The
Amos McGOWAN Family
(c.1795-c.1840's)
Submitted by:
John B. McGowan
HUSBAND: Amos McGOWEN Birth Date: c. 1795 Birth Place: Hyde Co., NC Marriage Date: c. 1818 Marriage Place: Hyde Co., NC Other Marriages: unknown Military Service: unknown Death Date: 1840's (by 1850) Death Place: Arkansas (?) Place Of Burial: Arkansas (?) Father's Name: Joseph McGOWEN, Jr. (c.1769-c.1850's) Mother's Maiden Name: Unknown NOTES: Amos McGOWEN was the eldest son of Joseph McGOWEN, Jr. and (Mother's name unknown). In 1819 he traveled with his family from Hyde Co. NC across the length of North Carolina, over the Smokey Mountains and across Tennessee to White County, where his father bought 200 acres "on the waters of the Caney Fork". Amos probably married Louisa (maiden name unknown) in Hyde Co., NC before his family moved West. By 1820 they had two children. In White County Amos farmed on his father's 200 acres of land until 1832 when, in a deed of gift, his father gave him 50 acres of his farm. However in 1839, Amos sold his 50 acres to David Clark. In 1840, Amos was named administrator of the estate of his brother, James, who had recently died. The last record of Amos in White Co., TN was the 1843 tax record. Not long after he moved his large family westward. It is believed that Amos died somewhere in Arkansas. By 1850, his widow Louisa had moved the family to Wright Co., Missouri where she purchased a farm. This was an area which became part of Webster County when it was formed in 1855. During the next decade, many of the family had moved just to the east into Texas Co., MO. Louisa died by 1870, probably in Texas County. Whether Amos and Louisa were the parents of ten of twelve children is debatable. SOURCES: Hyde Co., NC Census Records, White Co., TN Deeds, Census and Tax Records, Wright Co., MO Deeds and Census Records, Texas Co., MO Deeds and Census Records. .................................................................... WIFE: Louisa (Unknown) Birth Date: c. 1795 Birth Place: Hyde Co., NC (?) Other Marriages: unknown Death Date: c. 1864 Death Place: Texas Co., MO (?) Place Of Burial: Texas Co., MO (?) Father's Name: unknown Mother's Maiden Name: unknown NOTES: Louisa's maiden name remains unknown. Some researchers believe that it was BROCK, however no proof of this has been presented. SOURCES: Wright Co., MO Deeds and Census Records, Texas Co., MO Deeds and Census Records. ......................................................... 1st CHILD: Austin McGOWEN Sex: M Birth Date: c. 1819 Birth Place: Hyde Co., NC or White Co., TN (?) Spouse's Name: Elizabeth L. (Unknown) Marriage Date: c. 1827 Marriage Place: unknown Other Marriages: unknown Military Service: unknown Death Date: by 1860 Death Place: Texas Co., MO (?) Place Of Burial: Texas Co., MO (?) NOTES: SOURCES: Wright Co., MO Deeds and Census Records ......................................................... 2nd CHILD: Madecy McGOWEN Sex: F Birth Date: Aug. 14, 1820 Birth Place: White Co., TN Spouse's Name: (1st) John SANDERS Marriage Date: Dec. 4, 1841 Marriage Place: White Co., TN Other Marriages: (2nd) Barlett GENTRY (1803-1893) c. 1853 in Wright Co., MO (?) Death Date: Dec. 11, 1905 Death Place: Texas Co., MO Place Of Burial: Pinelawn Cemetery at Houston, Texas Co., MO NOTES: It is likely that John and Madecy Sanders accompained her parents on the trip west; however, John was deceased by 1850. They had one daughter. In 1850 Madecy and her daughter were living at her mother's farm in Wright Co., MO. Her second husband, Barlett GENTRY, was a widower and a minister. They had two daughter and two sons. SOURCES: White Co., TN Marriage Records, Wright Co., MO Census Records. ........................................................... 3rd CHILD: Anson McGOWEN Sex: M Birth Date: c. 1821 Birth Place: White Co., TN Spouse's Name: Lucinda (PHILPOT) ROBINETTE (1831-1912), d/o Hanson & Elizabeth PHILPOT; married 1st to Benjamin ROBINETTE (c.1857). Marriage Date: Apr. 22, 1858 Marriage Place: Webster Co., MO Other Marriages: Lucinda married 3rd to Stephen C. Herndon in 1863, his 2nd marriage. Military Service: Volunteer in Militia / Home Guard (Civil War) [USA / CSA is unknown] Death Date: c.1861 Death Place: Texas Co., MO Place Of Burial: Texas Co., MO (?) NOTES: Stephen HERNDON and his 1st wife were parents of Mary Hannah HERNDON, who was the 2nd wife of James McGOWEN, son of Amos McGOWEN. (See below) Lucinda was buried in the Herndon Cemetery in Ozark, MO. SOURCES: White Co., TN Tax List, Webster Co., MO Marriage Records, Texas Co., MO. ............................................................ 4th CHILD: Jesse McGOWEN Sex: M Birth Date: c. 1823 Birth Place: White Co., TN Spouse's Name: Margaret "Peggy" MAHAN, d/o Samuel MAHAN Marriage Date: by 1860 Marriage Place: Webster Co., MO (?) Other Marriages: unknown Military Service: Pvt., Co.G & Co.I, 74th Regt. Enrolled Missouri Militia, USA Death Date: aft. 1880 Death Place: unknown Place Of Burial: unknown NOTES: Margaret "Peggy" MAHAN was the sister of Robert Samuel MAHAN, husband of Charity (McGOWEN) MAHAN, Jesse McGOWEN's younger sister. SOURCES: Wright Co., MO Census Records; Missouri Military Records (Civil War). ............................................................. 5th CHILD: Elizabeth P. McGOWEN Sex: F Birth Date: c. 1824 Birth Place: White Co., TN Spouse's Name: Russell G. JONES Marriage Date: by 1850 (?) Marriage Place: Texas Co., MO Other Marriages: unknown Military Service: Russell G. JONES, Private, Co.K, 6th Provisional Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia, USA. Death Date: aft. 1880 Death Place: unknown Place Of Burial: unknown NOTES: In 1850 Elizabeth & Russell were living in Texas Co., MO and her brother, Martin Ross McGOWEN was living with them. In 1870 they were living next door to Jasper B. and Bethanna (McGOWEN) GENTRY and sold land to her in 1872. Russell was dead by the 1880 Census and a girl of 13, Mary J. Jones, was living with her. Although Mary had not been on the 1870 census, in 1880 she is shown as the daughter of Elizabeth. SOURCES: Texas Co., MO Cansus Records and Deeds; Missouri Military Records (Civil War). ................................................................. 6th CHILD: Martin Ross McGOWEN Sex: M Birth Date: May 22, 1825 Birth Place: White Co., TN Spouse's Name: Minerva Elizabeth "Minnie" NANCE (1833-1914) Marriage Date: c. 1851 Marriage Place: Wright Co., MO (?) Other Marriages: unknown Military Service: Private, Co.G & Co.I, 74th Regt. Enrolled Missouri Militia, USA Death Date: unknown Death Place: unknown Place Of Burial: unknown NOTES: Minnie (Nance) McGOWEN was the sister of Wright and Josiah NANCE. In the 1850's Martin and Minnie lived near her brothers in Texas Co., MO. In 1860 they were living in Christian Co., MO and in 1870 they were back in Texas Co. They moved to Oklahoma, where their son John was born at Fanshawe, Le Flore Co. in 1872. Their last child, Decie, was born in 1877 at Jefferson City, Cole Co., MO while on their way back to Texas Co. Prior to 1900 Minnie had left Martin and, taking her two youngest children, had gone back to Oklahoma. She lived with her son John as a widow until her death and was buried there. In 1900 Martin was living with the family of his brother Morgan in Texas Co. His date and place of death are unknown. They belonged to the Reorganized Latter Day Saints. SOURCES: Texas Co., MO Census Records, Christian Co., MO Census Records, Le Flore Co., OK Census Records, Missouri Military Records (Civil War). .............................................................. 7th CHILD: Morgan Sylvester McGOWEN Sex: M Birth Date: Jan. 31, 1827 Birth Place: White Co., TN Spouse's Name: Martha ALLEN (1830-1915) Marriage Date: Dec. 23, 1853 Marriage Place: Wright Co., MO Other Marriages: unknown Military Service: Private, Capt. Absolom McKinney's Co. K, 6th Regiment Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia Infantry, USA. Death Date: June 14, 1911 Death Place: Texas Co., MO Place Of Burial: Emory Cemetery in Houston, Texas Co., MO NOTES: He was living and working at his mother's farm in 1850 in Webster Co., MO. After his marriage, they moved from Wright Co. to Texas Co., MO, where Morgan was a farmer. During the Civil War, Morgan enlisted as a Private in Capt. Absolom McKinney's Company K, 6th Regiment of the Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia Infantry, USA. Morgan served in this unit from Aug. 31, 1863 til Mar. 15, 1864. During this time, according to the Regimental History, this unit had the following service: "Operations against (Gen. Joseph O.) Shelby (Confederate Cavalry), Sept. 22 - Oct. 26 (1863). Scout from Houston to Jack's Fork, Nov., 4-9, 1863 (Detachment). Scouts from Houston, Dec., 9-19. Ordered from Springfield to Rolling Prairie Feb. 6, 1864. Duty in Christian, Douglass, Wright, Dade and Stone Cos. til July, 1864." Later, after Morgan's discharge from the Army, General Sterling Price (CSA) raided into Missouri in 1865. Some Confederates from Shelby's Cavalry forced Morgan, and his horse, to go down into Arkansas with them. He wasn't made to enlist and he wasn't imprisoned, but he couldn't leave. His brother-in-law, Russell G. JONES was taken at the same time. After about 4 or 5 weeks, Morgan and several others escaped and returned home. In 1892 Morgan applied for a federal pension based on his military service, due to rheumatism, kidney disease and piles. His pension was # 772761 and he received $8 per month. In the application for his pension, his description is given as follows: Height: 5'3"; Complexion: Fair; Eyes: Blue; Hair: Light; Occupation: Farmer. In the following years, the family lived in several places in Texas County, i.e. Big Creek, Odd and Bucyrus. In the 1900 Census, his brother Martin Ross McGOWEN was living with them. Morgan owned his farm free of mortgage. Martha had been the mother of ten children, of which eight were still living in 1900. They were members of the Plum Valley Baptist Church. Active up to the time of his death, Morgan died of accute gastritis at the age of 84. He is buried in the Emory Cemetery in Houston, Texas Co. Martha died of "La Grippe" or Influenza. SOURCES: Wright Co., MO Census and Marriage Records; Texas Co., MO Census Records; Missouri Military Records (Civil War); U.S. Military Pension Records; Mr. Terry Love. ................................................................. 8th CHILD: Sealy (Celia) McGOWEN Sex: F Birth Date: c. 1828 Birth Place: White Co., TN Spouse's Name: (1st) Andrew DENNEY (c.1830-c.1860's) Marriage Date: Oct. 11, 1859 Marriage Place: Wesbter Co., MO Other Marriages: (2nd) Cornelius B. LYNCH, married Feb. 14, 1867 Military Service: Cornelius B. LYNCH - Co. B, 4th Reg't. Missouri Volunteer Infantry, C.S.A. (Unconfirmed) Death Date: by 1911 (?) Death Place: Texas Co., MO (?) Place Of Burial: Texas Co., MO (?) NOTES: Andrew DENNEY was born c. 1830 in Indiana. It is unknown whether he died during the Civil War. Cornelius B. LYNCH, Celia's 2nd husband, was the administrator of Andrew DENNEY's estate. Cornelius was born c. 1814 in Kentucky. In 1870 Census of Piney Township, Texas Co., MO, they had living with them two Denny children and two MAHAN children, the latter probably children of her sister, Charity MAHAN. SOURCES: Wesbter Co., MO Marriage and Estate Records, Texas Co., MO Census and Marriage Records. ................................................................. 9th CHILD: James W. McGOWEN Sex: M Birth Date: May, 1830 Birth Place: White Co., TN Spouse's Name: (1st) Mary A. PHILPOTT (1836-by1873) Marriage Date: c. 1864 Marriage Place: Wright Co., MO (?) Other Marriages: (2nd) Hannah Mary HERNDON on Nov. 16, 1873 Military Service: Volunteer in the Reserves (?) Death Date: 1907 Death Place: Texas Co., MO Place Of Burial: Texas Co., MO (?) NOTES: In 1850 James was living at his mother's farm in Wright Co., MO. His brother Robert is reported to have stated that James went to California during the gold-rush. If true, he returned to the family farm before too long. By 1860, all of the other children had left home, except for James. The 1860 census showed James and his mother in one household, and they were both listed as owners. It seems probably that Louisa died prior to 1864 at about the age of 69, as James then married Mary A. PHILPOTT. She was born about 1836 according to the 1870 Census. She died shortly thereafter. James remarried to Hannah Mary HERNDON, born in Aug., 1850. Hannah Mary was a daughter of Stephen C. and Phoebe (FREDERICKS) HERNDON, of Ozark Co., MO. In 1870, James bought his brothers' and sisters' shares of thier Mother's land. Then they moved to Texas County and bought a farm in Piney township. His niece, Bethany (McGOWEN) GENTRY, daughter of his eldest brother Austin, had married Jasper GENTRY who died in 1872. In 1880 she and her two children were living with her Uncle James' family, where Bethany was listed as housekeeper. In 1884, James and Hannah sold more than 150 acres in Texas Co. to his brother-in-law, Cornelius LYNCH, for $600. James signed with his mark while Hannah signed her name. In 1890, they sold 20 acres in Webster Co. to James' brother Jesse for $10. James and Mary Hannah McGOWEN were still living in 1900 in Piney Township of Texas Co. On Apr. 25, 1909 James' son Hayden E. McGOWEN appeared in Court as Executor of the last will & testament of his father. James had five know children; two with his first wife and three with his second. SOURCES: Wright Co., MO Deeds, Census and Marriage Records, Texas Co., MO Deeds, Census, Estate and Marriage Records, The History of Webster County, Missouri. ................................................................. 10th CHILD: Charity McGOWEN Sex: F Birth Date: c. 1832 Birth Place: White Co., TN Spouse's Name: Robert Samuel MAHAN Marriage Date: Apr. 11, 1860 Marriage Place: Webster Co., MO Other Marriages: unknown Death Date: by 1870 Death Place: unknown Place Of Burial: unknown NOTES: In 1870, the two MAHAN children were living with her sister, Sealy and her husband Cornelius B. LYNCH in Texas Co., MO. No further information. SOURCES: Webster Co., MO Census and Marriage Records, Texas Co., MO Census Records. ................................................................. 11th CHILD: Frances McGOWEN Sex: F Birth Date: c. 1833 Birth Place: White Co., TN Spouse's Name: Samuel P. HUGHES (1831-1899), s/o Samuel and Emily (WOLFORD) HUGHES. Marriage Date: c. 1854 Marriage Place: Wright Co., MO (?) Other Marriages: Samuel HUGHES married (2nd) Rhoda ROMINES by 1880. Military Service: Death Date: c, 1873 Death Place: Texas Co., MO Place Of Burial: Texas Co., MO (?) NOTES: Samuel HUGHES was born in Sullivan Co., TN. He died Aug. 21, 1899 at Quinlan, Hunt Co., TX. SOURCES: Wright Co., MO Census and Marriage Records, Texas Co., MO Census Records, Etta Hughes Shepard. ................................................................. 12th CHILD: Robert McGOWEN Sex: M Birth Date: Feb. 26, 1836 Birth Place: White Co., TN Spouse's Name: Mary Ann Matilda GENTRY (1834-1917), d/o Bartlett & Priscilla (MUNDY) GENTRY Marriage Date: Jan. 1, 1868 Marriage Place: Texas Co., MO Other Marriages: none Military Service: Private, Co. E, 4th MO Calvary, CSA Death Date: Oct. 12, 1911 Death Place: Spokane, WA Place Of Burial: Fairmont Cemetery, Spokane, WA NOTES: During the Civil War, Robert joined Co. E, 4th Missouri Calvary, CSA, known as Burbridge's Regiment. They were part of the 5th Brigade of the 2nd Division of the 2nd Corps in the Trans- Mississippi Department. He saw a great deal of service in Missouri and Arkansas. After surrender at the war's end, they were paroled on June 5, 1865. Robert's calvary cape had numerous bullet holes but he had never been wounded. Robert's wife, Mary Ann Matilda GENTRY had been born in Jackson Co., AL on Nov. 25, 1834. Soon after Mary's mother died in 1853, Robert's sister, Madecy SANDERS, became his wife's step-mother by marring her father, Bartlett GENTRY. Robert and Mary had a farm near Houston, Texas Co., MO. They later moved to Carter Co., MO near VanBuren. In 1891 they moved to Whitman Co., Washington, near Garfield where they had a farm. In 1906 they moved to Spokane, WA. They are buried Fairmont Cemetery, Spokane, WA. SOURCES: Texas Co., MO Marriage and Census Records, Carter Co., MO Census Records, Whitman Co., WA Census Records, Spokane, WA Census and Death Records, Missouri Military Records (Civil War). .................................................................
Additional Information: Death date and place for Amos McGOWEN are unknown, however the obituary of his son Morgan Sylvester McGOWEN states that Amos died in Arkansas. Also, the maiden name of his wife, Louisa, remains unknown.
SUBMITTED BY: John B. McGowan DATE: February 12, 2003 E-MAIL: jmack@carolina.net