Researching William Cowan

He was born in Scotland in 1818 and studied medicine at the University of Glasgow. He caught cholera during the epidemic of 1848–1849 and decided to move to Canada for his health. He went to Upper Fort Garry in the Red River settlement as a physician for a group being sent there.

In 1852, he was appointed chief magistrate and became a member of the Council of Assiniboia the following year. Cowan joined the Hudson's Bay Company as a doctor and fur trader and, in 1856, he was sent to Moose Factory. He became chief trader there in 1860. In 1862, he returned to Upper Fort Garry as second-in-command to the governor of Assiniboia, William Mactavish.

On November 2, 1869, Louis Riel and the National Committee took control of Upper Fort Garry. Cowan spent the winter under house arrest but is believed to have been sympathetic to Riel's group. In the spring, Cowan left the colony and returned to Britain on furlough.

On his retirement in 1871, Cowan returned to Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 1879, he helped establish the Manitoba Historical Society and served as its president from 1881 to 1882. He served as an honorary consultant for the Winnipeg General Hospital, incorporated in 1882. In 1885, he returned to St. Paul and died there in 1902.

Cowan's journals served as an important record of the early events in the Red River Rebellion.

He was born in County Leitrim, Ireland in 1825, the son of Patrick Cowan, and was educated there, earning a teaching certificate. He emigrated to North America and arrived in Bytown around 1845. He taught school in North Gower for five years. In 1850, he married Caroline McCrea; he also purchased a farm in the township around that time. Cowan was reeve for the township from 1865 to 1869. In 1866, he served as warden for Carleton County. Cowan also served as justice of the peace, was clerk in the division court for 21 years and became a captain in the local militia. In 1870, he was named secretary for the county and, in 1873, was named county treasurer. With these postings, Cowan sold his farm and moved to Ottawa, where he served on the board of Water Commissioners.

Obituary

(condensed)On Saturday morning, at 8:30, Co. Treasurer Wm. Cowan and Son, Holmes Cowan, proprietor of the Gilpin House, were being driven to Ottawa East to attend the funeral of the late Chas. O'Gara, when their spirited horses took fright and ran away. The Parry Sound train was just rounding the curve at the head of the deep cut, and into this the horses dashed, striking between the tender and the baggage car ............. Mr. Cowan and his son met death instantly. .............. Mr. Cowan made his last will onFriday. Owing to the approaching marriage of his daughter Miss Maggie Cowan, he found itnecessary to add a codicil .......... Wm. Cowan was born in the county Leitrim, Ireland,December 17, 1825. He came to Bytown in 1845. He taught school for five years in NorthGower and then settled upon a farm which he had purchased. He married in 1850, Caroline,daughter of Capt. Thomas McCrea of Montague, a veteran of the war of 1812. About the same timehe was appointed clerk of the Division Court, including North Gower and Marlboro. He heldthat position for 21 years. He was township councillor for eight years and reeve for five years. In 1870 he was appointed county clerk and in 1873 county treasurer, a position heheld till his death.