Cowen Family History, compied by Marsha (Cowen) Hosfeld

Cowen Family History

Frank Edward Cowenwas born in Sycamore Township, DeKalb County, Illinois, the son of Theodore and Marilla Cowen. Although his age varies widely on miscellaneous documents, there is no doubt in my mind that he was born between the 1850 and 1860 Census. His age was given as 6 in 1860, and I use 1854 as his year of birth. A 1900 Census gives his month of birth as January. His death certificate does not include a date of birth but gives his age as 84, which cannot be correct. I believe he was about 76 when he died, 13 November 1930.

A lot of circumstantial evidence points to his father, Theodore, being the son of Eddy and Mary "Polly" Griggs Cowen of Tolland, Connecticut. Eddy’s father, John Cowen, moved from Connecticut to Conewango, Cattaraugus County, New York, in 1833 after the death of his wife Olive Smith, and there is documentation showing he brought his grandson, John M. Cowen, with him. Another grandson, Norman Eddy Griggs Cowen, also settled in Conewango. John M. and Norman E. G. had an older brother, Theodore Smith Cowen. I believe he was Frank’s father, and that he also followed his grandfather to New York, where he met and married Marilla, who had been born in New York. The 1840 Census shows the household of John Cowen (age 86, Revolutionary War veteran, farmer) containing 3 other males (10<15, 15<20, 40<50) and 4 females (15<20, 20<30, two 30<40). Theodore would have been about age 18. Based on information given in the 1850 Census, my Theodore was married and living in Illinois before 1845, when his first child, Helen, was born.

The 1850 Census for Sycamore Township, DeKalb County, Illinois, lists Theodore, age 27 (1823), and Marilla, age 28 (1822), and their daughters, Helen, age 5 (1845), and Sarah, age 3 (1847). Theodore is a farmer, born in Connecticut. His wife was born in New York, and the two girls in Illinois. The 1860 Census shows that a son, Frank, was added to the family in 1854. Theodore is still a farmer, with Real Estate valued at $1200 and a Personal Estate of $300. Helen, Sarah and Frank all attended school.

There is a DeKalb County, Illinois, record showing the marriage of Helen L. Cowen to Francis G. Stanley on 21 September 1862. Unfortunately, that is the last record of Helen I have been able to find. The next recorded family event is the marriage of Sarah Ann Cowen to William Wallace Stannard of Stevens Point, in Plover, Portage County, Wisconsin, on 14 August 1869. The two marriage records show that the family’s move from Illinois to Wisconsin came sometime between September 1862 and August 1869.

On 5 August 1873, Mrs. Marilla Cowen "of Portage Co. Wis." filed a Homestead Application through the Land Office at Wausau, Wisconsin. (S ½, SW ¼ of Section 32 in Township 29 N of Range 2 E, containing 80 acres. This is on the north side of what is now Spruce St./SR-29 east of the Clark Co. line; this road divides Twp 29-Holton and Twp 28-Hull in Marathon County.) The Portage County reference, if accurate, conflicts with family history which indicates that Theodore and Marilla were already living in the Abbotsford area before Theodore went west to sell horses, never to be heard from again. (My grandfather, Theodore A. Cowen, Sr., wrote down the story his father, Frank, told him about his grandfather’s disappearance. The story is included in his Biography entry.) Since Marilla made the application, and is described as "the head of a family", I assume Theodore was gone before that 1873 date. When she filed the Homestead Proof, 17 October 1878, she described herself as a 56-year-old widow with no children. Perhaps this is intended to mean no minor children, since her son Frank is one of her witnesses, and her son-in-law, William Wallace Stannard, is the other.

After receiving the deed to the property, Marilla immediately sold it to William Stannard, and the extended family continued to live there together. William died of consumption, 30 March 1879, leaving his wife, Sarah, and four children: Olive, Clarence, Florence, and William.

In the 1880 Census, Frank, his mother, sister, and sister’s children, are living on the Homestead property. In 1882, the Colby Phonograph carried the news that Mr. Frank Cowen of Holton married Miss Mary Dornenberg of Hull on Friday, 20 January, at the home of Mrs. Sarah Stannard.

No announcement or certificate has been found, but Sarah Cowen Stannard became the wife of John Murray Brown soon after her brother Frank’s marriage, with the first of their four children being born 31 March 1883. The children of John M. and Sarah Ann Brown were Sadie, Oramel, Frank and Minnie.

The 9 May 1883 edition of the Colby Phonograph contained a news tidbit about Frank Cowen building a home in Abbotsford. This would be the place where my grandfather was born, and the family would reside there until a fire destroyed it along with a neighboring blacksmith shop and two other buildings.

On 2 March 1891, Frank bought a piece of property east of Abbotsford, adjoining the original homestead (about 15 acres, south of the railroad line in E ½, SE ¼, Sec 31 Twp 29 N, Range 2 E). After the fire, he and Mary moved there with their sons, Theodore (b. 1885) and Frederick (b. 1887). Two more children were born to them there, Archibald (b. 1894) and Minnie (b. 1898). Mary developed puerperal septicemia (blood poisoning) after Minnie’s birth, and died less than two weeks later, 9 March 1898.

The two youngest children were taken in by Mary’s parents, Fred and Wilhelmina "Minna" Doernenburg, while the two older boys, ages 13 and 11, stayed with their father. Frank did not handle this responsibility well, and the boys had to scramble to care for themselves. My grandfather’s memories of this time are included in his biography on this site. In the 1900 Census, there are two entries in Abbotsford for Frank Cowen, in both cases he is living as a boarder. The boys, Ted and Fred, were not recorded, but were probably still living at least part of the time on the farm property, which was not sold until July 1902. (The 1901 Plat Map shows "T. Cowan" on the property.) In the 1910 Census, Frank is working as a bartender in Abbotsford (photo 1913), and in 1920 he resides at the Clark County Poor Farm in York Township (photo).He lived there on and off until his death, 13 November 1930. There is a marker for him in the Poor Farm cemetery, but he is also listed with his wife on a headstone at Colby Cemetery, which is the burial place indicated on his death certificate.

Cowen Family Timeline

1821 May	Theodore Smith Cowen born in Tolland, Connecticut, oldest child of Eddy & Mary "Polly" Griggs Cowen
1833	John Cowen, grandfather of Theodore, moves to Cattaraugus Co., NY bringing at least one of his grandsons (John M., b. 1826)
1845-1860	Theodore & Marilla Cowen in Illinois (Sycamore Twp - 1850-1860) children: Helen (b. 1845 IL), Sarah (b. Oct 1847 IL), Frank (b. 1854 IL)
1862 September	Helen Cowen marries Frank Stanley in Sycamore, IL
1869 August	Sarah Ann Cowen marries Wm. W. Stannard in Portage County, WI
1873 August	Marilla Cowen applies for Homestead of 80 acres, Holton Twp., Marathon Co., (S ½, SW ¼, Sec 32, Twp 29 N, Range 2 E) Marathon County was created from Portage County in 1850*.
1873-1879	Wm. W. Stannard family living in Holton, Marathon Co., WI
1878 October	Marilla Cowen (widow) completes Homestead property purchase, immediately sells to William Wallace Stannard (son-in-law)
1879 March	Wm. W. Stannard dies in Holton, Marathon Co., WI *
1880 June	Federal Census: Frank (Single) Marilla (Widow) and Sarah (Widow) with Stannard children in Holton, Marathon Co., WI
1882 January	Frank Cowen marries Mary Doernenburg at home of Sarah Stannard *
1882 (May?)	Sarah Cowen Stannard marries John Murray Brown at ?
1883 May	Frank Cowen builds a house in Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI *
1885 January	son Theodore A. Cowen Sr. born to Frank & Mary Cowen
1887 January	son Fred Cowen born to Frank & Mary Cowen
1891 March	after FIRE ? Frank Cowen buys property in Marathon Co. from Fred & Louise Walter (adjacent to J. M. Brown / Marilla Cowen property)
1892 February	Marilla Cowen dies at John & Sarah’s home in Holton, WI *
1894 July	son Archibald Cowen born to Frank & Mary Cowen
1898 February	daughter Minnie Cowen born to Frank & Mary Cowen
1898 March	Mary Doernenburg Cowen dies at her home near Abbotsford *
1910 March	Theodore Cowen, Sr. marries Elsie Schwermer in Dorchester, WI *
1914	Fred Cowen marries Vera in ?
1915	Sarah Ann Cowen Stannard Brown dies - unknown WI location
1916 May	John Murray Brown dies in Holton, Marathon Co., WI *
1917 July	Archie Cowen marries Hazel in Stevens Point, WI
1918 December	Minnie Cowen marries Dewey Kunde in Milwaukee, WI
1919 January	Frank H. Brown (son of John & Sarah) dies in Athens, WI * Oramel Brown living in Phelps, Vilas Co. Clarence Stannard & Florence Stannard Arndt living in Goodrich, Taylor Co.
1930 November	Frank Cowen dies - funeral in Abbotsford *
* links

Census

1850 United States Federal Census, Sycamore, DeKalb County, Illinois; "as of June 1, 1850"
Name: Theodore Carrer [Theodore Cowen] Age: 27 Estimated birth year: abt 1823 Birth Place: Connecticut Gender: Male Occupation: Farmer
Surname, First Name	Age	Sex	Birthplace	Occupation
Cowen, Theodore	27	M	Connecticut	Farmer
Marilla	28	F	New York
Helen	5	F	Illinois
Sarah	3	F	Illinois

1860 United States Federal Census, Sycamore, DeKalb County, Illinois; "as of June 1, 1860"
Name: Theodore Cowen Age in 1860: 38 Birth Year: abt 1822 Birthplace: Connecticut Gender: Male Post Office: Sycamore Roll: M653_173 Page: 48
Surname, First Name	Age	Sex	Est. Birth Year	Birthplace	Occupation
Cowen, Theodore	38	M	1821	Connecticut	Farmer
Marilla	38	F	1821	New York
Helen	14	F	1845	Illinois
Mary A. --Sarah--	13	F	1846	Illinois
Frank	6	M	1854	Illinois

1870 United States Federal Census, Webster Twp, Houghton, Michigan; "as of June 1, 1870" (NE of Gogebic Co. in the Upper Peninsula)
Doernenburg family (arrived 1865 and 1868) Name: Frederick Dornbush Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836 Age in 1870: 34 Birthplace: Prussia Race: White Gender: Male
Surname, First Name	Age	Race	Gender	Birthplace	Occupation
Dornbush, Frederick	34	White	Male	Prussia	Laborer
Willhelmine	24			Prussia	Keeping House
Mary	5			Prussia

MISSING:

William Wallace Stannard family (married Sarah 1869)

Cowen family - Theodore (?) & Marilla + Frank (we don’t know when Theodore died)

Francis G. & Helen Cowen Stanley family (married in Sycamore IL, Sept.1862)

1880 United States Federal Census, Holton, Marathon County, Wisconsin; "as of June 1, 1880"
Name: Frank Cowen Age: 24 Estimated birth year: abt 1856 Birthplace: Illinois Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head) Father's birthplace: PA Mother's name: Marillia Mother's birthplace: Pennsylvania Occupation: Farmer Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Male
Surname, First Name	Age	Relation	Marital Status	Occupation
Cowen, Frank	24	Head	Single	Farmer
Stannard, Sarah	25	Sister	Widowed	Keeping House
Cowen, Marilla -Marilla-	53	Mother	Widowed
Stannard, Olive	9	Niece
Stannard, Clarance -Clarence-	6	Nephew
Stannard, Florence	4	Niece
Stannard, William	2	Nephew

1895 WISCONSIN State Census, Hatton [Actually Holton?] Marathon County, Wisconsin;

as of June 20, 1895"

Frank Cowan

Line: 17

Roll: v226_14

Male=4

Female=1

USA=4

German=1

Household members: Frank, Mary, Ted, Fred, Archie

1900 United States Federal Census, Mayville, Clark County, Wisconsin; "as of June 1, 1900"
Ted (15) and Fred (13) Cowen: not found in census. Name: Frank Cowen Age: 42 DOB: January 1858 Estimated birth year: abt 1858 Birthplace: Wisconsin Relationship to head-of-house: Boarder Widower
Surname, First Name	Age	Birthplace	Relation to head of house	Occupation
Carle, George	36			RR Carmith
Harriet	34
Harvey	16
Lula	13
Satie	11
Cowen, Frank	42	Wisconsin	Boarder	RR Carsmith

1900 United States Federal Census, Mayville, Clark County, Wisconsin; "as of June 1, 1900"

(DUPL) Name: Frank Cowen

Age: UNKN

Estimated birth year: (BLANK) "abt 1900"

Birthplace: Wisconsin

Relationship to head-of-house: Boarder (Ward Moah family)

Occupation: Day laborer

1900 United States Federal Census, Mayville, Clark County, Wisconsin; "as of June 1, 1900"
Name: Fredrick Denenberg [Doernenburg] Age: 66 Estimated birth year: abt 1834 Birthplace: Germany Relationship to head-of-house: Head Immigration Year: 1866
Surname, First Name	Age	Birth Month	Birth Year	Sex	Years Been Married	# of Children Born	# of Children Living	Relationship to head of house	Birth place	Occupation
Deneberg, Fredrick	66	Jany	1834	M	35			Head	Germany	RR Carsmith
Minnie	55	May	1845	M	35	4	6	wife	Germany
Edith	18	Feby	1882	S				daughter	Wisconsin
Fredrick	14	June	1885	S				son	Wisconsin
Brooks, Nellie	22	May	1878	S				daughter (widow?)	Michigan
Brooks, Arnold	6	May	1894	S				nephew (grandson)	Wisconsin
Cowen, Archibald	5	July	1894	S				nephew (grandson)	Wisconsin
Cowen, Minnie	2	Feby	1898	S				niece (granddaughter)	Wisconsin

1905 WISCONSIN State Census, Abbotsford, Clark County, Wisconsin; "as of June 1, 1905"
Name: Frank Cowen Line: 40 Roll: CSUSAWI1905_4 Birth Location: Illinois Marital Status: Widowed Gender: Male Estimated birth year: abt 1853 Race: White Relation: Head
Surname, First Name	Relation	Race	Sex	Age	Martial Status	Birthplace	Occupation
Cowen, Frank	head	W	M	52	widowed	Illinois	Day Laborer

1905 WISCONSIN State Census, Fond du Lac, Fond du County, Wisconsin; "as of June 1, 1905"
Name: Theodore Cowen Line: 28 Roll: CSUSAWI1905_11 Birth Location: Wisconsin Marital Status: Single Gender: Male Estimated birth year: abt 1882 Race: White Relation: Roomer
Surname, First Name	Relation	Race	Sex	Age	Martial Status	Birthplace	Occupation
Cowen, Theodore	Roomer	W	M	23	Single	Wisconsin	Ry. Bkman

1905 WISCONSIN State Census, Abbotsford, Clark County, Wisconsin; "as of June 1, 1905"
Name: Fred J Domenberg -Doernenburg- Line: 5 Roll: CSUSAWI1905_4 Birth Location: Germany Marital Status: Married Gender: Male Estimated birth year: abt 1884 Relation: Head Spouse's name: Minnie
Surname, First Name	Relation	Race	Sex	Age	Martial Status	Birthplace	Occupation
Domenberg, Fred J.	Head	W	M	21 71	M	Germany	Farmer
Minnie	wife	W	F	60			Housework
Cowen, Freddie	grandson	W	M	18			Stat. Engr.
(DUPL) Cowen, Theodore	grandson	W	M	20			Brakeman
Cowen, Archie	grandson	W	M	11

1905 WISCONSIN State Census, Abbotsford, Clark County, Wisconsin; "as of June 1, 1905"
· (DUPL) Name: Fredrick Dornenberg Line: 50 Roll: CSUSAWI1905_18 Birth Location: Germany Marital Status: Married Estimated birth year: abt 1834 Residence County: Marathon Locality: Hull Fredrick Dornenberg 71 - Farmer
Surname, First Name	Relation	Race	Sex	Age	Martial Status	Birthplace	Occupation
Dornenberg, Fredrick		W	M	71	Married	Germany	Farmer

1905 WISCONSIN State Census, Holton, Marathon County, Wisconsin; "as of June 1, 1905"
Name: Ottelia Petska [Tilly] Line: 24 Roll: CSUSAWI1905_18 Birth Location: Michigan Marital Status: Married Estimated birth year: abt 1871 Relation: Wife Spouse's name: Anton
Surname, First Name	Relation	Race	Sex	Age	Martial Status	Birthplace	Occupation
Petska, Anton	head	W	M	38	M	Wisconsin	Day Laborer
Ottelia [Tilly]	wife	W	F	34	M	Michigan
John	father	W	M	81	W	Bohemia
Cowan, Minnie M.	niece	W	F	7	S	Wisconsin

1910 United States Federal Census, Abbotsford, Clark County, Wisconsin; "as of April 15, 1910"

Name: Frank Cowen Age in 1910: 61 Estimated birth year: abt 1849

Birthplace: Illinois Relation to Head of House: Boarder Marital Status: Widowed

Father's Birth Place: Scotland Mother's Birth Place: Illinois

Name

Relation

Sex

Race

Age

Martial Status

Martial Years

Kids born

Kids Living

Birth Place

Father Birth Place

Mother Birth Place

Occupation

Thompson, John B.

head

Keeper-Boarding House

Anna V.

wife

Irene M.

daughter

Adaline V.

daughter

Cowen, Frank

boarder

Illinois

Scotland

Illinois

Bartender-Saloon

1910 United States Federal Census, Abbotsford, Clark County, Wisconsin; "as of April 22, 1910"

Name: Fred Cowen Age in 1910: 22 Estimated birth year: abt 1888

Birthplace: Wisconsin Relation to Head of House: Lodger Marital Status: Single

Father's Birth Place: Scotland Mother's Birth Place: Germany

Name

Relation

Sex

Race

Age

Martial Status

Martial Years

Kids born

Kids Living

Birth Place

Father Birth Place

Mother Birth Place

Occupation

Nelson, Lena A.

Head

Germany

Keeper-Lodging House

Alma A.

daughter

Herbert H.

son

Arthur E.

son

Cowen, Fred

lodger

Wisconsin

Scotland

Germany

Telegraph Operator

Cowen, Archibald

lodger

Wisconsin

Scotland

Germany

Call Boy- Railroad

1910 United States Federal Census, Abbotsford, Clark County, Wisconsin; "as of April 22, 1910"

Name: Theodore A Cowen Age in 1910: 24 Estimated birth year: abt 1886

Birthplace: Wisconsin Relation to Head of House: Head Spouse's name: Elizabeth

Father's Birth Place: Germany Mother's Birth Place: Germany

Name

Relation

Sex

Race

Age

Martial Status

Martial Years

Kids born

Kids Living

Birth Place

Father Birth Place

Mother Birth Place

Occupation

Cowen, Theodore A.

head

Wisconsin

Germany

Express Messenger- Steam Railroad

Elizabeth

wife

Michigan

German

Bohemia

Few lines down

Name: Fred Domenberg [Doernenburg] Age in 1910: 76 Estimated birth year: abt 1834

Birthplace: Germany Relation to Head of House: Head Marital Status: Widowed

Year of Immigration: 1865 Father's Birth Place: Germany Mother's Birth Place: Germany

Name

Relation

Sex

Race

Age

Martial Status

Martial Years

Kids born

Kids Living

Birth Place

Father Birth Place

Mother Birth Place

Occupation

Domenberg, Fred

head

Germany

Own Income

Edith

daughter

Wisconsin

Germany

Saleswoman-Dry Goods Store

Minnie [Cowen]

daughter

granddaughter

Wisconsin

Petska, Tillie

daughter

Wisconsin

Germany

Own Income

1920 United States Federal Census, York, Clark County, Wisconsin; "as of January 1, 1920"
Name: Frank Cowen Age: 73 years Estimated birth year: abt 1846 Birthplace: Illinois Father's Birth Place: Illinois Mother's Birth Place: Illinois Marital Status: Widow Race: White Sex: Male
Name	Relation	Sex	Race	Age	Martial Status	Birth Place	Father Birth Place	Mother birth place	Occupation
Cowen, Frank		M	W	73	Wd	Illinois	Illinois	Illinois

Note:

My father does not remember his grandfather Frank ever coming to their home in Illinois. Maybe they were expecting him and he did not arrive. He died of cancer that November.

1930 United States Federal Census, Proviso, Cook Co., Illinois; "as of April 1, 1930" 825 Hannah Ave
Name: Theadore Cowen [Theodore Cowen] Age: 45 Estimated birth year: abt 1885 Birthplace: Wisconsin Relation to Head of House: Head Father's name: Frank Spouse's name: Elizabeth Age at first marriage: Ted-25 Elizabeth-20
Name	Relation	Sex	Race	Age	Marital Status	Marital Age	Birth Place	Father birth place	Mother birth place	Occupation
Cowen, Theadore	head	M	W	45	M	25	Wisconsin			Express Messenger- Express Co.
Elizabeth		F	W	40	M	20	Michigan
Gertrude		F	W	19	S		Wisconsin
Norbert		M	W	17	S		Wisconsin
Elizabeth		F	W	9	S		Illinois
Theadore		M	W	7	S		Illinois
Frank	father	M	W	75	Wd		Illinois

Additional Information:

Doernenburg Family History

Conclusion of Doernenburg Family History

Ted Cowen, Sr. - autobiographical stories

Theodore Arthur Cowen, Sr. - Biography

Cowen & Doernenburg Family Album

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