BIO: William Kerr COWDEN, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 246-247. 
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  COWDEN, WILLIAM KERR, son of Matthew B. and Mary (Wallace) Cowden, 
was born January 5, 1822, in Lower Paxtang township, Dauphin county, 
Pa.  He was brought up a farmer, receiving such facilities of education 
as the schools of the township afforded prior to the adoption of the 
common school system.  He continued the occupation of a farmer until 
1868, when he removed to Harrisburg and engaged in the coal and lumber 
business, subsequently establishing a planning mill.  For a decade of 
years he was one of the inspectors of the Dauphin county prison.  Mr. 
Cowden married Elizabeth M., daughter of Joshua and Mary C. (Gillmor) 
Elder.