George E. Gowen of Stratham, N.H. Biography from A History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire (1915) Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Louise Temples - pc_genie@ix.netcom.com Copyright. All rights reserved. ************************************************************************ Full copyight notice - http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm USGenWeb Archives - http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ See the portrait of George E. Gowen at http://www.usgwarchives.net/nh/rockingham/biopics/GowenGeorgeE.jpg Page 839 GEORGE E. GOWEN, owner of 170 acres of land in the town of Stratham, on which he is engaged in truck gardening and fruit growing, was born at West Newbury, Mass., July 1, 1846, a son of Ezekiel and Hannah (Colby) Gowen. The father, a native of Emory's Mills, Me., was a farmer; his wife was born in Massachusetts. They had ten children, all of whom, but two, reached maturity, namely: Caroline, Sarah, Benjamin, Charles, George, Frank, Oscar, and Carrie. George E. Gowen, after attending the common schools, took a course at Comer's Business College at Boston. He then worked eight years at making shoes, after which he took up his residence on his present farm, which he has since carried on successfully, shipping his produce to Portsmouth and Boston. A republican in politics, he has served as selectman, a member of the school committee and representative to the general court. He was also a delegate to the last constitutional convention. At present he is serving on the library board. Mr. Gowen married Miss Mary Smith, of West Newbury, Mass., daugh- ter of Lewis and Rhoda (Parker) Smith. He and his wife are the parents of children as follows: May; Helen; Grace, wife of Frank Pearson, who has four children-Oscar, Dorothy, Margaret and Georgiana; Clarence, who married Lottie Smart, and has two children, Elizabeth and Joseph; Ralph; Bertha, wife of Marshall S. Chase; George Arthur; Benjamin; Howard, who married Mary Nixon; Phillip and Shirley. Mr. Gowen and family attend the Congregational church.