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

William Cowan[1]

Male 1841 - 1922  (81 years)

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

  • Photos
    William Cowan    		William Cowan
    From 1897 Jubilee Souvenir of Galt
    William Cowan    		William Cowan
    From 1897 Jubilee Souvenir of Galt

  • Name William Cowan 
    Born 16 May 1841  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] 
    Gender Male 
    Business Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Cowan and Company 
    Cowan and Company    		 Cowan and Company
    William Cowan, second from right, joined Cowan & Company employees Alex Baird, superintendent; James Baird, foreman; Albert Burnham and Tom Randall beside some of the firm' products - City of Cambridge Archives
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/235054853 
    Occupation 1861  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Agricultural Laborer 
    Residence 1861  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Presbyterian 
    Residence 1869  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    Occupation 1870  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9, 11] 
    Veterinary Surgeon 
    Residence 1871  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9] 
    Presbyterian 
    Occupation 1881  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Farmer of U. S. 
    Residence 1881  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    C. Presbyterian 
    Occupation 1891  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1891  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Presbyterian 
    Occupation 1901  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Farmer 
    Occupation 1911  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    ? 
    Residence 1911  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Presbyterian 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-63792 
    Died 3 Dec 1922  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 6] 
    Cause: old age, myocarditis & pleurisy 
    Buried Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Person ID I63792  Generations
    Last Modified 12 May 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  [8] 
    Family ID F16658  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Helen Elliott "Nellie" Robson,   b. CALC 10 Jun 1841, , Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Jun 1885, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 43 years) 
    Married 12 Mar 1869  , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [10] 
    Children 
     1. Robert Elliott Cowan,   b. 16 Jan 1870, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Aug 1961  (Age 91 years)
     2. James Hastie Cowan,   b. 2 Feb 1872, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 May 1942, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)
     3. William Laing Cowan,   b. 22 Feb 1874, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Feb 1959  (Age 84 years)
     4. Elizabeth Helen Cowan,   b. 17 Jun 1876, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Feb 1930, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 53 years)
     5. Thomas Deans Cowan,   b. 2 Apr 1878, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Sep 1970, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 92 years)
     6. Isabella J. Cowan,   b. 4 Aug 1880, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 13 May 2024 
    Family ID F16659  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

      __________

      In Memoriam Died In Galt, on Sunday, December 3rd, 1922 at 5.45 o'clock p.m. William Cowan In his 82nd year. Funeral From his late residence, 74 Main St., N., on Tuesday afternoon, December 5th, at 2.30 o'clock, to Mount View Cemetery. Friends and acquaintances will please accept this intimation.

      Funeral Card

  • Sources 
    1. [S57] Vit - ON - Birth Registration.
      Elizabeth Hellen Cowan Born: 17 Jun 1876 County: Waterloo Father: William Cowan Mother: Hellen Elliott

    2. [S116] Vit - ON - Death Registration.
      William Cowan b. 16 May 1841 Waterloo Township, s/o James Cowan (b. Scotland) & Ellen Lang (b. Scotland) informant Robert Cowan (Hespeler, son) cause: old age, myocarditis & pleurisy

    3. [S86] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1901, Waterloo (South/Sud) G-4 Page 3.

    4. [S178] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1881, Waterloo S. Twp. 1881 Div 2 Page 16.

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

    6. [S122] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Mount View CC#4495 Internet Link .
      In/ memory of/ William Cowan/ died Dec. 3, 1922/ in his 82nd year/ Helen Elliott/ wife of/ William Cowan/ died in Waterloo A.D. 1885/ aged 44 years/ Elizabeth Helen Cowan / died Feb. 24, 1930/ in her 54th year/ Robert Elliott Cowan/ died 22nd day of Aug. 1961/ aged 91 years/ his wife/ Georgina Armstrong/ dled 16th day of Jan. 1949/ aged 83 years/ Thomas Deans Cowan/ died Sept. 21, 1970- in his 93rd year/ Ethel Marion Turnbull/ wife of Thos. D. Cowan/ died May 30, 1930-in her 41st year

    7. [S2575] Census - ON, Waterloo Township - 1891, Sect. 3 Page 38.

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

    9. [S2767] aaaWaterloo Township 1871 South, Sect. 2 Page 61.

    10. [S31] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Dumfries Reformer (1850-1892), 17 Mar 1869.
      Elliott, Miss E. married 12 Mar 1869 to Wm. Cowan. By Rev. J.K. Smith. Groom, second son of James Cowan, of Waterloo. Bride, of Galt.

    11. [S57] Vit - ON - Birth Registration.
      Name: Robert Elliott Cowan
      Event Type: Birth
      Event Date: 16 Jan 1870
      Event Place: Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
      Gender: Male
      Father's Name: William Cowan - Vetr Surgeon
      Mother's Name: Ellen Elliott

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 16 May 1841 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBusiness - Cowan and Company - - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Agricultural Laborer - 1861 - 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 - 1869 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 12 Mar 1869 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Veterinary Surgeon - 1870 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Presbyterian - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer of U. S. - 1881 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - C. Presbyterian - 1881 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1891 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Presbyterian - 1891 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1901 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - ? - 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 MapsDied - Cause: old age, myocarditis & pleurisy - 3 Dec 1922 - 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 


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