Steve,
Appreciate your reply. I really know very little of William Cowan except he was the youngest son of Joseph and Mary Malinda Long Cowan. His mother died in 1857 shortly after his birth, 1855, 1856, or 1857. He had an older sister Susan, who married Isaac Newton Biggerstaff 1866 in Rutherford Co. NC. They had two sons and two daus.

William or W. A Cowan(the way he signed the power of attorney which came back to the Rutherford Co. Court for his father, Joseph Cowan, to act in their behalf in selling their inherited land) William b. 1855/56/57 was the youngest of three brothers--Thomas Cowan b. 1849 being oldest, John Cowan b. 1853 middle brother.

Rebecca Cowan-Cornelius descends from John Cowan who settled in Bowie Cty. Texas. Fort Smith, AR court records state in 1890 they found him in Red River Valley, Texas.

Rebecca and I have found records of Thomas Cowan in the 1890 Census of Cleveland Cty. OK , as Thomas Cowan b. NC on pg. 628. In the 1920 Census he is listed in McClean Cty with his son Joseph N. age 30. Thomas is listed as b. NC, age 70. Rebecca has a picture of Thomas, his wife, and Joe when Joe was a baby which her family had kept and passed down.

We cannot be certain but Rebecca has found who we believe to be our William A. in the 1880 Census of Fannin Cty. TX as follows:

Census Place: Precinct 6, Fannin, Texas
Source: FHL Film 1255303 National Archives Film T9-1303 Page 499B

Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Wm. A. Self M M W 24 NC Occ. Farmer Fa.NC Mo. NC
Jane S. Cowan Wife F M W TX Occ. Keeps House Fa. GA Mo. AR
Jas. C. Cowan Son M S W 1 Tx Fa. NC Mo. TX
Thomas Cowan Brother M S W 30 NC Laborer Fa NC Mo NC

We believe this is our William now married with a one year old son and his brother, Thomas Cowan living with them.

Any comments or corrections please. Where do you fit in?
Looking forward to your reply.
Betty Frazer frazerjr @vci.net