The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-03-28
THE PRINCIPAL
C0WAN FACTORS
Sketches of Those Who Will
Be in the Impeachment
Limelight

Bismarck, n. D.. March 2S.-The
following histories Of some of the
leading characters in the Cowan i'm
parchment case will be of interest
just now:
Judge John F. Cowan.
Hon. John +. Cowan of Devils Lake.
Judge Of the Second judicial district
and former attorney-general for
North Dakota, is a Scotchman by
birth, having been born at Moffat,
Dumfrieshire, Scotland, on Dec. 90,
1858. His family emigrated to Amer
lea in 50 but lived in Ontario, Can,
until 1866 when they settled in Ben
son county, North Dakota. Mr.. Cow
an, however. received all his earlier
education in Canada, first graduating
from the Goderich high school and
later from the Ottawa normal school.
He then matriculated for the study of
medicine, spending two years at it,
but came to the United States in
1880 and accepted position as clerk
with the Chicago & Grand Trunk
Railroad company at Port Huron,
Mich.
and after proving up on a claim near
Grand Harbor, Ramsey county, dur
ing which time he began reading law.
he went to Devils Lake and entered
the law Office of John MCGEE who
was later elected district Judge of
Hennepin county, Minnesota. Mr..
Cowan was admitted to practice be-
fore the territorial district court in
1885 and the same year opened an
Office in Devils Lake which he has
continued to make his home to the
present day. For some time he was
associated with Attorney p. J. Nc
was first elected attorney general. He
has served as city justice, two terms
as superintendent of schools of RAM
sey county, elected states attorney
for the same county in 1890 and re-,
elected two years later and in 1894
was first elected attorney-general He
was reelected to this Office twice, be-
ing the only man ever elected three
times to the same Office in North Da-
kota. and went to the bench when
Judge Morgan was elected to the SUI
preme court.
Geo. A. Bangs.
George A. Bangs has practiced law
In Grand Forks for nearly eighteen
years. having been admitted to the
bar in 1893. and is one of the attor-
neys Of the city who has attained
prominence rapidly.
Mr. Bangs was born in LeSueur
county, Minnesota, Nov. 1, 1867, the
son Of Alfred w. Bangs. He was
reared and educated in his native
state, attended high school and first
studied law in his fathers office. In
1882 he came to Grand Forks and
until 1892 he served as clerk in the
government land Office, at the same
time proving up on a claim. He then
spent two years in the study of law
in the Office of his brother. Tracy r.
Bangs, and Charles ]. Fisk. and after
being admitted to practice he pur-
chased an interest in the firm and
his brother retired. Mr.. Fisk remain
ed with him until he was elected
to the district bench and Mr.. Bangs
practiced without partner, building
up large and remunerative client
age, until few months ago when
George r. Robbins became q member
of the firm.
Mr.. Bangs has been married twice,
his first wife, Miss Maria A. Griggs.
niece of Captain Griggs, dying in
1891. A few years ago Miss Xenia
Gilbreath of this city became his
bride. They have no children.
Mr.. Bangs is a member of the
Knights Of Pythias lodge, having
served as grand chancellor of the
state, and has been deeply interested
in the reimbursement of the insurance
policy Of that fraternity. He also
holds membership in the order of
Elks and politically is Democrat.
Tracy r. Bangs.
States district attorney for North
Dakota. is member Of the Grand
Forks law firm Of Bangs, Cooley &
Hamilton and is recognized as one of
the states leading lawyers. He is
the eldest son Of A. w. Bangs, one
of the city's earliest pioneers and
first lawyers, and having studied law
under his father his first four years
of practice from 1885 to 1889 were
experienced as his fathers partner.
He was born in LeSueur county, Min
nesota, April 20, 1862. and after fin
fishing his high school course began
the study Of law. He came from his
native state to Grand Forks in 1882
as cashier Of the United States land