Patrick Bernard McKowen
Lewis and Clark County
History of Montana, Sanders, 1913

The ancestry of Mr. McKowen on both sides is Irish.  
His father, John McKowen, came to this country at the 
age of ten with his parents, who were among the earliest 
settlers of Wisconsin.  He grew up on their farm there 
and attended such schools as the newly settled district 
afforded.  When he grew to manhood, he married Mary 
Joyce, born in Ireland in 1831, five years after his 
own entrance upon this mortal scene.  Their son Patrick 
was born at Dodge Wisconsin in 1863 on October 7.  Three 
years alter the family moved to Minnesota and settled in 
Hastings County.  Here the father continued to farm in 
different parts of the state, until he retired and went 
to live in Minneapolis.  His death occurred in that city 
in 1909.  His wife had died at Brook Minnesota in 1892.

Patrick McKowen attended school in Hastings County and 
also in Waseken County.  For a few years after this he 
worked on the farm, but left it to engage in railroad 
work.  This brought him in 1886 to Helena, where for a 
few years he worked for wages.  His first independent 
venture was a dairy business and after conducting it 
for a time, he sold out and went into the contracting 
business doing contract work in the teaming line.  
During this time Mr. McKowen was street commissioner, 
being elected to that office in 1895.  From this he 
went into the coal industry and is now one of the 
large coal merchants of the city.

On October 12, 1892 Mr. McKowen was married to Miss 
Mary E. Davies of Helena.  Her father, the late H.R. 
Davies was one of the early settlers of Helena, 
coming here from New York state. He died in 1907.  
Of their children, Michael is now living in North 
Dakota; John resides in Minneapolis; Mary in St. 
Paul and Anne in Idaho.  Both the daughters are 
married, Mary to Mr. Mahler and Anne to Mr. Koherer.