Bio of Staven COWETT (b.1864), Wright Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Diane Hanson ========================================================================= This Bio is from the HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, Volumes I and II, Published in 1915 by Franklin Curtiss - Wedge. Surname Index for The HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY can be found at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/wright/wright.html Under HISTORY. NOTE: This file was scanned and changed to text so there may be some typos. 272 HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY Staven Cowatt, a highly esteemed resident of Albion township, was born in Hennepin county, this state, October 30, 1864, son of Isaac and Susan (Goodwin) Cowett. Isaac Cowett came to Minneapolis from Canada in 1852. In 1876 he came to Wright county, camping the first night on the present site of the courthouse at Buffalo. He came to Chatham township and bought 160 acres on the banks of Rock Lake. The tract was entirely covered with woods. He erected a cabin of hewed logs, twelve feet high, set on end. The roof was of "shakes, " while he lower floor was of basswood slabs. The furniture was manufactured on the place. The plow used in breaking was brought from Minneapolis, a wooden-toothed harrow was improvised from small trees and saplings. Gradually, however, the country was settled up, the comforts and conveniences of life were available, and the family prospered. Twelve boys and ten girls were born, thirteen of whom are now living. Of these children, Staven was the fifth. With the rest of the family he went through the privations of pioneer life, and has many interesting tales to tell of the early days. He tells with special relish the story of the 273 HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY time when as a fourteen-year-old boy, he and another boy, John Haverty, went to a dance with but one pair of shoes between them, taking turns at using the shoes, while the other waited. Mr. Cowett worked at home until some time after attaining his majority, and then worked around on different farms for some four years. In 1891 he bought forty acres in section 25, Albion township. He cleared this land and erected a cabin 16 by 20 feet, of hewed logs, with a shingled roof and basswood floor. The furniture was homemade. Fortunately he had a cow. But it was three years before he got a team and six years before he secured a wagon. By working early and late and giving to his farm work his best energy and intelligence, he has now reaped that measure of success that he so richly deserves. He owns 165 acres of good land, has a house 16 by 24 feet, with fourteen foot posts, and a 16 by 24 feet ell, a large barn, and the usual sheds and the like. He carries about thirty-seven cattle throughout the year and does considerable dairying. In addition to this he devotes considerable time to raising Poland China and Jersey Red hogs, Plymouth Rock and Buff Orpington chickens, and bronze turkeys. Mr. Cowett was married December 30, 1889, to Barbara Hessel, born in New York June 8, 1873, daughter of John and Barbara (Ertelhardt) Hessel, early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Cowett have had six children. Matilda, John, Mary, Rose, Helen and Joseph. Matilda lives at Plenty Wood, Mont. She was born August 6, 1890; was married June 14, 1911, to James Crosby, and has one son, Gerald, born April 25, 1912. John was born January 9, 1892; Mary was born September 14, 1893; Rose was born May 24, 1894; Helen was born April 24, 1897; and Joseph was born April 15, 1899. The family are members of the Catholic Church.