Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-09-30
DEATH OF HON. b, 8. COWEN


DEATH OF HON. B. 8. COwEN.
Hon. B. s. CowEN died at the resi-
dence of his son-in-law, Mr.. VIM. M
Faris, at 7:30 o'clock on Monday eve
ming. Judge Cowen went down TO th,
Fair on Friday afternoon. Coming home
before the Fair closed, and the family al
being at the Fair, he was unable to gel
into his room. He then went down tc
the dwelling of his son, Judge Cowen
jr., and after lying on the sofa a shori
time returned to Mr.. Faris' house. He
fell in the alley adjoining the house, and
was picked up by Mr.. Brown, the Town
Marshal. After being laid on his bed his
consciousness returned and he talked al
intervals freely and intelligentiy unit
about o'clock at night, when he los'
his speech and commenced sinking
He was watched carefully and Uenf.esi
by his family and friends and 10y biz
physician, DR. john Alexander. He re-
tanned his faculties until the last, and
passed away without struggle.
BENJAMIN SPRAGUE CowEN WAS born
i'm Washington County, New York, on
the 9th of September, 1893. His parents
came from Rhode Island, his mother
being connection of the celebrated
Sprague family of that State. Judge
Cowen came to Ohio in 1920, and settled
at Mooretield, in Harrison County, where
he taught school, and, read law with
Chauncey Dewey. ESQ.,, of Cadiz. He
was admitted to the Bar In 1929. On the
18th of December, 1882, Judge Cowen
came to St. Clairsvilie, having previous
ly been appointed Prosecuting Attorney
for Monroe County, and having aisu
formed a law partnership with the lat
VIM. B. Hubbard, which continued
until MIR. Hubbard removed 10 Colum
bus. He was one of the Editors of tbi
paper, in 1885, and it was from him :.
received its present name, it having be-
fore that time been called the BelmoH
Journal. He was connected with the
paper for several years, but we do not
know just when it commenced nor when
it closed. In 1889 he represented this
Congressional District in the Whig Ma.
tional Convention, which nominated
Gen. Harrison for President. In
the Fall of 1S40 Judge Cowen was
elected to Congress 10y the Whig
party. On taking his seat in the House
he was made a member of the Commit.
tee on Claims, Of which the distinguish
ed Joshua r. Giddings was Chairman;
and afterward, when that remarkable
man was censIred by the House and re-
signed mis- seat, Judge Cowen, by the
unanimous vote of the Committee, COM
posed of Democrats and Wings, was
made its Chairman. He was also q
member of the Committee of Ways and
Means, and championed the celebrated
Tariff of 49," which was passed
through the House by only enc majority
and that one vote. Mr.. Stanly, of North
Carolina, was secured by Judge Governs
personal exertions. He introduced the
resolution in the House limiting
speeches to one hour, which, We believe,
is still rule of the House. A candidate
for reelection in 1872, he was beaten by
Mr. Joseph Morris, of Monroe. The de.
ceased was member of the Ohio House
of Representatives in the years 1885,
He was chai man of the Finance Con-
mlttee, and, M connection with the late
Alfred Kelly, ifamed ami put through
~ lain i...S ty r.,
laws, probably the mos. i;npor; au, ieyis.
lation ever enacted Ia Ohio. The latter
measure completely revoiutionized s,e
system of assessing taxes in Ohio
While in the Legislature he put through
a resolution expunging censure of John
Quincy Adams, for the celebrated haver
hill resolutions in favor of dissolution
OF the Union, which Mr.. Adams had pre-
sented IN Congress-and for which he
received letter of thanks from the "Old
Man Eloquent" In the Winter of 1857
the Legislature elected him Presiding
Judge of the Court of Com mon Pleas for
the District composed of the counties of
Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson
and Monroe, succeeding Judge Kennon,
and he served in that capacity until the
adoption of the New Constitution At
the outbreak of the late war he took an
active part in raising and equipping
troops, and as member of the Military
Committee for this Congressional Dis
trict rendered important and valuable
service to the country. He, in connec-
ton with Roswell Marsh, OF Steuben.
vile, and Judge Bostwick, of Ca.iiz,
was appointed ! Commission to investi-
gate the cases of citizen prisoners held
for treason and other high crimes, and
for several months labored patiently and
industriously at st. Louis, Alton and
Chicago.
Judge Cowen was remarkable man
He was always foremost in matters OF
public improvement, and always had
generous words and was ready to do
hard work to advance the cause of edu-
cation. to construct good roads, or other
work that would make our people bet
ter and happier. Unseldsh and untiring
in his labors, it will probably be long
before we meet his like again.
In politics, an Anti-Slavery Whig and
then Republican, he had taken an
active part for the last forty years. This
is, doubtless, the only canvass in which
he has not made speeches. excepting the
years he was on the bench, since 1885
or 40.
But only those who have known him
at his own fireside appreciate the beauty
of his character. During an association
of this kind which ran through a period
of Ell ghteen years, the writer does not