Bessie Louise (Spencer) MacOwan (1868 - 1946)

Born 6 Apr 1868 in Remington, Carpenter Township, Indiana

Ancestors

Wife of Irving William MacOwan — married 12 Apr 1889 in Monticello, White, Indiana, United States

Descendants

Died 31 Dec 1946 at age 78 in Glendale, Los Angeles, California

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Pierce [send private message]

Biography

Bessie was the daughter of James Spencer and Emma Skinner Spencer.^[1]

Bessie graduated from Monticello High School May 1887.^[2]

She married Irving MacOwan 12 April 1889 at Monticello, Indiana. ^[3] Bessie and Irving were the parents of three children: Elizabeth, Defoe, and Lester.

Bessie's husband, Irving, had an interesting and successful career. "Irving's first job was that of a newsboy for the Joliet news. Apparently he must have seen opportunities in this industry. By 1927 he owned half of this newspaper. In addition he was a sizeable stockholder in the Stevens Hotel, located on Lakeshore Drive in Chicago." ^[4] For many years, Irving was the owner of the Joliet Book Shoppe at Joliet, Illinois.^[5]

For some time, Bessie and Irving lived apart; they are listed separately in the 1910 and 1920 United States Censuses. Bessie lived with her parents, helping to take care of them in their old age. In 1930, Bessie and Irving moved to Glendale, California, where she lived with her husband until his death in 1933.

Bessie enjoyed traveling to visit with family and friends. Here are a few newspaper articles that document this, as well as show family relationships.

"Bessie MacOwan of Glendate, California, who has been the guest of her son, DeFoe MacOwan and family the past month, went to Indianapolis, Wednesday to spend a few days with friends." (January 26, 1934). ^[6]

"Mrs. Bessie MacOwan who has spent the past four months with her sons and other relatives in White county, left Wednesday for her home in Glendale, California." (August 22, 1936). ^[7]

"Mr. and Mrs. Lester MacOwan and son, Donald, of near Headlee have gone to Glendale, California for a visit with the former's mother, Mrs. Bessie MacOwan and other relatives." (August 6, 1937) ^[8]

Bessie died in Glendale, 31 December 1946 at the age of 78.

Obituary^[9]

Former Monticello Resident Succumbs

Monticello, Ind., January 3 -- Funeral rites for Mrs. Bessie Spencer MacOwan, 78 formerly of Monticello, will be conducted Monday at Glendale, California. Burial will be in Valhalla Cemetery, Burbank.

Mrs. MacOwan, who died at Glendale, was the mother of DeForest MacOwan of Monticello and Lester MacOwan of Headlee.

Born April 6, 1868, at Remington, she was the daughter of James S. and Emma Skinner Spencer. She came to Monticello at the age of twelve. Graudated from Monticello High School in 1887, she was married to William Irving MacOwan on April 12, 1889. She was a member of the Glendale Presbyterian church.

Besides the two sons, she is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Guy Rouch, Glendale; five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Sources

1. ↑ James S. Spencer Family Bible Records.
2. ↑ "Alumni Holds Annual Fete, Logansport Press, Tuesday, May 26, 1936. Mrs. Bessie MacOwan of Glendale, California, gave a response at the annual alumni dinner.
3. ↑ Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941.
4. ↑ Recollections of his grandson, Rex MacOwan.
5. ↑ Irving MacOwan Obituary, 1933, Glendale, California.
6. ↑ Logansport Press, Friday, January 26, 1934.
7. ↑ Logansport Press, Saturday, August 22, 1936.
8. ↑ Logansport Press, Friday, August 6, 1937.
9. ↑ Obituary Logansport Pharos Tribune, Friday, January 3, 1947, Logansport, Indiana.