Thomas C. McKowen.  East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller 

*************************************************
Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives


**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 .


Among the leading planters and merchants of East Feliciana parish is Thomas C.
McKowen, La native born in 1849. His father, John McKowen, was a native of
ireland, and when a young man came to the United States, took part in the
Florida (indian) war, and later settled in Jackson, this parish, where he
became one of the earliest merchants and foremost citizens. Here he built up a
very extensive trade, which he conducted until 1869, when he was succeeded by
his son, W. R., who fully sustains the reputation of the old establishment.
The father took great interest in the Presbyterian church, of which he was an
elder, and contributed largely toward the sustenance of the present
congregation at Jackson, and was largely foremost in leading a helping hand to
every charitable work and every public improvement. in politics he was an
old-line whig, but was not especially active in his work for the party, being
too deeply absorbed in his private affairs. The first wife of John McKowen
was Miss Mary Ann Langford, of Woodville, Miss. They were married in 1839, and
to this union were born three children, of whom one was killed at the siege of
Vicksburg; Sally became the wife of W. H. Pipes, state treasurer [see sketch],
and John is now in Europe. The second marriage of Mr. McKowen took place in
Ireland in 1846, while he was on a visit to his native land, the name of the
lady being Miss Jane Shannon He then returned to his home in Jackson, LL, and
here two sons were horn to the second marriage: W. R., who served the last
year of the war, and married Miss 5. E. Pipes, in 1877, and Thomas C. After
the close of the late Civil war these two children were sent to Europe to be
educated, and attended school at Dungannon, Ireland, and Manchester, England.
After completing their course of studies they returned to their home in
Louisiana Thomas C. McKowen engaged in planting on his own account, in 1868,
on the old place, and in 1872 came to his present place, and here, also, he
opened up a mercantile trade in 1882, and now has one of the largest
plantations and general stores in the parish, and also handles most of the
cotton raised in the neighborhood. The mother of our subject departed from
earth in 1851, and Mr. John McKowen was married a third time, hut there was no
issue to the last marriage. Ill health caused Mr. McKowen to again cross the
ocean, and he was seeking to recuperate on the Island of Jersey when he was
called away in 1871. His widow is now residing in Scotland. John McKowen Jr.,
the half-brother of the subject of this sketch, was educated at Dartmouth
college. During the Civil war he was a lieutenant-colonel in the confederate
army, and at the seige of Port Hudson succeeded in capturing the federal
general, Neal Dow. Since the war he has been residing in Europe, and although
he is a physician he does not practice his profession. T. C. McKowen was
united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Maggie Germany, a daughter of
Henry Germany, of West Baton Rouge, where he resides at the age of
seventy-seven years, hale and hearty. Mrs. McKowen was educated in Jackson, at
the Feliciana Female Collegiate institute. She has born her husband ten
children, of whom the following eight still survive to brighten the home
circle: Mary Virginia, Arabelle, Tommie C., William 5., Henry G., Mabel, John
and Margaret J. The two deceased were named Corinne and Eleanora. Mrs. McKowen
is a steadfast member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. McKowen and his wife are
always ready to dispose of their means and their time in extending its field
of usefulness. Mr. McKowen is a stanch and unflinching democrat, and is ever
active in advancing the interests of his party, which he believes to be the
faithful friend of the parish, state and the South in general, and the
conservator of their liberties and prosperity. 

From Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, volume 2, pp. 226-227

Submitted by Mike Miller