Alonzo Brock Cowan (1850 - 1933)

Born 26 Dec 1850 in Frankville, Kitley, Leeds, Canada West

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Rath) Cowan — married 1 Jun 1880 in Augusta Twp, Grenville Co, ON

Husband of Angeline (Giffin) Cowan — married 19 Apr 1895 in Brockville, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died 14 Jul 1933 at age 82 in Brockville, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Christine Daniels [send private message]

Biography

Alonzo was born in 1850, the son of William Cowan and Lois Rowland. There is no record of his birth available. Brock reported his birthdate as September 12 in the 1901 Census, and his son Brock reported his date of birth as December 26 on his death record.

In 1851, Brock, aged 2, was living in Elizabethtown Township, Leeds County, Canada West^[1] with his parents, William and Lois, and his brother Norman, aged 4.

In 1861, the family was still living in Elizabethtown Township^[2].

In 1871, Brock was still living with his parents in Elizabethtown Township^[3].

He was married to Mary Rath in 1880^[4].

Alonzo Brock Cowan, 29, residing and born in Elizabethtown, bachelor, farmer, son of William Cowan and Lois Cowan, married

Mary Rath, 28, residing in Augusta, born in Elizabethtown, spinster, daughter of Henry Rath and Mary Rath,

Witnesses: Richard Green, Joseph Rath, both of Elizabethtown,

On June 1, 1880, at her father's residence, Augusta.

Together they had the following children:

1. William H., married Edith Bates
2. Carrie Ann, married Gordon Henry Giffin
3. Elva Mary, married Christopher Scaife

Alonzo & Mary's daughter, Carrie Ann, married Gordon Henry Giffin, who was the brother of his second wife, Angeline.

In 1881, Brock and Mary were living by themselves in Elizabethtown Township^[5].

In 1891, Brock and Mary were living in the East Ward of Brockville, Ontario^[6]. Brock was working as a butcher, with their children William, Carrie, and Elva.

Mary died in 1894.

He was married a second time to Angeline Giffin in 1895^[7].

Alonzo Brock Cowan, 44, residing in Brockville, born in Elizabethtown, widowed, butcher, son of William Cowan and Lois Rowland, married

Angeline Giffin, 26, residing in Brockville, born in Elizabethtown, spinster, daughter of John Giffin and Mary White,

On April 19, 1895, at Brockville, Ontario.

Together they had the following children:

1. Alonzo Brock, married Lila Sturgeon
2. Norman John, married Mildred Malone
3. Bruce Whitfield, married Marie Jalbert
4. Alice Breata, married Lester Tucker
5. Effie Maud, never married
6. Florence Carrie, married Warren Stiffel

In 1901, Brock and Angeline were living in Elizabethtown Township, Brockville, Ontario^[8] with Elva, Brock Jr., and Norman.

In 1911, Brock, a farmer, and Angeline were still in Elizabethtown Township^[9].

In 1921, Brock and Angeline were living at 233 Park Street, Brockville, Ontario^[10]. Brock was now working as a milk dealer along with his son, Brock Jr. Norman was still at home, working as a butcher. Bruce, Breata, Effie were all students, and Florence was just eight years old. The family also had Storey Woods, 45, rooming with them.

In 1931, the family had moved down the street to 283 Park Street, Brockville^[11]. Ann was the married head of household, but Brock was not enumerated with her. Son Norman was also listed as the head of the household. A widower, he was employed as a labourer at the creamery. Effie was teaching at a public school. Florence, 18, was still a student. There were three lodgers in the home, Bert and Lee Spence, 14 and 11, also students, and Ben Drinkwater, an 82 year old widower. Lastly was Norman's son, Wallace, aged 2.

Brock Cowan died on July 14, 1933^[12], at his home at 233 Park Street, Brockville, Ontario. He was born on December 26, 1850, the son of William Cowan, born in Fairfield, and Lois Rowland, born in the United States. The informant on the record was his son, Brock Cowan (Junior), of the same address. His cause of death was lobar pneumonia, which he had contracted six days earlier while in Watertown, New York. The contributory cause of death was senility, 3 years. He was 82 years old.

Brock and Angeline were buried at Oakland Cemetery, in Brockville, Ontario.

Sources

1. ↑ 1851 Census, Elizabethtown, Leeds, Canada West
2. ↑ 1861 Census, Elizabethtown, Leeds, Canada West
3. ↑ 1871 Census, Elizabethtown, Leeds County, Ontario
4. ↑ "Canada, Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-Y395-SDT?cc=1784216&wc=3N7R-2NL%3A1584309303%2C1584314101%2C1584314102 : 28 May 2015), Marriages > 1880 > no 2273-5564 > image 1339 of 1565; Archives of Ontario, Toronto.
5. ↑ 1881 Census, Elizabethtown, Brockville, Ontario
6. ↑ 1891 Census, East Ward, Brockville, Ontario, Canada
7. ↑ "Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-Y39B-ZNG?cc=1784216&wc=3N7B-JWL%3A1584309303%2C1584320101%2C1584320102 : 28 May 2015), Marriages > 1895 > no 5820-9931 > image 352 of 1594; Archives of Ontario, Toronto.
8. ↑ 1901 Census, Elizabethtown, Brockville, Ontario
9. ↑ 1911 Census, Elizabethtown, Brockville, Ontario
10. ↑ 1921 Census, Brockville, Leeds, Ontario
11. ↑ * 1931 Census: "Census of Canada, 1931"
    Page: 2; Line: 31; Family number: 23; Image number: e011654791; Item ID number: 80499203
    Library and Archives Canada (accessed 5 January 2024)
    Florence Cowan (18), single daughter, Student, in Brockville (Town), Leeds, Ontario, Canada. Born in Ontario.
12. ↑ "Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-Y3SJ-MB8?cc=1307826&wc=3LVJ-C68%3A1584243504%2C1584293501%2C1584295001 : 27 April 2019), Deaths > 1933 > no 20001-21766 > image 1298 of 1999; citing Registrar General. Archives of Ontario, Toronto.

Profile created by Christine Daniels.

Giffin, Eveline Bertha. The Descendants of William Giffin & Thomasine Eyre, Bell's Crossing, Leeds County, Ontario, Canada: 1990.