Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-11-01

nm. VIVA bEA
Died, at his residence in this city, Wednesday
morning. the 18th inst, Mr.. JAMES II. CowAN,
in the seventeth year of his age. So
= SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Mr.. Cowan was born in Knoxville on the 22d
of December, 1901. His father was n native of
Ireland, but settled in this city at an carly pc
riod and married Miss Margaret Russell, Of
Jefferson county. When quite small his father
died aud his mother married Mr.. Thomas
Humes, who looked after him as though he was
his own som and provided him with al the edu-
cational facilities of that day. After completing
his Academic course, Mr.. Cowan went 70 the
Washington College, under the management
of Rev. Samuel Doak, where he partially
completed his education; In his youth he was
noted for his steady ,studioJss habits and evnced
an aptitude and desire for learning beyond that
of the generality of youth Of that time, and il
was source Of regret during his life that cir
eumstanees called him home to take part in the
drama of busy life before he had ACQUIRED n
complete collegiate education.
with tar-seeing eye, he beheld the future of
the country, and realizing the immense COM
mercal interests that are inseparable from ma
uonal growth and increase of population, he re-
solved to become q merchant, and accordingly
entered store in this city as salesman, at sal
airy of fifty dollars per annum. Here he laid
the foundation fer his future success, and by
ms uprlgntness, fair dealing and courtesy won
host of friends, while his aptitude for business
made him tavorite with his employers.
1t was not long before he thought of going in
to business on his own account and With this
end in view he exercised care in his expendi-
lures and carefully noted the course of trade.
In the year 1895 he began merchandising on the
corner of Gay and Main streets now occu-
pied by the store of P. Dickinson &
20, entering into a partnership with
White, Esq.,, City Recorder, which continued
until 1880, when they dissolved; he however
continued in business, and a new partnership
was entered into with r. Dickinson, under the
firm name of Cowsn & Dickinson, in 1888. He
continued in active business until his last ILL
ness and from his first starting out in 1926 until
now, the prosperity of his house has been unin-
terrupted and increasing
In the fall of 1880 Mr.. Cowan married Miss
Lucinda Dickinson, sister OF Perez Dickinson,
Esq, and was the father of seven children,
six of whom are living and all were present at
his death-bed, except one of his sons, Rev. Pc
rez Cowan, pastor of the Presbyterian church
at Rogersville.
Mr.. Cowan was man who remained work.
er in one thing, instead of engaging in diver
sity of pursuits, and, while cautious in his I'M
dertakings, kept up with the increasing tide of
ZEAL but steadfast in the discharge of duty, con-
corning matters pertaining to morality, religion
and good order, he has yet always been found
ready to aid with his means and influence all
worthy objects. Though not an indiscriminate
alms-giver, he has ever acted out the Scriptural
injunction, Let not thy right hand know what
thy left hand doeth," and when satisfied that
the assistance asked was deserving none were
more liberal in their response than he.
In this connection, and to show the zeal he
ever manifested in the cause of education, we
will mention fact told by one of our old citi-
T Tens, concerning the incorporation of tine East
one of few TO raise o sufficient sum to erect the
buildings and was largely Instrumental in
bringing it about. He was also trustee and
afterwards President of the Insttute n trustee
of the East Tennessee University trustee of
the Hampden Sydney Academy and one of the
early trustees Of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum,
and welded large influence in securing the
location of the last named institution in this city
Mr. Cowsn has been identified with the re-
ligious ipterests of Knoxville for more than
forty years, having Joined the church on the
18th of October, 1893. In 1886 he was ordained
an elder, which position he held until his death
He also took great interest in the Sabbath
School cause and for nearly q score of wears
has been superintendent of the school connected
with the church of which he was member
AS O. member of the Knoxville Bible Society
he was indefatigable in distributing the Word
Of God and for many years has been connected
with the chief management and has long held
the position of President.
He was elected Alderman from his ward for
several terms and acted as Mayor for a short
period, but though he has all his life held Of
ices of honor and trust, yet they were unsought
on his part. Indeed, we might truthfully say
that he, like Cincinnatus was taken from retire.
When the increase in numbers necessitated
the erection of larger house of worship Mr..
Cowan not only contributed largely Of his
means but exercised q personal supervision in
its construction, taking more interest in its COM
pletion than lift had been his own private enter
prise.
Having spent his life in Knoxville, he lived to
see its growth during nearly three quarters of q
century from q small village to its present di-
mansions, and to witness the success of many of
its public and private institutions from their Incl
piency, and as q merchant, man and citizen his
reputation shone fair and spotless throughout q
long and well spent life.
The deceased enjoyed good health, and was ac-
lively engaged in business pursuits until last
April when he was Frustrated with severe ILL
ness, his system having been undermined by a
disease of the kidneys, followed by severe hem
orrhages. Shortly afterwards on the occasion of
posed himself which brought on an attack of
congestion of the lungs which terminated in
pneumonia, which was successfully treated
by his physicians. Afterwards the hemorrhages
became more frequent and his stomach was so
liberated as to prevent his taking any nourish-
ment for the last two months, naturally. Ten
days ago he had avery severe hemorrhage, ,osing
thrty-six ounces of blood in two hours and
half since which time he had gradually, but
visibly declined
On Tuesday night an alarming change was
noted and his family realized that his end was
near. He however fingered until yesterday
morning at halfpast nine. o eloch when his
spirit took wings and scared aloft to Join the
throng Of saints who had gone before to the
City of the Blest.
He preserved his senses TO the moment of
dissolution, and after bidding farewell to his
family, his last feeble words were: "Safe. safe
10 el,,