George Cowell, J. P., a well known resident of Brushy Mound
township, Macoupin County, is engaged in agricultural pursuits and is an
extensive stock raiser and dealer. He was born in Douglas, Isle of Man,
March 30, 1836, and is a son of George and Margaret (Kennell) Cowell.
George Cowell, Sr., father of our subject, was born in the Isle of Man
in 1800, and was reared on a farm until he reached the age of 14 years. He
there learned the trade of a tanner and currier which he followed there
until he came to America, bringing with him his wife and five children. He
landed in Quebec, Canada, and shortly after removed to New York City, where
he plied his trade and resided until 1857. In that year he came west to
Carlinville, Illinois, purchasing a farm on which he lived for three or four
years. He then settled upon a 40 acre tract now owned by the Burton estate,
and still later purchased the property now owned by our subject, on which he
lived until his death in 1876, at the age of 76 years. He and his worthy
wife were parents of eight children, as follows: George; Margaret, deceased;
Robert; Kittie; Mary; Charles; Sophia; and Elizabeth. In religious belief,
they were Methodists.
George Cowell, the subject of this article,
was reared in New York City and obtained his intellectual training in the
public schools. He learned the trade of a tanner and currier and worked with
his father for some years. Since coming to Illinois, his attention has been
exclusively devoted to farming. He has been very successful as a farmer and
stock raiser and owns a valuable farm of 120 acres in Brushy Mound township.
He has made a specialty of well bred Poland-China and Berkshire hogs, and
has registered boars.
In August, 1861, Mr. Cowell enlisted in
Company C, 32nd Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf. as a private and saw much service
in the Army of the Tennessee, being in the battle of Shiloh and many minor
engagements. He was mustered out August 31, 1864, after serving over three
years. He was disabled in the service and draws a pension of $8 per month.
After his discharge from the service, he was employed as government
teamster, driving ox teams from Fort Scott, Kansas, to Fort Gibson, Indian
Territory, being employed eight months at $60 per month and rations.
Mr. Cowell is a man of exceptional business ability and possesses many
fine traits of character, which have gained for him the good will and
respect of his fellow men. In politics, he is a stanch Republican, and has
been called upon to fill numerous local offices, among them supervisor, town
clerk, assessor, collector, and justice of the peace, serving in the last
mentioned capacity at the present time.
Extracted 2018 May 06 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 124-125.
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