JOHN COWDEN. The Cowden family have long been identified with the well-known, energetic and successful pioneer settlers of Washington county, Penn. The grandfather of the present generation, John Cowden, was born in eastern Pennsylvania of Scotch-Irish parents, who had settled in the State several years prior to his birth. He was united in marriage with Ann Sloan, and soon afterward moved to Washington county. They settled on a farm in Mt. Pleasant township, on a part of the original George Washington survey, and there the remainder of their lives was passed. Isaac P. Cowden was born in 1798, in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, where he grew to manhood, and in 1823 married Esther Nelson, who was born in 1799, on a farm in the same township where their son John is yet residing. Her father, James Nelson, was born in York county, Penn., came to Washington county when a boy, and, locating on the home farm in Mt. Pleasant township, married Ann Duncan, and passed the remainder of his life there. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Cowden first settled on a farm near Hickory, this county, where children were born as follows: Lillie Ann (wife of Robert Thompson, San Jacinto, Cal.), John (Mt. Pleasant), Martha and Margaret (residing in West Middletown) and James (living in Summer county, Kans.). The parents were both members of the Mt. Pleasant U. P. Church at Hickory. The father died in 1865, and in 1877 the mother passed away. John Cowden, son of Isaac and Esther Cowden, was born October 23, 1827, in Mt. Pleasant township, this county, and spent his youth on the old homestead near Hickory, this county, receiving his education in the subscription schools of the township. In 1857 he married Louisa, granddaughter of Joseph and Martha (Paden) Scott, and daughter of Joseph Scott. The latter was born in the year 1801, in York county, Penn., coming with his parents when a boy to Hanover township, this county. He there married Isabelle Nelson, and settled on a farm in Hanover township, where he died in 1872, the mother passing away in September, 1886. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church at Florence, this county. They had six children, four of whom are living, viz: Louisa (Mrs. John Cowden), William (a farmer of Beaver county, Penn.), Elizabeth (wife of Samuel Dennis, Wellsville, Penn.) and Joseph (residing on the old homestead in Hanover township, this county). John Cowden and his wife first settled on the farm of 234 acres which they still own, and have erected a comfortable dwelling. The following is a brief record of their children: Isaac Patterson, born November 25, 1859, married in 1883 Mary Alice Guthrie, who bore him two children: Elmer and Elva (they reside in Chartiers township); Joseph Scott, born May 29, 1861, is a farmer of Sumner county, Kans., and was married in 1891, to Miss Maggie Williams; Mary Isabelle, born March 23, 1863, was married in 1882 to James Guthrie, a carpenter of Canonsburg (they have two children, Nora and Ellsworth); Esther Ann, born February 16, 1865, was married in 1885 to John S. Hutchinson, a carpenter of Houstonville, and has two children: Jennie and John Cowden; Lillie, born November 23, 1866, died in March, 1871; James Nelson, born May 30, 1868, is living at home; William Anderson, born April 27, 1870, is also at home; John Alexander, born November 3, 1873, is residing on the home place. Mr. Cowden votes with the Republican party. He and his wife are both members of the United Presbyterian Church at Venice, this county.

Text taken from page 373 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed June 1997 by Marilyn K. MacKendrick of N. Charleston, SC as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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