lines of procedure that he brought his training up to that point where he was qualified to instruct others. In 1876 he returned to Texas, working as a farm hand and attending school intermittently until he was twenty- three years old, when he managed his affairs in such a way that it was possible for him to continue in school for the full space of a year. Then, after teaching one term himself he attended the college at Thorpe Springs and finished the normal course there. He then entered regularly into the work of teaching and continued for six years in that work in Wood and Franklin counties, during which time he occupied himself in spare hours with the study of surveying, and thus prepared himself for later work with the compass and chain. Before he finished his career as a teacher, Judge Cowan was elected County Surveyor of Franklin county in 1882, and although he has held that office much of the time since, he actually made the run for the place but that one time. Because of his familiarity with land lines and surveys in this section of Texas, his services have been invited by adjoining counties in settling disputes and establishing corners, and otherwise unraveling the tangles into which many tracts of land have been involved from time to time.
In November, 1908, he was elected county judge, and again was called to the office in 1910, and when he turned the office over to Judge Walker, his successor, he assumed the duties of surveyor, to which he had been chosen on the same ticket. While serving as county judge the question of the power of the county court to issue scrip to build a court house was litigated to a final determination. His court decided to build a new county building and made an order to that effect, proposing to issue warrants upon the county for the purpose. The court's order was met with a suit in the name of the people, enjoining them until the question could be submitted to the voters and their sanction obtained. The matter went to the supreme court of the state for decision and a verdict was rendered in accordance with the procedure of the court of Franklin County, thus settling the question in the state, since which time other counties have built and are building public buildings in the same manner.
The Franklin County court house and jail are of concrete and were erected complete, with furnishings, for warrants to the amount of $65.000, the warrants running twenty years and drawing five percent interest. The court house is two stories with basement, Grecian architecture and a massive white pile, pleasing to the eye and attractive from every point of view. Its construction stands as a monument to the court that built it and to the integrity of those who executed the contract under its eye.
Judge Cowan qualified for the practice of law while serving as county judge and was admitted upon examination before the district board of Texarkana, in January, 1913. His first case in court came to him from the Four-States Life Insurance Company, but his chief aim is to be able to appear in suits involving titles and to do probate work. His entry into the abstract field of Franklin County adds another competent factor to the record-searchers of Franklin County, and in this venture as an abstractor he is associated with Judge H. W. Hunt. Another point to the credit of Judge Cowan is his splendid aid in bringing into existence the building and loan association of Mount Vernon, a fiduciary concern which is doing much to enhance the general welfare of the town.
Judge Cowan was married in Franklin County, on January 4, 1881, to Miss Beatrice Wylie, a daughter of W. B. and Sarah A. Wylie, people of sterling Scotch lineage. Mrs. Cowan is the only daughter among the four children of her parents, the others being Dr. J. H. Wylie. of Winnsboro, Texas; H. A. Wylie. of Franklin County, and Alvin P., who died young. The judge and Mrs. "Cowan have a family of six children. Delia and Jessie are residents of Mount Vernon and Wichita Falls, respectively; Clinton is a farmer in Franklin county, and is married to Electra Shearer; Leslie is a resident of Mount Vernon; Wylie is a student at the Deaf and Dumb Institute of Austin and Raymond and Otis, are the remaining members of the family.
Glancing back over the early life of Judge Cowan, one can not fail to be impressed with the fact that out of a neglected and untutored boyhood, he has made possible a magnificent a success of his life, and there may be discerned between the lines as well as in bold type, much that should prove inspiring to other youth who have reason to feel that fate has dealt unkindly with them, and spur them on to emulate the accomplishments of the Judge. (Source: A History of Texas and Texans, Volume 3, Francis White Johnson, 1914 )
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)
Born in Cass County, Texas, on Dec. 11, 1856, G. Evans Cowan is the son of William J. and Harriet (Evans) Cowan. The father came out of Kentucky into Arkansas as a young man and in Clark county he met and married Miss Evans.
He was distinguished for having built the first house in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Among their children Judge Cowan was the seventh son, and in keeping with a popular superstition regarding the destinies of seventh sons. Judge Cowan was ticketed with the nickname "Doc" but the fates seem to have made an error in his case, for he never evinced aught of desire to embrace the medical profession for his own. Of the other children of William J. and Harriet Cowan, William and Albert lost their lives while serving in the Confederacy around about Richmond, Virginia. Thomas died in Arkansas during the rebellion; James died in infancy, and John met his death in 1880 at Searcy, Arkansas. Two survive,—George W., a resident of Mineola, Texas, and G. Evans Cowan, of this review.
Judge Cowan was reared chiefly in Clark, Polk and Sebastian counties, Arkansas. The death of his parents in 1860 left him orphaned at a helpless age, and he continued to be among relatives in those Arkansas counties until he reached his sixteenth year. His education hardly might be designated by that name, so scantily had he been instructed, and when he assumed charge of his own affairs at the age of sixteen he was meanly enough fortified by knowledge. Taking affairs into his own hands at this juncture he took service with a farmer at a small wage including three months' board in the summer months, while he expected to attend school, and the very fact that he set about in this way to mend his lack augured well for his future. It was along these lines of procedure that he brought his training up to that point where he was qualified to instruct others. In 1876 he returned to Texas, working as a farm hand and attending school intermittently until he was twenty- three years old, when he managed his affairs in such a way that it was possible for him to continue in school for the full space of a year. Then, after teaching one term himself he attended the college at Thorpe Springs and finished the normal course there. He then entered regularly into the work of teaching and continued for six years in that work in Wood and Franklin counties, during which time he occupied himself in spare hours with the study of surveying, and thus prepared himself for later work with the compass and chain. Before he finished his career as a teacher, Judge Cowan was elected County Surveyor of Franklin county in 1882, and although he has held that office much of the time since, he actually made the run for the place but that one time. Because of his familiarity with land lines and surveys in this section of Texas, his services have been invited by adjoining counties in settling disputes and establishing corners, and otherwise unraveling the tangles into which many tracts of land have been involved from time to time.
In November, 1908, he was elected county judge, and again was called to the office in 1910, and when he turned the office over to Judge Walker, his successor, he assumed the duties of surveyor, to which he had been chosen on the same ticket. While serving as county judge the question of the power of the county court to issue scrip to build a court house was litigated to a final determination. His court decided to build a new county building and made an order to that effect, proposing to issue warrants upon the county for the purpose. The court's order was met with a suit in the name of the people, enjoining them until the question could be submitted to the voters and their sanction obtained. The matter went to the supreme court of the state for decision and a verdict was rendered in accordance with the procedure of the court of Franklin County, thus settling the question in the state, since which time other counties have built and are building public buildings in the same manner.
The Franklin County court house and jail are of concrete and were erected complete, with furnishings, for warrants to the amount of $65.000, the warrants running twenty years and drawing five percent interest. The court house is two stories with basement, Grecian architecture and a massive white pile, pleasing to the eye and attractive from every point of view. Its construction stands as a monument to the court that built it and to the integrity of those who executed the contract under its eye.
Judge Cowan qualified for the practice of law while serving as county judge and was admitted upon examination before the district board of Texarkana, in January, 1913. His first case in court came to him from the Four-States Life Insurance Company, but his chief aim is to be able to appear in suits involving titles and to do probate work. His entry into the abstract field of Franklin County adds another competent factor to the record-searchers of Franklin County, and in this venture as an abstractor he is associated with Judge H. W. Hunt. Another point to the credit of Judge Cowan is his splendid aid in bringing into existence the building and loan association of Mount Vernon, a fiduciary concern which is doing much to enhance the general welfare of the town.
Judge Cowan was married in Franklin County, on January 4, 1881, to Miss Beatrice Wylie, a daughter of W. B. and Sarah A. Wylie, people of sterling Scotch lineage. Mrs. Cowan is the only daughter among the four children of her parents, the others being Dr. J. H. Wylie. of Winnsboro, Texas; H. A. Wylie. of Franklin County, and Alvin P., who died young. The judge and Mrs. "Cowan have a family of six children. Delia and Jessie are residents of Mount Vernon and Wichita Falls, respectively; Clinton is a farmer in Franklin county, and is married to Electra Shearer; Leslie is a resident of Mount Vernon; Wylie is a student at the Deaf and Dumb Institute of Austin and Raymond and Otis, are the remaining members of the family.
Glancing back over the early life of Judge Cowan, one can not fail to be impressed with the fact that out of a neglected and untutored boyhood, he has made possible a magnificent a success of his life, and there may be discerned between the lines as well as in bold type, much that should prove inspiring to other youth who have reason to feel that fate has dealt unkindly with them, and spur them on to emulate the accomplishments of the Judge. (Source: A History of Texas and Texans, Volume 3, Francis White Johnson, 1914 )
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)
Judge G. Evans Cowan has been much in the public service in Franklin County. His life, in a business way, has followed the channel of lands, titles and surveys, and in the execution of his public duties he has come to be regarded as one of the real landmarks of the county. He has held the office of County Surveyor for something like 20 years at various times, and a perusal- of the record would seem to indicate that he has been returned to office of county surveyor on every occasion when his public service in other quarters did not preclude the possibility of his serving in that capacity.
Born in Cass County, Texas, on Dec. 11, 1856, G. Evans Cowan is the son of William J. and Harriet (Evans) Cowan. The father came out of Kentucky into Arkansas as a young man and in Clark county he met and married Miss Evans.
He was distinguished for having built the first house in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Among their children Judge Cowan was the seventh son, and in keeping with a popular superstition regarding the destinies of seventh sons. Judge Cowan was ticketed with the nickname "Doc" but the fates seem to have made an error in his case, for he never evinced aught of desire to embrace the medical profession for his own. Of the other children of William J. and Harriet Cowan, William and Albert lost their lives while serving in the Confederacy around about Richmond, Virginia. Thomas died in Arkansas during the rebellion; James died in infancy, and John met his death in 1880 at Searcy, Arkansas. Two survive,—George W., a resident of Mineola, Texas, and G. Evans Cowan, of this review.
Judge Cowan was reared chiefly in Clark, Polk and Sebastian counties, Arkansas. The death of his parents in 1860 left him orphaned at a helpless age, and he continued to be among relatives in those Arkansas counties until he reached his sixteenth year. His education hardly might be designated by that name, so scantily had he been instructed, and when he assumed charge of his own affairs at the age of sixteen he was meanly enough fortified by knowledge. Taking affairs into his own hands at this juncture he took service with a farmer at a small wage including three months' board in the summer months, while he expected to attend school, and the very fact that he set about in this way to mend his lack augured well for his future. It was along these lines of procedure that he brought his training up to that point where he was qualified to instruct others. In 1876 he returned to Texas, working as a farm hand and attending school intermittently until he was twenty- three years old, when he managed his affairs in such a way that it was possible for him to continue in school for the full space of a year. Then, after teaching one term himself he attended the college at Thorpe Springs and finished the normal course there. He then entered regularly into the work of teaching and continued for six years in that work in Wood and Franklin counties, during which time he occupied himself in spare hours with the study of surveying, and thus prepared himself for later work with the compass and chain. Before he finished his career as a teacher, Judge Cowan was elected County Surveyor of Franklin county in 1882, and although he has held that office much of the time since, he actually made the run for the place but that one time. Because of his familiarity with land lines and surveys in this section of Texas, his services have been invited by adjoining counties in settling disputes and establishing corners, and otherwise unraveling the tangles into which many tracts of land have been involved from time to time.
In November, 1908, he was elected county judge, and again was called to the office in 1910, and when he turned the office over to Judge Walker, his successor, he assumed the duties of surveyor, to which he had been chosen on the same ticket. While serving as county judge the question of the power of the county court to issue scrip to build a court house was litigated to a final determination. His court decided to build a new county building and made an order to that effect, proposing to issue warrants upon the county for the purpose. The court's order was met with a suit in the name of the people, enjoining them until the question could be submitted to the voters and their sanction obtained. The matter went to the supreme court of the state for decision and a verdict was rendered in accordance with the procedure of the court of Franklin County, thus settling the question in the state, since which time other counties have built and are building public buildings in the same manner.
The Franklin County court house and jail are of concrete and were erected complete, with furnishings, for warrants to the amount of $65.000, the warrants running twenty years and drawing five percent interest. The court house is two stories with basement, Grecian architecture and a massive white pile, pleasing to the eye and attractive from every point of view. Its construction stands as a monument to the court that built it and to the integrity of those who executed the contract under its eye.
Judge Cowan qualified for the practice of law while serving as county judge and was admitted upon examination before the district board of Texarkana, in January, 1913. His first case in court came to him from the Four-States Life Insurance Company, but his chief aim is to be able to appear in suits involving titles and to do probate work. His entry into the abstract field of Franklin County adds another competent factor to the record-searchers of Franklin County, and in this venture as an abstractor he is associated with Judge H. W. Hunt. Another point to the credit of Judge Cowan is his splendid aid in bringing into existence the building and loan association of Mount Vernon, a fiduciary concern which is doing much to enhance the general welfare of the town.
Judge Cowan was married in Franklin County, on January 4, 1881, to Miss Beatrice Wylie, a daughter of W. B. and Sarah A. Wylie, people of sterling Scotch lineage. Mrs. Cowan is the only daughter among the four children of her parents, the others being Dr. J. H. Wylie. of Winnsboro, Texas; H. A. Wylie. of Franklin County, and Alvin P., who died young. The judge and Mrs. "Cowan have a family of six children. Delia and Jessie are residents of Mount Vernon and Wichita Falls, respectively; Clinton is a farmer in Franklin county, and is married to Electra Shearer; Leslie is a resident of Mount Vernon; Wylie is a student at the Deaf and Dumb Institute of Austin and Raymond and Otis, are the remaining members of the family.
Glancing back over the early life of Judge Cowan, one can not fail to be impressed with the fact that out of a neglected and untutored boyhood, he has made possible a magnificent a success of his life, and there may be discerned between the lines as well as in bold type, much that should prove inspiring to other youth who have reason to feel that fate has dealt unkindly with them, and spur them on to emulate the accomplishments of the Judge. (Source: A History of Texas and Texans, Volume 3, Francis White Johnson, 1914 )
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)
Born in Cass County, Texas, on Dec. 11, 1856, G. Evans Cowan is the son of William J. and Harriet (Evans) Cowan. The father came out of Kentucky into Arkansas as a young man and in Clark county he met and married Miss Evans.
He was distinguished for having built the first house in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Among their children Judge Cowan was the seventh son, and in keeping with a popular superstition regarding the destinies of seventh sons. Judge Cowan was ticketed with the nickname "Doc" but the fates seem to have made an error in his case, for he never evinced aught of desire to embrace the medical profession for his own. Of the other children of William J. and Harriet Cowan, William and Albert lost their lives while serving in the Confederacy around about Richmond, Virginia. Thomas died in Arkansas during the rebellion; James died in infancy, and John met his death in 1880 at Searcy, Arkansas. Two survive,—George W., a resident of Mineola, Texas, and G. Evans Cowan, of this review.
Judge Cowan was reared chiefly in Clark, Polk and Sebastian counties, Arkansas. The death of his parents in 1860 left him orphaned at a helpless age, and he continued to be among relatives in those Arkansas counties until he reached his sixteenth year. His education hardly might be designated by that name, so scantily had he been instructed, and when he assumed charge of his own affairs at the age of sixteen he was meanly enough fortified by knowledge. Taking affairs into his own hands at this juncture he took service with a farmer at a small wage including three months' board in the summer months, while he expected to attend school, and the very fact that he set about in this way to mend his lack augured well for his future. It was along these lines of procedure that he brought his training up to that point where he was qualified to instruct others. In 1876 he returned to Texas, working as a farm hand and attending school intermittently until he was twenty- three years old, when he managed his affairs in such a way that it was possible for him to continue in school for the full space of a year. Then, after teaching one term himself he attended the college at Thorpe Springs and finished the normal course there. He then entered regularly into the work of teaching and continued for six years in that work in Wood and Franklin counties, during which time he occupied himself in spare hours with the study of surveying, and thus prepared himself for later work with the compass and chain. Before he finished his career as a teacher, Judge Cowan was elected County Surveyor of Franklin county in 1882, and although he has held that office much of the time since, he actually made the run for the place but that one time. Because of his familiarity with land lines and surveys in this section of Texas, his services have been invited by adjoining counties in settling disputes and establishing corners, and otherwise unraveling the tangles into which many tracts of land have been involved from time to time.
In November, 1908, he was elected county judge, and again was called to the office in 1910, and when he turned the office over to Judge Walker, his successor, he assumed the duties of surveyor, to which he had been chosen on the same ticket. While serving as county judge the question of the power of the county court to issue scrip to build a court house was litigated to a final determination. His court decided to build a new county building and made an order to that effect, proposing to issue warrants upon the county for the purpose. The court's order was met with a suit in the name of the people, enjoining them until the question could be submitted to the voters and their sanction obtained. The matter went to the supreme court of the state for decision and a verdict was rendered in accordance with the procedure of the court of Franklin County, thus settling the question in the state, since which time other counties have built and are building public buildings in the same manner.
The Franklin County court house and jail are of concrete and were erected complete, with furnishings, for warrants to the amount of $65.000, the warrants running twenty years and drawing five percent interest. The court house is two stories with basement, Grecian architecture and a massive white pile, pleasing to the eye and attractive from every point of view. Its construction stands as a monument to the court that built it and to the integrity of those who executed the contract under its eye.
Judge Cowan qualified for the practice of law while serving as county judge and was admitted upon examination before the district board of Texarkana, in January, 1913. His first case in court came to him from the Four-States Life Insurance Company, but his chief aim is to be able to appear in suits involving titles and to do probate work. His entry into the abstract field of Franklin County adds another competent factor to the record-searchers of Franklin County, and in this venture as an abstractor he is associated with Judge H. W. Hunt. Another point to the credit of Judge Cowan is his splendid aid in bringing into existence the building and loan association of Mount Vernon, a fiduciary concern which is doing much to enhance the general welfare of the town.
Judge Cowan was married in Franklin County, on January 4, 1881, to Miss Beatrice Wylie, a daughter of W. B. and Sarah A. Wylie, people of sterling Scotch lineage. Mrs. Cowan is the only daughter among the four children of her parents, the others being Dr. J. H. Wylie. of Winnsboro, Texas; H. A. Wylie. of Franklin County, and Alvin P., who died young. The judge and Mrs. "Cowan have a family of six children. Delia and Jessie are residents of Mount Vernon and Wichita Falls, respectively; Clinton is a farmer in Franklin county, and is married to Electra Shearer; Leslie is a resident of Mount Vernon; Wylie is a student at the Deaf and Dumb Institute of Austin and Raymond and Otis, are the remaining members of the family.
Glancing back over the early life of Judge Cowan, one can not fail to be impressed with the fact that out of a neglected and untutored boyhood, he has made possible a magnificent a success of his life, and there may be discerned between the lines as well as in bold type, much that should prove inspiring to other youth who have reason to feel that fate has dealt unkindly with them, and spur them on to emulate the accomplishments of the Judge. (Source: A History of Texas and Texans, Volume 3, Francis White Johnson, 1914 )
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
