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JASON HARMON asks: Are all the members of the Cowan family indeed Burtons? All Cowans can trace ancestry from 1 Burton and 1 Cowan. Genealogist Harmon is hoping to find a photo of Shelby Cowan and/or Cyrenius Cowan. By Jason Harmon bjeharmon@hotmail.com Are all the members of the Cowan family indeed Burtons? It sounds like a strange question, but all members of the Cowan families in Adair County can trace their ancestry back to one Burton and one Cowan. Thomas Cowan and Elizabeth "Betsy" Burton are the founders of all the Cowans in Adair County. They were married in 1842 in Pulaski County and after some years of marriage they decided to join Betsy's Burton brothers and cousins in Adair County. Two sons were more than enough to spread the the Cowan name Thomas and Betsy (Burton) Cowan only had two sons that married and extended their surname in Adair County. This was more than enough. They were William Shelby Cowan and Cyrenius Cowan. These two brothers left a long and lasting name in the county that still exists today. If your last name is Cowan, you can trace your ancestry back to one of these men. Uncle Shelby Cowan and Cy Cowan grew to adulthood and both married Burton girls. Shelby Cowan loved the Burton women so much that he married two of them. Both men were laid to rest in Bear Wallow Cemetery like many Burton and Cowan kin. The other children of Thomas Cowan and Betsy Burton were: Martha Cowan who married John Milton Bryant, Elizabeth Cowan who married the beloved Fletcher Gilpin, Clarie Cowan who married Rev. James DeHuff Burton, Nancy Cowan who married John Logan Burton, Amanda Butler Cowan who married Riley Burton and the youngest of the family was John Thomas Cowan. William Shelby Cowan was born in 1853 in Pulaski County William Shelby "Uncle Shelby" Cowan was born in 1853 in Pulaski County before his parents made the pilgrimage to Adair County. Shelby Cowan was married twice. He was first married to Lydia Burton and later to Sarah Burton. He had a total of eleven children. He had five sons to live on the Cowan name in the county. My grandpa remembered Shelby Cowan quite fondly. He was a solid provider for his family and a hard worker. Grandpa spoke the most of his oldest son, Daisy Cowan. Daisy Cowan had a solid head on his shoulders. He was wise with the management of his farm and was able to spoil his children a little. The children of Daisy Cowan were eccentric, or at least the younger ones were. Daisy's oldest son, Walter Cowan, had a solid head on his shoulders and was a fine man. He moved on to Edinburgh, Indiana where his descendents continue to thrive. The younger sons were the subject of fond memories and funny stories. They were Bruce Cowan and Arthur "Polly" Cowan. Arthur Cowan got the nickname Polly Cowan because he would "Polly woddle doodle all day". One story that I heard took place at Bloomington Chapel. When the offering plate would be passed around, Bruce Cowan would throw in a nickel and get 4 pennies back out. When the boys joined the army they claimed they drove their car from Columbia all the way to Germany. Bruce and Polly Cowan must have been a riot to be around from local stories, both are buried in Bear Wallow Cemetery and have been gone for many years now. Cy Cowan was the younger brother of Shelby Cowan Cyrenius "Cy" Cowan was the younger brother of Shelby Cowan. Cy Cowan was born in about 1858. In 1877, Cy was joined in wedlock with Miss Martha Frances Burton. She came from a large and well known family, being the daughter of James Madison Burton. Cy and Martha went on to have ten children of their own. They lost a baby in the spring of 1894, but their other children grew to adulthood and reared families of their own. Tommy Cowan was the eldest of the family and he married Josie Farris, a sister of the great man, Bob Lawson Farris. Tommy's son, Walker Cowan, was known for his enormous family of about 20 children. The second son of Cy Cowan was James Madison "Maddi" Cowan. Maddi Cowan married to Louetter Burton. She was the daughter of Ambrose Burton who has been mentioned by me before. Poor Maddi and Louetter Cowan had a lot of tragedy when it came to their children's short lives. The couple only had two children live past the age of 40. Maddi Cowan also died a young man at the age of 41. His widow, Louetter Cowan, was a deeply spiritual woman. It has been said that when her daughter, Leedie Cowan Burton, died in 1936. She became filled with the holy ghost and "shouted" at the funeral in Bear Wallow Church. One of the daughters of Cy Cowan was Cordelia Cowan. Cordelia was married to Mr. Sam Nellie Curry. If one drives down HWY 206, you might see Rattler Curry Road. Rattler was a good old guy always chewing on them cigars. This was one of Sam and Cordelia's sons. Former Adair County Sheriff, Ralph Curry, is also a grandson of Cordelia Cowan Curry. Clem Cowan was the youngest son of Cy Cowan. He was married twice and chose Burton Brides in both of his marriages. His first wife was Sophia Burton, the daughter of Bramlett Burton. The first marriage only lasted a few months and Sophia went to her heavenly home not long after the wedding. Clem's second wife was Ethel Lou Burton. She was the daughter of Bill Hectory Burton. Bill Hectory has the distinction of being the only man to have 2 graves in Bear Wallow Cemetery. One tombstone is in the old section and a newer stone in the new section. Wonder which one he is buried beneath? Met Clem Cowan's descendents while visiting Hatcher kin A few years ago while visiting my Hatcher kin in Columbia I met up with one of Clem Cowan's descendents. She was very young, but well versed in her genealogy. She was quick to recite her maternal and paternal ancestors back several generations from memory, a trait of the Burton and Cowan families and proof of a solid oral tradition and the importance of family. I was amazed. The Cowan's also seemed to have been blessed with good looks among their other qualities. I don't think you could ever meet a homely Cowan girl or so I have noticed. Does anyone have any photos of Shelby Cowan and/or Cyrenius Cowan? This story was posted on 2006-03-02 12:48:37
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