The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-03-09
WENT TO CALIFORNIA IN '49.
PIERCE CITY IN '62-SERV-
ICE TO COUNTY.


fino last Monday at the age OF SO. Tn
remains were taken to his home Il
Pierce City for burial Judge Cover
had been in failing health for the pas
few months, due TO his advanced age
and few weeks ago he was taken {,
a hospital in Orofino where he coul,
have proper care and medical atten.
ton. But his was a case in whicI
medical skill was without avail. for n,
had reached the end of the trail. Hi.
strong vitality and superb will which
had sustained him throughout his long
eventful and strenuous life finally sue
cumbed to theinevitable. and he passed
serenely and unafraid to the undis-
covered country, from whose bourn no
/ traveller returns" He was one of those
adventurous and intrepid spirits who
crossed the plains to California in 40.
where the romance of lifein the gold
fields became q theme for song and
story. After about twelve years de
voted to placer mining in California
with varying success. news came OF
rich gold discoveries on Orofino creek
in northern Idaho and Judge Cowen
joined the stampede to the north lie
arrived in Pierce City the new camp
on Orofino creek, in May. 1862, and
that has been his home up to the time
of his death. with the exception of
few years residence in Wallace while
serving as county commissioner
Stronu for the Union.
The wonderfully rich gold diggings
attracted thousands of adventurous
spirits to Pierce City, a motley crowd
typical of the mining camp of the old
west. The easily won riches from the
mines and the absence of legal author
ity to restrain the lawless soon devel-
oped condition in which good citizen
necessary for the protection of life and
property. The situation was further
complicated by the presence of many
rebel sympathizers. for the great civil
was was being fought and the bitter
ness of the strife was in evidence in
the mountains of Idaho, far from the
scene of conflict II was in the midst
of this scene of lawfessness and dis
loyalty that the character and courage
of Judge Cowen was manifested in the
highest degree. This was demonstrate
ed on many thrilling occasions during
that stirring period in the history Of
"rich old Pierce" Resolved that Pierce
City should remain in the union, Judge
Cowen and other loyal citizens raised
a flag pole in the main street from
which the national emblem was kept
waving. One day a southern sympa
thizer appeared on the street with an
ak and announced his intention to chop |
the flag pole down. Judge Cowen |
quietly stepped to his cabin a few rods |
away and returned with his rifle. APP |
the man with the ak, he |
served notice upon him that he would |
never live to strike the flag pole more
than one blow with the ak. Judge
Cowen then took a position within
close range and awaited developments.
The man with the ak advanced to the
lag pole and Judge Cowen raised his
rifle At this juncture discreet friends
IF the axman hurriedly rushed to him
and forced him away. and no attempt
was thereafter made to modest the
lag
Sheriff Of County.
When Shoshone cunty was created
Pierce City became the county seat
Judge COwen was elected the first pro-
pate Judge and afterward served as
sheriff In the early sos he served two
erms in the territorial legislature. In
SS5 the county seat was moved to
and in 1898 it was again NOV
ID to Wallace. In 1900. following the
blowing up of the Bunker Hill mill,
Judge COwen was elected county COM
missioner, the other two commission
rs John Elliott and Moses Simmons,
,eing democrats Although in the
minority he accomplished much tow
lrd bringing order out of the disturbed
conditions in this county due to labor
roubles He was successfully elected
or two more terms. his associates be
ne Fremont s Rowe and Even McIn-
osh. both Of whom are now dead. It
vas during his second term that the
handsome courthouse was built the
vent being commemOrated by a
rome tablet near the front entrance to
he building bearing the name Of Judge
'owen as chairman of the board, to-
-ether with the names of the other
and county officers.
Judge Cowen was born in Lafayette
ountv Wisconsin on August p. 1928.
nd early in life moved with his family
o Galena, Illinois. From there he went
o California in 1S49 marking the be-
innig of a long, useful and exemplary
areer in the west
No improvement IN the method of
turning bricks has been found in more