The high professional standing as well as the long
residence and excellent citizenship of Dr. Robert S. Cowan combine to make
of him one of the leading and representative men of Girard, Illinois, which
has been his home since 1869. Dr. Cowan was born March 9, 1833, in Sullivan
County, Tennessee, and is a son of Hon. George R. and Mary (May) Cowan.
Dr. Cowan comes of Revolutionary ancestry, and his family has been
frequently distinguished in military life. Robert Cowan, his paternal
grandfather, fought under General Washington and belonged to that daring
body of patriots who crossed the Delaware on that winter night and attacked
and routed the Hessian force. After the close of the Revolutionary War, he
settled in Virginia, but removed later to the more genial climate of
Tennessee, and died on his plantations there. His wife, Mary Rutledge, was
of South Carolina birth and became the mother of five sons: James, Andrew,
William, George R. and John, the first three of these winning military
laurels under General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans in 1812.
Hon. George R. Cowan, father of Dr. Cowan, was reared in Tennessee and there
married Mary May, who was born in that State and was a daughter of Dr.
Samuel and Katherine (Shelby) May, the former of whom was an eminent
physician in his day. In his youth Judge Cowan learned the tanning business
which he conducted for some years at Paperville, Sullivan County, Tennessee,
where he also had an interest in a paper mill and in other manufacturing
enterprises. Later he became imbued with the pioneering spirit, which is
responsible for the settlement and civilization of every portion of our
country. In 1838 he went to Missouri, accompanied by his wife and six
children. The preparations for such a move seem to us, to-day, with
convenience and luxury on every hand, very formidable, and excite our
admiration for the courage and boldness with which our pioneer ancestors
faced unknown conditions. Judge Cowan first transported his family and
household, which included his slaves and cattle, to a flat-boat on which
they floated down the Holston River to its junction with the Ohio. There
they boarded a river steamboat which conveyed them to the Missouri River, up
which they advanced until they reached Boonville, Missouri. They selected
Polk County as a place of settlement and there and in other contiguous
counties. Judge Cowan entered large tracts of land which he improved and
upon which he resided for some years. He did not escape some of the
lawlessness which long prevailed in some parts of the border, and he finally
disposed of his holdings in Polk County and removed to St. Clair County,
where he also owned land, and there he lived until 1854. He was made Probate
judge of Polk County, Missouri, and served as such with distinction until
the changed conditions induced by the outbreak of the Civil War caused him
to retire from public functions. His death took place at the home of a
daughter, at Sarcoxie, Jasper County, Missouri, January 1, 1874, the death
of his wife having occurred September 10, 1852, in St. Clair County. The six
children of the family were: Catherine, George, Nancy, Robert S., Mary and
Salina.
Robert S. Cowan was an infant when his parents settled in
Missouri, and his boyhood was spent in pioneer surroundings. One of the
great disadvantages incident to settlement in remote regions was the lack of
educational facilities for the children, and intelligent parents were
continually concerned on this account. Judge Cowan endeavored to overcome
this trouble by building a school house on his own property, and engaging a
teacher to take charge of the educating of his little flock. There the
eminent subject of this biography acquired his early education, which he
completed at Ebenezer College, a Methodist school of note. In 1854 he began
the study of medicine under, Dr. Bowles, a noted physician of Boston,
Massachusetts, and was graduated at Pope College, St. Louis, in 1858. He
settled first in Dade County and later in Newton County, Missouri, where he
was engaged in practice upon the outbreak of the Civil War. He proffered his
services and was accepted as assistant surgeon, later being made surgeon of
the 3rd Missouri Cavalry, under General Price of the Confederate Army, and
serving with the greatest efficiency and devotion for three years. After six
months spent in Mexico, he resided in New Orleans until 1865. Coming North,
Dr. Cowan located at the village of Nilwood, Macoupin County, Illinois, but
in 1869 he located permanently at Girard, which has been his home ever
since. In 1874 he entered into partnership with Dr. Robert J. Mitchell, but
this business association was discontinued, with mutual esteem, 14 months
later.
In 1854 Dr. Cowan was married to Elizabeth Weir, who is a
daughter of Rev. Samuel and Mary (Stevens) Weir, the former of whom was a
prominent clergyman of the Methodist Church. The children of this union are:
George R., a practicing physician of reputation at Joliet, Illinois, a
graduate of the St. Louis Medical College, and his father's associate until
the spring of 1903; Mrs. Edward McCoy of Springfield; and Mrs. Grant Adams
and Mrs. Edward V. Way, both of Macoupin County.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 295-297.
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