Cowen Family History

Compiled by Marsha (Cowen) Hosfeld

 

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 M W 42 M2 6           Keeper-Boarding House

Anna V.

wife F W 28 M1 6 1 1        

Irene M.

daughter F W 11                

Adaline V.

daughter F W 5                
Cowen, Frank boarder M W 61 WD       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 F W 40 Wd   3 3 Germany Germany Germany Keeper-Lodging House

Alma A.

daughter F W 18                

Herbert H.

son M W 17                

Arthur E.

son M W 14                
Cowen, Fred lodger M W 22 S       Wisconsin Scotland Germany Telegraph Operator
Cowen, Archibald lodger M W 15 S       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 M W 24 M1 0     Wisconsin Germany Germany Express Messenger- Steam Railroad

Elizabeth

wife F W 21 M1 0 0 0 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 M W 76 Wd       Germany Germany Germany Own Income

Edith

daughter F W 28 S       Wisconsin Germany Germany Saleswoman-Dry Goods Store

Minnie [Cowen]

daughter

granddaughter

F W 12 S       Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin  
Petska, Tillie daughter     39 Wd   0 0 Wisconsin Germany 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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