John McGowan (1903 - 1992)

Born 21 Jun 1903 in Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Mairiam Lucinda (Grieve) McGowan — married 5 Jun 1927 in North Bay, Nipissing, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died 1 Jan 1992 at age 88 in North Bay, Nipissing, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jan Briggs-McGowan [send private message]

Biography

Jack AKAJohn McGowan ^[1][2][3] was born 21 June 1903, 1 Charles St. Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, Scotland. ^[4][5][6] Accompanied his mother Elizabeth Wilson McGowan when she emigrated to Canada June 1905. His father John O McGowan had come a year earlier, following after Dave Motherwell. In 1911 Dave would marry Jack's aunt Jessie Wilson (his mother's sister).
In the 1911 census, Jack, his parents and sisters Nellie and Margaret were living 367 St Paul Ave Brantford, Brant County, Ontario, Canada. ^[7] Sometime later that same year, Jack was sent back to Scotland and stayed with his maternal grandparents Jim Wilson & Helen [Brown] and received his primary schooling there. His father felt Canadian education was inferior to that 'back home'.
By the time Jack returned from Scotland in 1920, there were more three siblings: Jim, Walter and Beth. A set of twins Jess and Jean were stillborn the year before. 13 Jun 1921, Jack was living with the rest of his family on Emily Street in the East Ward of Parry Sound, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada. ^[8] His father was a baker.
Four years later he moved to North Bay. Marriage 5 Jun 1927 North Bay, Nipissing, Ontario, Canada. ^[9] . Husband Jack AKAJohn McGowan. Wife Mairiam Lucinda Grieve. Presbyterian. His occupation Baker, hers Telephone operator. Her name recorded as Marian. Witnesses were her brother Arnold Earnest Grieve & his sister Margaret O McGowan both of North Bay.
They had Child: Stillborn Son McGowan and two other children Child: @P8@. Child: @P1@. Jack served WWII as a sapper in Royal Canadian Engineers, but attached to the American Army. Military Service: picture taken with brother-in-law Cliff at Victory Studio 68 Argyle St Glasgow, about 1944. After the War, Jack returned to his wife and children in North Bay, and lived in a tiny house on Fisher Street. His father-in-law, who had dementia, also lived with them. Jack apprenticed as an electrician with the Ontario Northland Railroad and worked there until his retirement in 1968. Jack became heavily involved with the Masons, as a Past-master of North Bay Lodge, honourary member of Nipissing Lodge. In 1970 attained 33rd Degree of the Scottish rite, which meant he was able to induct others all across North America, as a member of the Supreme Council and Inspector-General. He was also a member of North Bay Rorer Shrine Club, and a member of Royal Canadian Legion North Bay Branch 23 (now closed). He loved his camp on Yellow Stone Road on Tilden lake, north of North Bay. He never had a drivers' License and particularly after Mairiam's death in 1978, Jack would catch the bus heading north, walk into the camp and spend several days by himself. He chopped his own wood and tended to his back yard garden right up until the fall before he died. Then someone caught him in his garage, pulled his jacket over his head and beat him with a bat. He was never the same afterwards.
Jack died 1 Jan 1992 North Bay, Nipissing, Ontario, Canada and is buried with Mairiam in Terrace Lawn Cemetery North Bay, FindAGrave 216440623. Mairiam's parents and her sister Aileen are also buried in the same plot 9-3-61 toward the rear of the cemetery.

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S-233798398 Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 80; Census Place: Parry Sound (Town), Parry Sound, Ontario; Page Number: 17
2. ↑ Source: #S-233798218 Year: 1911; Census Place: 3 - Brantford, Brant, Ontario; Page: 6; Family No: 56
3. ↑ Source: #S-233795326 Archives of Ontario; Series: MS932; Reel: 817
4. ↑ Source: #S-233798398 Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 80; Census Place: Parry Sound (Town), Parry Sound, Ontario; Page Number: 17
5. ↑ Source: #S-233798218 Year: 1911; Census Place: 3 - Brantford, Brant, Ontario; Page: 6; Family No: 56
6. ↑ Source: #S-233795326 Archives of Ontario; Series: MS932; Reel: 817
7. ↑ Source: #S-233798218 Year: 1911; Census Place: 3 - Brantford, Brant, Ontario; Page: 6; Family No: 56
8. ↑ Source: #S-233798398 Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 80; Census Place: Parry Sound (Town), Parry Sound, Ontario; Page Number: 17
9. ↑ Source: #S-233795326 Archives of Ontario; Series: MS932; Reel: 817

• Source: S-233795326 Repository: #R-845711885 Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928 Ancestry.com and Genealogical Research Library (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
• Repository: R-845711885 Ancestry.com
• Source: S-233798139 Repository: #R-845711885 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=78082988&pid=6
• Source: S-233798218 Repository: #R-845711885 1911 Census of Canada Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc
• Source: S-233798398 Repository: #R-845711885 1921 Census of Canada Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc