PATRICK COWAN 1820 -1898

LeMars Sentinel, Monday 11 Apr 1898, Pg. 3, Col. 3:

Death of An Old Iowa Settler

Patrick Cowan died at his home on Franklin street in this city on Thursday morning at the age of 78 years.  The deceased had been ailing for the past two or three years and had not been able to come downtown for more than a year.  Mr. Cowan was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1820 and came to America in 1842, settling in what was then Michigan territory, afterwards Iowa.  He lived in Dubuque county until 1876.  He was married in 1844 to Mary McLain, who survives him. In 1876 the family moved to this county and bought a farm near Neptune where they lived until 1884, when they came to LeMars, which has since been their home.  Mr. Cowan had many interesting experiences and reminesences to relate of pioneer days in Iowa and was well known to all early settlers in Jackson and Dubuque counties and many in this neighborhood knew him years ago in Dubuque.  He was a man highly respected by his neighbors and acquaintances. Besides the widow he leaves six children, three sons and three daughters, John and James,of Watertown, S.D., and Edward, who resides at Adrian, Minn.  Two daughters, Mrs. Thos. Mohan and Mrs. Maurice Lamb are residents of LeMars and another daughter, Mrs. Robert Phillips , lives in Stanton township. The funeral took place from the St. James church Saturday morning at 10 o'clock.

Contributed by Kay Banks.