My Genealogy Hound

LEWIS S. COWING, a successful farmer of Chesterfield, was born in Huntington, July 20, 1830, son of Job and Clarissa (Taylor) Cowing, the latter of Chester. Job Cowing, a native of Huntington, was a farmer, and followed his calling in Chester, Huntington, and Worthington. The latter part of his life was spent in Leeds, Mass., where he died. His wife breathed her last in Chester, October 29, 1839. They were the parents of five children, namely: Lewis S., the subject of this sketch; John W., who married Laura Smith, and is now living near his brother Lewis; Nancy, wife of Edwin Dodge, of Worthington, Mass., who is a farmer; Mary, who died January 5, 1853; and Samuel D., who was married to Louise Hilman, now deceased, and resides in New Jersey.

Lewis S. Cowing received a good common-school education. He began to work on his father’s farm when a boy of twelve. At eighteen he abandoned farm work to learn tool-making at Ringville, Mass. In 1853 he moved to the Cole homestead in Chesterfield, and once more engaged in farming. Eleven years later he went to live on the farm where he now resides. This estate, containing one hundred acres, has been much improved by Mr. Cowing. Hay and corn are the staple products, and some stock is also raised. Mr. Cowing’s methods are well up to date.

On May 25, 1853, Mr. Cowing was united in marriage with Maryann, daughter of Consider and Deborah Cole, of Chesterfield. Mr. Cole was a well-to-do farmer, the property now owned by our subject originally belonging to him. He and his wife have both passed away. They were cared for in their old age by their daughter and her husband, who moved to the farm in Chesterfield in order to relieve the old folks of the cares incident to farm life. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Cowing was blessed by three children, namely: Horace W., a school-teacher, who was married first to Emily Streeter, and is now living with his second wife in Johnstown, N.Y.; Truman S., formerly a teacher in Hampshire County, and now a railroad man in Charlotte, Mich., married to Libby Merritt; and Mabel C., who died at the age of six years. Mrs. Cowing died February 8, 1885; and Mr. Cowing subsequently married Mrs. Ellen (Middlebrook) Sanderson, who died October 5, 1888.

Politically, Mr. Cowing believes firmly in the principles of the Democratic party, has held several offices in the county, and is much respected by all who know him.