Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Arthur Burnett Cowan

Male 1848 - 1922  (73 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Arthur Burnett Cowan 
    Born 8 Aug 1848  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    Gender Male 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188320133 
    Interesting business, story 
    Name Arthur B. Cowan 
    Residence 1861  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Presbyterian 
    Residence 1871  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    C. Presbyterian 
    Residence 1881  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Presbyterian C. 
    Occupation 1901  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Manufacturer 
    Occupation 1911  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Traveller, Foundry 
    Residence 1911  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Presbyterian 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-63790 
    Died 5 Jan 1922  [2
    Buried Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Person ID I63790  Generations
    Last Modified 25 Apr 2024 

    Father James S. Cowan, MP,   b. 3 Nov 1803, Henderland, Megetdale, Peebles, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 May 1900, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 96 years) 
    Mother Helen Laing,   b. 26 Feb 1811, Moffat, , Dumfries, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1892, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years) 
    Married 1834  [6
    Family ID F16658  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Galt Foundry and Machine Works

      This firm is conducted under the name of Cowan & Co. the members of the firm are William Cowan and Arthur B. Cowan. The business is an old one, having been established in 1842, the present proprietors taking possession in 1871. They have added largely to the plant, which greatly increases their facilities for carrying on business, and ever since the phenomenal growth of business keeps further taxing their resources. The firm is popularly known as iron workers and manufacturers of the most improved woodworking machinery, Harris Corliss and Slide Valve engines, boilers and sole manufacturers in Canada of the celebrated Austin patent feed water heater, lime, mud and oil extractor, and condensor, combined heaters, etc.

      The main factory and buildings are the property of the company, and are substantially built structures of stone, two stories high and occupying an entire block of frontage on North Water Street. The working force consists of over one hundred hands, the greater portion of whom are skilled mechanics, in receipt of good wages, as may be judged from the pay roll of the firm, aggregating over forty thousand dollars annually. This large sum distributed, as it is, among the merchants means a great impetus to local trade, so it can easily be understood that the firm of factors in the prosperity of Galt. The trade of the firm extends not only over the whole of the Dominion of Canada, but their products find their way to many foreign countries, and while this is, of course, a source of profit to the firm, it also demonstrates conclusively that Canadian manufacturers are not inferior to any, and are fully capable of taking a front rank in the markets of the world.

      Some idea may be formed by outsiders of the immensity of the operations of this firm, when we state that its yearly output is valued at one hundred and forty thousand dollars. James Cowan, Sr., formerly the senior partner of the firm, is a native of Scotland, but who is a pioneer of Galt, becoming an active and worthy citizen in 1834. Ever since, until old age unfitted him for life's activities, though even in his advanced years, still he manifests an interest in Galt. The other members of the firm are not only Canadian but natives of the town, of which they have done much to build up and develop, and they have ever been foremost in the ranks of progressive citizens

      Jubilee Souvenir of Galt 1897

  • Sources 
    1. [S259] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1901, Galt (Town/Ville) C-7 Page 13.

    2. [S122] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Mount View CC#4495 Internet Link .
      In/ memory of/ James Cowan/ born at Henderland/ Megetdale Scotland/ November 3rd 1803/ died at Galt/ May 22nd 1900/ Helen Laing/ wife of/ James Cowan/ died at Galt A.D. 1892 / aged 80 years/ also their children/ Elizabeth/ died at Waterloo A.D. 1845/ aged 5 years/ Isabella Deans/ died in South Dumfries A.D. 1876/ aged 39 years/ Thomas Cowan/ their eldest son/ born at Clochmohr Waterloo T'p./ Aug. 14th 1835/ died there October 14th 1898/ Arthur Burnet Cowan/ died Jan. 5, 1922 in his 75th year/ Margaret Cowan/ died Oct. 12, 1928 in her 86th year,

    3. [S604] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1871, Div. 2, Pg. 7.

    4. [S178] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1881, Waterloo S. Twp. 1881 Div 2 Page 2.

    5. [S572] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1911, Div. 17 Page 39.

    6. [S894] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1861, Sect. 10 Page 71.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 8 Aug 1848 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Presbyterian - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - C. Presbyterian - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Presbyterian C. - 1881 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Manufacturer - 1901 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Traveller, Foundry - 1911 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Presbyterian - 1911 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth