James N Cowles (abt. 1825 - abt. 1882)

Born about 1825 in Warren County, Kentucky, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret F Graham — married 19 Aug 1852 in Warren County, Kentucky, USA

Descendants

Died about 1882 at about age 57 in Edmonson County, Kentucky, USA

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Biography

James Cowles was among the first of his generation to be born in Kentucky. His father was from Virginia, and his mother from Tennessee. James was the 4th born child. He had 4 brothers and 4 sisters, and was raised on a farm in Warren County, Kentucky.

James remained single until the age of 27, when he married 18-year-old Margaret Graham. Both of Margaret's parents were from Virginia, and it is said her father was of Irish descent. The Graham family moved from Virginia to Kentucky when Margaret was a young girl. She was the 9th born child, with 5 brothers and 5 sisters. Before marriage, Margaret had been living with her mother and the youngest children in Edmonson County. Most of Margaret's siblings had already married by then, but several were living nearby.

James and Margaret settled on a farm next to Margaret's mother. Other Cowles relatives were living nearby, and it is assumed many of them owned and/or inherited property originally purchased by James' grandfather Henry Cowles.

They remained in Edmonson County throughout their 30 years of marriage. One of their daughters later moved to Indiana, but all continued the farming tradition like their parents, and most never moved too far from home. James passed away age 57, and Margaret age 68. They are both buried at Hawks Cemetery.

Sources

BOOK REFERENCE

Abbrev: Book: Cowles Family in America

Title: Colonel Calvin Duvall Cowles, Genealogy of the Cowles Family in America

(Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co., New Haven, Conn. 1929)

Page 1108-1109:

44. JAMES COWLES, son of Vincent (16), b. ____, probably in Edmonson County, Ky.; m Lest King(?). He retained, in 1903, a part of the old farm owned by his grandfather, Henry Cowles, in Edmonson Co, Ky.

Children.

130. Vincent, res. Oakland, Ky.

131. Irvin.

132. Asher, res. Oakland, Ky.

133. Sylvanus.

134. Jesse.

135. Adeline.

136. Lizzie.

137. Collie.

138. Delia.

139. Mattie.

BIRTH / DEATH

James N Cowles (Son of Vincent Cowles and Polly Norris)

Birth: 1825, per find a grave - headstone no longer present (destroyed)

Birth: 1825, per 1880 census, age 55

Birth: 1824, per marriage record in 1852

Birthplace: his marriage says born in Edmonson County, but his parents were living

in Warren County throughout all their children's births.

Find A Grave Memorial# 27759259

James Nathaniel Cowles

Birth: 1825

Death: 1882

Burial: Hawks Cemetery, Edmonson County, Kentucky, USA

from Brandon Cowles:

Husband of Margaret Graham. Both of their markers were destroyed by vandals.

Created by: Brandon A. Cowles

Record added: Jun 23, 2008

Note: not sure where middle name Nathaniel on find-a-grave came from.

Burial in Sturdivant-Hawks Cemetery in Pine Grove, KY. James was killed when his daughter

Mattie was 4 years old, so estimated death is about 1882. He was killed when a tree fell on

him. The grave is now unmarked. Grace Bolton said there used to be a headstone for James

and his wife. According to Grace some people went to the cemetery and "messed it up".

MARRIAGE

Ancestry.com. Kentucky, Marriage Records, 1852-1914

Name: James N Cowle

Age: 28

Est. Birth Year: abt 1824

Birth Location: Edmonson

Residence: Warren

Spouse Name: Margret Graham

Spouse Age: 18

Est. Spouse Birth Year: abt 1834

Spouse Residence: Warren

Marriage Date: 19 Aug 1852

Marriage Location: Warren

County of Record: Warren

CENSUS / TIMELINE

1825: birth of James N Cowles (per estimate)

1834: birth of Margaret Graham (per ?)

1840 Census: Warren, Kentucky

Name:Vincent Corols [Vincent Cowls]

1 - Males - 5 thru 9: ............. Fidelia(1831)

2 - Males - 10 thru 14: ........ Albert(1827)

1 - Males - 15 thru 19: ......... James(1825)

1 - Males - 40 thru 49: ........ VINCENT

1 - Females - Under 5: ....... Louisa(1836)

2 - Females - 5 thru 9: ........ Elizabeth(1830), Serena(1826)

1- Females - 10 thru 14 ...... Jane(1824)

1 - Females - 30 thru 39: .... MARY

Total Free White Persons: 10

1850: cannot find James

1850 Census: Margaret, age 16, living w/parents, Edmonson Co, KY

1852: married Warren Co, KY

1860 Census: Brownsville, Edmonson, Kentucky, family#307

James Cowler ........ 35 ... KY … farmer

Margaret Cowler ... 26 ... KY … cannot read/write

Adaline Cowler ........ 9 ... KY

Elizabeth Cowler ..... 5 ... KY

Vincent Cowler ........ 1 ... KY

1860 Census Notes:

Real Estate Value $300

Personal Estate Value $200

Living next to family#306: James's uncle: Leroy W Cowles, w/wife Mary Ann (French) Cowles

Living next to family#308: James' brother: Albert K Cowles, w/wife Ruthia (Wingfield) Cowles

Living next to family#309: Margaret's mother: Kesiah Graham age 65, living w/Patrick Graham age 21

1870 Census: CANNOT find

1880 Census: Edmonson, Kentucky, family#80

James N. Cowles ....... 55 ... KY,VA,KY … Farmer … cannot read/write

Margret Cowles ........ 45 ... VA,VA,VA … cannot read/write

Vinson Cowles .......... 19 ... KY … works on farm

William E. Cowles ..... 17 ... KY … works on farm … attends school

Asham. Cowles ......... 14 ... KY … works on farm … attends school

Margret C. Cowles .... 12 ... KY … attends school

Silvanus G. Cowles ... 10 ... KY … works on farm … attends school

Cordelia Cowles ......... 8 ... KY … attends school

Jessee M. Cowles ....... 5 ... KY … [Jesse Marcellus]

Molla B. Cowles ......... 2 ... KY … [Mattie Bell]

1880 Census Notes:

living next to family#82, Holbert T Hunt (future father-in-law of Vincent)

living next to family#81, Sterlin Cowles age 38, w/brother Thomas Cowles age 36 (?cousins, ?sons of Fielding Cowles)

living next to family#79, James A Cowles age 31, Mary age 21 (?cousin, ?son of William Norwood Cowles)

living next to family#78, L A French age 27, Elizabeth F age 26

Living next to family#84: James' brother: William Cowles, w/wife Martha

Living next to family#83: James' sister: Elizabeth (Cowles) Mills, w/husband Thomas

Living next to family#75: James' aunt: Mary (French) Cowles, (widow of Leroy)

Living close to family#99: James' brother: Albert Cowles, w/wife Ruthia

Living close to family#56: Margaret's future husband: John T Wingfield (son of Vanmeter)

Living close to family#26: James's brother: Fielding B Cowles, w/wife Sarah

Living close to family#20: William's future wife: Mary Alice (daughter of Isaac Graham)

NOTE:

Margaret's 1900 Census show they have 10 children. There are 8 children living with them in 1880.

Plus Martha Elizabeth Cowles Watt, married 1871, and Adaline Cowles Simmons, married 1872.

1882: death of James Nathaniel Cowles

1900 Census: Rocky Hill Station, Edmonson, Kentucky, family#313

Margeret Cowles ... 66 ... VA,VA,VA … Oct-1833 … widowed, children: 10, living: 10 <-------

Marsillus Cowles ... 29 ... KY,KY,VA … Oct 1870 … Farmer [Jessie Marcellus Cowles]

1900 Census Notes:

House or farm: Farm

Rent or own: Rent

Cannot read/write: [Margaret]

Farm Schedule#: 301

Neighbors: Wingfield, Cowles, Hunt

Living next to family#314: Margaret's daughter: Adaline (Cowles) Simmons, w/husband Granville

Living close to family#309: Margaret's uncle-in-law: Fidella N Cowles (son of Vincent)

Living close to family#330: Margarets's sons: Jesse Cowles and Asher Cowles

Living close to family#284: Margaret's son: William E Cowles, w/wife Mary

Living close to family#266: Margaret's daughter: Margaret (Cowles) Wingfield, w/husband John

1903: death of Margaret Graham

OTHER

CHILD:

Ancestry.com. Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1953

Name: Vincen Cowles

Death Date: 27 Dec 1916

Death Location: Oakland, Warren Co, KY

Age: 56

Gender: Male

Ethnicity: White

Status: Married

Occupation: Farmer

Birthplace: Oakland KY

Birth Date: 13 Jun 1860

Father's Name: James Cowles

Father's Birth Location: Kentucky

Mother's name: Eliza Hunt <--- this is Vincent's wife's name

Mother's Birth Location: Kentucky

Informant: Fred Grimes of Oakland KY

Cause of Death: Measles; complicated with lobar pneumonia

Burial: Cowles Grave Yd

CHILD:

Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979, index, FamilySearch

Name: Jessie Cawels

Birth Date: 1853 <---------- date is way off

Age: 55

Spouse's Name: Etta Lindsey

Spouse's Birth Date: 1888

Spouse's Age: 20

Event Date: 15 Mar 1908

Event Place: Edmonson, Kentucky

Father's Name: James Cawels

Mother's Name: Margarit Graham

Spouse's Father's Name: G.R. Lindsey

Spouse's Mother's Name: Liza Ray

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I01715-2

System Origin: Kentucky-EASy

GS Film number: 1904239

Reference ID: 525