William Cowan (October 25, 1825 – January 7, 1899) was a farmer and

reeve Reeve may refer to: Titles *Reeve (Canada), an elected chief executive of some counties, townships, and equivalents *Reeve (England), an official elected annually by the serfs to supervise lands for a lord *High-reeve, a title taken by some Englis ...

North Gower Township, Ontario North Gower Township is a former and now geographic township in eastern Ontario, Canada, now located in Ottawa. It contains the communities of Manotick and North Gower. North Gower (pronounced "North Gor") was located in the southern part of Carle ...

. He was born in County Leitrim,

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

in 1825, the son of Patrick Cowan, and was educated there, earning a teaching certificate. He emigrated to

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

and arrived in

Bytown Bytown is the former name of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was founded on September 26, 1826, incorporated as a town on January 1, 1850, and superseded by the incorporation of the City of Ottawa on January 1, 1855. The founding was marked by a Grou ...

around 1845. He taught school in North Gower for five years. In 1850, he married Caroline McCrea; he also purchased a farm in the township around that time. Cowan was reeve for the township from 1865 to 1869. In 1866, he served as warden for Carleton County. Cowan also served as

justice of the peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

, was clerk in the division court for 21 years and became a captain in the local militia. In 1870, he was named secretary for the county and, in 1873, was named county treasurer. With these postings, Cowan sold his farm and moved to

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

, where he served on the board of Water Commissioners. Obituary (condensed) On Saturday morning, at 8:30, Co. Treasurer Wm. Cowan and Son, Holmes Cowan, proprietor of the Gilpin House, were being driven to Ottawa East to attend the funeral of the late Chas. O'Gara, when their spirited horses took fright and ran away. The Parry Sound train was just rounding the curve at the head of the deep cut, and into this the horses dashed, striking between the tender and the baggage car ............. Mr. Cowan and his son met death instantly. .............. Mr. Cowan made his last will on Friday. Owing to the approaching marriage of his daughter Miss Maggie Cowan, he found it necessary to add a codicil .......... Wm. Cowan was born in the county Leitrim, Ireland, December 17, 1825. He came to Bytown in 1845. He taught school for five years in North Gower and then settled upon a farm which he had purchased. He married in 1850, Caroline, daughter of Capt. Thomas McCrea of Montague, a veteran of the war of 1812. About the same time he was appointed clerk of the Division Court, including North Gower and Marlboro. He held that position for 21 years. He was township councillor for eight years and reeve for five years. In 1870 he was appointed county clerk and in 1873 county treasurer, a position he held till his death.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowan, William 1825 births 1899 deaths Reeves of North Gower Township Irish emigrants to pre-Confederation Ontario Politicians from County Leitrim Railway accident deaths in Canada Accidental deaths in Ontario Immigrants to the Province of Canada Canadian justices of the peace