My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES C. McCOWN has been engaged in agricultural pursuits for about twenty-five years on the farm which he still owns and cultivates, and which is located on section 26, township 45, Johnson County. He has served as Justice of the Peace for two terms, and has also held other official positions. He comes from a well known and respected family in these parts, the name being associated with the upbuilding of this region from its pioneer days.

The father of Mr. McCown, James McCown, was born in Kanawha County, W. Va., in 1815, and on reaching manhood married Caroline F. Burgess, a native of the same county, born in 1821. A few years later the young couple moved from West Virginia to Missouri, settling in Henry County, near Calhoun. About 1845 they moved to a farm in Chilhowee Township, this county, where Mr. McCown entered land. In the course of time his possessions numbered about fifteen hundred acres of finely improved farm land, besides lots in Warrensburg. Most of this was lost during the war, and by going security for friends. He was very generous, and never knew how to say no to those who applied to him for assistance. In Henry County he held the offices of Constable and Sheriff, and after coming here was made County and Circuit Clerk and Recorder, serving as such for three terms. When a young man he was for some time engaged in steam-boating on the Ohio River, and before leaving his native state was elected Colonel of a militia company.

Early in 1861 James McCown raised a company for a Missouri regiment, of which he was elected Colonel. Afterward the Third and Fifth Confederate Infantries were consolidated, and he continued to serve in the same capacity. In 1862 he went east of the Mississippi River, and took part in many important battles, among them being Baker Creek, Corinth, Chickamauga, those of the Georgia campaign, and many others. He was at Ft. Blakely at the time of its surrender, and soon afterward joined his family at Waco, Tex., where they were then living. They returned to Johnson County, where they were obliged to begin at the bottom round of the ladder once more, for though they had formerly been in affluent circumstances, they now had nothing left. Mr. McCown formed a partnership with E. A. Nicholson, an attorney, and on one of his business trips through Texas, Louisiana and Kentucky, contracted an illness which resulted in his death, July 8, 1868. For years he was a member of the lodge and chapter of Masons at Warrensburg, and held offices at different times. Politically he was always a strong Democrat. In religious faith he was a member of the Southern Methodist Church, to which his widow still belongs. She is now making her home in Warrensburg.

The following children were born to James McCown and his wife: J. S., who is connected with one of the Washington State institutions at Walla Walla; Charles C., our subject; John W., a commercial traveler of Kansas City; George, a stock-raiser; Mathew, who is connected with the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad; Virginia D., wife of James Smith, of Warrensburg; William H., a promising young attorney, who died at Piedmont, Mo.; Mary, who died in 1860; and Mattie, formerly the wife of George R. Foster, of St. Louis County, Mo., but now deceased. Two of the sons, J. S. and W. H., were in the Confederate army. The latter was a Captain and held a Colonel’s commission. He was actively engaged in many noted battles, among which were Lexington, Wilson’ Creek and Springfield, Mo. In the last-named encounter, he received severe wounds. The other brother was in the battles of Pea Ridge and Vicksburg, being under his father’s command and in Parsons’ brigade.

Charles C. McCown was born in January, 1848, in this county, and attended school in Warrensburg. During the war he was with his father for a time, though he was really much too young to be in the service. Nevertheless, he carried a musket at the battle of Dry wood. In 1863 he went with the other members of the family to Texas, and as he was the eldest of the children, he was for the time being the protector and head of the family, the father being at the front. They first located in Dallas, then moved to Georgetown, and finally to Waco, where the Colonel met them at the close of the war.

On Christmas Day, 1873, Charles McCown married Eugenia, daughter of James T. Ferguson, who is now living in Kansas City. Mrs. McCown was born in St. Louis, and by her marriage became the mother of six children, five of whom are living, namely: Stella, Cora, Florence, and Hugh and Lillie, twins. Mary died in childhood.

For about a quarter of a century Mr. McCown has been engaged in agricultural pursuits on his present farm, and is a thoroughly practical and well posted business man. His homestead comprises eighty acres of very fertile land, on which stand good buildings. In his political belief he is a Democrat. With his good wife, he holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and has officiated in the congregation as Steward.