Biographical Sketch of David E. Cowan, Phelps County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
**********************************************************************

David E. Cowan, circuit clerk and ex-officio recorder of Phelps county,
Mo., was elected to his present position in November, 1886, by a major-
ity of 207 votes.  Mr. Cowan is a native of Phelps county, and was born
December 7, 1858; he was educated in the district schools, and attended
nearly two years at School of Mines at Rolla, subsequently remaining 
and assisting on his father's farm until 1878, when he entered the 
teacher's profession, following this for two terms near Edgar Springs,
his birth place.  The year 1879 he spent on the frontier of Texas, and
from 1880 to 1886 he engaged in tilling the soil and dealing in stock.
He is the son of Dr. Robert B. and Susannah B. (Lenox) Cowan, grandson
of William B. Cowan, and great-grandson of William Cowan, who was a 
native of Scotland, and an attorney by profession.  He was at one time
an opponent in a lawsuit with Patrick Henry.  William B. Cowan was a
native of Virginia, as was also his son, Dr. Robert B. Cowan, whose
birth occurred in Nodaway county in 1825.  He was a graduate of Mary's
and William's College, and was a very intelligent gentleman.  In an 
early day he came West, locating in St. Louis, and afterward settled in
Washington County, in Bellview Valley.  Here he died in 1864, at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. Mary A. Bates, in Pulaski County.  Dr. Cowan
received his education in the common schools, and his medical education
at McDowell's Institute, in St. Louis, graduating as an M. D. at about 
the age of twenty-three.  He settled in Phelps County, Mo., when a 
young man, and about 1854 he married Miss Susannah B. Lenox.  She was
born in Phelps County, Mo., in 1833, and is the daughter of Elder David
and Elizabeth (Brown) Lenox, who were natives of Kentucky, coming to
Missouri at an early date.  Elder David Lenox was an Old School Baptist
minister of this section of Missouri, and was a man of marked influence
in church and society.  He died during the war, in Arkansas.  Dr. 
Robert B. Cowan died January 10, 1879.  He was actively engaged in the
practice of his profession from the time of graduating until up to 
within a short time of his death, being one of the leading physicians
and surgeons of Phelps county for many years.  He was quite successful,
being the owner of 800 acres of land, 600 acres being in one tract.
His wife is yet living, and is the mother of eight children, seven of
whom are living: Elizabeth C., wife of W. W. Lenox, M. D., of Lake
Springs, Dent Co., Mo.; David E.; Robert B., M. D., of Phelps Co., Mo.,
and a graduate of the Missouri Medical College, at St. Louis; William
H., farmer; John W., Travis J. and Francis M.  David E. is a Democrat
in politics, is a member of the Masonic order, and also a member of 
the I. O. O. F.

====================================================================
     USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message
         remains on all copied material. These electronic
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
         written consent of the file contributor.

         This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
         Archives by: Joe Miller <mio@netins.net>
		      Penny (Eisenbarger) Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>

====================================================================