JAMES H. McGOWEN. This well known, influential citizen of Franklin township is a native of the county, born February 19, 1828, in Amwell township. His grandfather, James McGowen, who was born near Philadelphia, Penn., the youngest of seven children, came to Washington county with his brothers Robert and William, and all three made a settlement here. In earl life James McGowen was apprenticed to a manufacturer of reeds, serving his time in this county. He used to go to Cincinnati in a canoe, starting from Wheeling, and bring back material for his trade. When he was quite a young man he accompanied Col. Williamson against the Indians through Virginia and Ohio, and had many narrow escapes, though he was never injured. At about the age of twenty-six he was married to Abigail Harris, who bore him a large family of children, of whom James was the only one to attain majority; Mr. McGowen’s second wife was a Miss Foster, who also bore him a large family. His first dwelling house was erected on the ground now occupied by the colored M. E. Church, and he had to make a clearing for it among the hazel bushes. This venerable pioneer died at the age of ninety-two years, in politics a Jacksonian Democrat, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian Church. James McGowen, the father of subject passed his early life both in town and on his father’s farm. He was well educated, having attended, in addition to the common schools, Washington College; he taught school for many years in the county, proving a most successful teacher. When a young man he married Mary, daughter of Daniel Hughes, an the children born to their union are: Abigail (Mrs. William Adams), James H., Elizabeth (Mrs. Wilson Wylie) and Mary. The father died March 26, 1871, the mother August 1, 1886, and both rest in Washington cemetery. They were members of the M. E. Church, and in politics Mr. McGowen was originally a Whig, afterward a Republican. James H. McGowen has spent his entire life on the farm where he now resides, where his parents had moved when he was but three weeks old; he attended during a few of the winter months the schools of his district, but for the most part he is self educated. On February 10, 1854, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of D. T. Hughes, of New York, and their children are: Mary Miranda (Mrs. Richard Wilson), Albert A. (married to Laura, daughter of John Ramsey), Eliza I., Warren Blachby, Lizzie A., Edwin R. H., James H., Jr., and Etta W. The family are all adherents of the M. E. Church at Washington, of which Mr. and Mrs. McGowen have been members for forty years. In this political relations he was originally a Whig, having cast his first vote for Gen. Scott, and since the organization of the Republicans he has been a member of that party. He has been supervisor, and has served as school director nine years with credit to himself and the utmost satisfaction to his constituents.

Text taken from page 548 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by LuShelle Fletcher of Grand Island, NE as part of the Beers Project. Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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