The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-09-02
rx-sENAron cowAN,
OF PsnnsyIEania; Dead-rhO End OF . Re.
variable Career.

At-sS@
variable Career.
Fx Senator Edgar 6. Cowan died at his
home in Grecnlburg, Pa, last Saturday.
Mr.. Cowan was born Of poor parents in
sewickly Township, Westmoreland coun-
~, September 10, 1915. When he was 8
wears Of age his widowed mother re-
married and the lad wsa cent 70 live with
his grandparents and 70 tend the toll'SSte
on the principal turnpike running through
WeRtmoIslela county,
at 10 he became s county tGehooLmas'
Tor and coon alter he began 70 learn tue
trade Of 4 carpenter. A year a. this
tired him ami no became H2t.bostmant
running coal 10 Cincinnati. :,
In 1889, sfter years Of vacillahon and
varied employment, he entered the senior
class Of Franklin College, at New Athens,
o., and graduated next year with honors:
He then returned 10 Greensburg, studied
law with Hon. II. y. Foote, and, IN 1913
vas admitted TO the bar. He became
known as q politician in the Presidential
canvass Of 1910, and soon afterward he at
taihed high repute at the bar. lie was
delegate TO the Baltimore convention that
nominated Clay for the Presidency IN
1874. and, after taking deep interest IN
the anti.slave agitation, in 1855 he warmly
supported John g. Fremont for the Pres
lidency. Next year and again in 1859, he
missed the Republican nomination for
Congress, but ne was chosen United States
Senator for the term beginning March !,
1861.
Once in the Senate Mr.. Cowan became
man Of mark. He was placed on the
judiciary Committee, and by its direction
reported the resolution against the eX'
pulsion OF Jesse d. Bright, Of Indiana, for
reasonable practices in recommending
new musket TO JET Davis. But he fought
against the resolution and had the sup.
port Of such Republican Senators as Har-
ris, Of New York; Ten Eyck, Of New Jer'
sey, and Foster, of Connecticut. De made
A strong and exhaustive speech against the
Legal fender act, which attracted uni
yersal attention, but, despite that TACT, a.
the special request OF Mr.. Fessenden he
was transferred to the Finance Commit
tee OF the Senate. But he was rarely In
harmony with the majority TO which no
was supposed to belong. He bitterly OPP
posed the Confscation act, which was
soon found 70 be dead letter in lPgis!a.
ton aud to justify his opposition. All the
extreme measures Of legislation growing
ont OF and following the war found in the
Pennsylvania Senator bitter opponent.
Senator Cowan retained the lifelong
confidence and regard OF Mr.. Lincoln,
but when Andrew johnson quarreled
with the Republican party Mr.. Oowan fol-
Iowpd him in his new and cratic course.
| Almost his last appearance in public life
at that time ass in the famous peace con-
yentionin Philadelphia in 1868, which
was to heal all disCUrds, but only made
them greater. Mr. Cowan was chairman
OF the COMMITTEES on Resolutions, which
Hon. Henry J. Raymond, Of New York,
rcported from thecommittee. When that
Convention dissolved into airy nothing
iness Mr.. Cowan seemed to dissolve with
lit. Henceiorth he was TO be until now
more "Reminiscences than power III
American politics.
In 1867 settled down again in private
Life ani resumed the practice Of law in
which he has since been engaged, but as
suming; the conduct only Of important
cases. In the presidential campaign OF
1868 he took no active part on either side
In the campaign Of 1872 lie was an advo.
cato Of Mr.. Greeley rs he was oil Mr.. Til.
den in 1876. In 1850 he was delegate TO
TO the Cincinnati Convention which
placed Hancock in nomination against
Garfield. With that episode bis public
lille may be said to have closed, and for
two years post cancerous affection has
kept him more and moro in retirement.