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HomeMy WebLinkAbout531Duotang bound book,10 pages, written by William Cowan, 1961. "THE COWAN FAMILY WRITTEN BY WILLIAM COWAN Henry Cowan, with his wife and son William (5 years old) and perhaps other children, came from Ayshire, Scotland in 1832 to Pickering Township, Ontario, Canada. The family settled in the vicinity of Altona Road and First Concession but moved to the west side of the mouth of the Rouge River the following year. This farm contained some property east of the river beginning about one half mile above the lake. The present stone house was built in 1837. The young William of whom I am a grandson, must have had several brothers and sisters. Two sisters married two Chester men and settled locally. Some of his brothers settled just west of Hamilton where there are still many relatives. My oldest uncle Henry inherited the farm from his grandfather but died of rheumatic fever when he was 29 years old leaving an infant daughter Jeannie. My grandfather William lived on that farm to the age of 71 and although he never owned it, he bought 3 farms for his other sons and managed the four farms for many years. In 1870 he bought the farm lot 30 & 31 First Concession fronting both sides of the Rouge River where my father William lived all his days until he died at age 64 on Jan. 25, 1918. My mother was Mary Emma Pearce who came from north of Port Union. They were married on my father's birthday, Dec. 12, 1877. Grandfather also bought a farm at Greenwood for Uncle Robert and one at Highland Creek for Uncle John. Our farm was later named Rosebank by my parents and was bought from a Scottish gentleman. (Part of text missing) .....married John Pollock who had built a large house in the shape of a cross; the walls of which we discovered in later years had 5 inch thickness covered in 2 inch pine plank. No doubt they were supplied from the ship building industry which existed on the river for years. My uncle Robert who married a girl from Scarborough had 2 children, Christina and Henry, who have recently passed on. Three uncles have children who are still living: James, Alex and Mary. The oldest one, Will, was shot in his store at Malvern by a young robber a few years ago. On this date, Dec. 7, 1961, I am the only surviving member of " "our family, details of which are entered in the family Bible to be placed in the museum at Brougham Mar. 13, 1913 - Allie married Ajax James Annan Sept. 1, 1909 - Dyson married Mabel Maw Aug. 24, 1915 - Gerald married Margaret H. Scott Jan. 25, 1918 - Father Wm. Cowan died Jan. 17, 1919 - Alice Beatrice died Mar. 5. 1937 - Mother Mary E. died Jan. 24, 1953 - Dyson died Aug. 30, 1937 - Dyson's wife Mabel died Oct. 29, 1944 - Gerald's wife Margaret died June 11, 1945 - Gerald married Jeannie Phillip The deceased members of the family are buried in the family plot at Melville Presbyterian Church, West Hill with the exception of Dyson and Mabel who are buried at Brooklin , Ont. " "ROSEBANK OWNER IS DEAD Mr. Wm. Cowan was a noted figure at the well know summer resort With the burial of the body of Wm. Cowan J.P., of Rosebank at West Hill Cemetery, Kingston Rd. this afternoon, there passed one of the most widely known men in the suburbs of Toronto. The funeral service in Melville Presbyterian Church was conducted by Rev. Mr. Clugsden, assisted by Rev. Mr. Cameron. Besides the large number of relatives and friends of the neighbourhood, many residents of Toronto attended the funeral. The pall-bearers were his two brothers, Robert and John Cowan, his two sons, Gerald and Dyson Cowan, his nephew, Charles Heron and his son-in-law, Alex. Annan. A magnificent floral wreath in the shape of a life preserver was sent by cottagers who occupy bungalows and cottages during the summer months. The late Mr. Cowan was born in 1855 in the old homestead founded by the family in 1832. It is on the west side of the Rouge River near Lake Ontario and was then known as Rouge Hill Post Office. He was one of eight children of the late William Cowan. On his birthday in 1877, he married Mary Emma Pearce, of Port Union. Besides his wife he leaves two sons and one daughter Dyson and Gerald Cowan of Rosebank and Mrs. A. Annan of Dunbarton. He also leaves two brothers and two sisters, Robert of 165 Lee Avenue and John of Malvern in the Township of Scarborough, Mrs. Heron of West Hill and Mrs. Neilson of Brown's Corners. Over 30 years ago Mr. Cowan improved 180 acres of his property overlooking Lake Ontario and established picnic grounds which became known as Rosebank and a favourite as a summer resort and for Sunday School picnics. *Newspaper article, source unknown A PIONEER GONE Sketch of the life of Mr. William " "Cowan of Port Huron An Active Career The late Mr. William Cowan, a portrait of whom appears in the illustrated supplement of this issue, was one of the oldest inhabitants of the Township of Scarborough, and his death, which occurred on Tuesday, February 23, at the age of 72, closed an eventful life. In 1832, when only a boy of six, he came with his parents from Ayrshire, Scotland to Canada. His father took up land on the first concession of Pickering, immediately after his arrival in the country. In 1833 he secured the property at the mouth of the Rouge River near Port Union, when it and the adjacent localities were little better than an unbroken forest. In company with his father, young William as he was then called by the dint of the hardest and most persevering work, backed by the courage and perseverance, changed the forest into the rich and highly cultivated fields now to be seen. For nearly half a century Mr. Cowan has been prominently identified with political, ecclesiastical and social matters in both Pickering and Scarborough Township. In religion he was a a pronounced Presbyterian and was for many years a ruling elder and Sabbath School superintendent in Melville Church, Scarborough. His name is closely connected with the history of the this church that the mentioning of the one involuntarily brings the other to the mind. In politics Mr. Cowan was a devoted Reformer all his life. For more than thirty years he has been a tower of strength to the party in both York and Ontario Counties. Although a hard worker and a consistent church man, he was always to the front when it came to deer-stalking in Muskoka or boating and angling on the river or in Lake Ontario. He was also an extremely hospitable man. His demise was not unexpected. For more than fifteen years he had been a great sufferer and had undergone no less than five operations for internal troubles. Before his death he became very tranquil, and quietly passed away surrounded by his family. A family of three sons and three daughters survive him, all of whom are settled near the old home. The well-known Deputy Reeve of Scarborough is one of his sons. His son William is the proprietor of Rosebank, the well-know summer resort. Two members of his family predeceased him, his eldest son Henry and a daughter, Mrs. Purdie, wife of Mr. Robert Purdie of Malvern. The funeral took place on Friday, and was one of the largest and most representative ever seen in Scarborough. *Newspaper article, source unknown " X37• r y 2 /r 7y /9-7b 44, ew ��c�,Yr,��,,,,.�f �ltcv�e-e�, �u,��� 2„",.,>ntins.('�c-4. �a.rse��uo-� l3 [ 4�3 z.Q i. � iae�i a<^ t z� rpst- - .nes„ ,fir ��� r �i i, i. // ��1,C6�u Y7�R/vLNtiL Y/ZCCCce-� Y%�G�rJ' Jv� i % � "Rosebank Owner is dead Mr. Wm. Cowan was a noted figure at the Well-Known summer Resort. With the burial of the body of Wm. Cowan. J.P., of Rosebank, at West Hill Cemetery, Kingston road, this afternoon there passed one of the most widely known men in the suburbs of Toronto. The funeral service in Melville Presbyterian Church was conducted by Rev. Mr. Wm. Cowan Mr. Clugsden, assisted by Rev. Mr. Cameron Besides the large number of relatives and friends of the neighborhood many resident's of Toronto attended the funeral. The pall-bearers were his two brothers, Robert and John Cowan, his two sons, Gerald and Dyson Cowan, his nephew, Charles Heron, and his son-in-law, Alex Annan. A magnificent floral wreath in the shape of a life preserver was sent by cottagers during summer months. The late Mr. Cowan was born in 1855 in the old homestead founded by the family in 1832. It is on the West side of the Rouge River near Lake Ontario and was then known as Rouge Hill Post Office. He was one of eight children of the late William Cowan. On his birthday in 1877 he married Mary Emma Pearce, of Port Union. Besides his wife he leaves two sons and one daughter, Dyson and Gerald Cowan of Rosebank and Mrs. A. Annan of Dumbarton. He also leaves two brothers and two sisters, Robert of 165 Lee Avenue and John of Malvern, in the township of Scarboro, Mrs. Heron of West Hill and Mrs. Neilson of Brown's Corners. Over 30 years ago Mr. Cowan improved 180 acres of his property over looking Lake Ontario and established picnic grounds which became known as Rosebank and a favorite as a summer resort and for Sunday school picnics. A Pioneer Gone Sketch of the Life of Mr. William Cowan of Port Huron-An Active Career. The late Mr. William Cowan, a portrait of whom appears in the illustrated supplement of this issue, was one of the oldest inhabitants of the township of Scarboro’ and his death, which occurred on Tuesday, February 23, at the age of 71 closed an eventful life. In 1832 when only a boy of six, he came with his parents from Ayrshire Scotland to Canada. His Father took up land on the first concession of Pickering, immediately after his arrival in the country. In 1833 he secured the property at the mouth of the Rouge River, near Port Union, when it and the adjacent localities were little better than an unbroken forest. In company with his father, young William as he was then called, by the dint of the hardest and most persevering work, backed by courage and perseverance, changed the forest into the rich and highly cultivated fields now to be seen. For nearly a half century Mr. Cowan has been prominently identified with political, ecclesiastical and social matters in both Pickering and Scarboro’ Township. In religion he was a pronounced Presbyterian, and was for many years a ruling elder and Sabbath School superintendent in Melville Church, Scarboro’. His name is so closely connected with the history of this church that the mentioning of the one involuntarily brings the other to the mind. In politics Mr. Cowan was a devoted Reformer all his life. For more than thirty years he has been a tower of strength to the party in both York and Ontario Counties. Although a hard worker and a consistent churchman, he was always to the front when it came to deer stalking in Muskoka or boating and angling on the river or in Lake Ontario. He was also an extremely hospitable man. His demise was not unexpected. For more than fifteen year he had been a great sufferer and had undergone no less than five operations for internal troubles. Before his death he became very tranquil, and quietly passed away surrounded by his family. A family of three sons and three daughters survive him, all of whom are settled near the old home. The well-known Deputy Reeve of Scarboro’ is one of his sons. His son William is the proprietor of Rosebank, the well-known summer resort. Two members of his family predeceased him, his eldest son Henry and a daughter, Mrs. Purdie, wife of Mr. Rovert Purdie of Malvern. The funeral took place on Friday, and was one of the largest and most representative ever seen in Scarboro’. "