Document:Laura Cowan Blain to J. Max Cowan, 1916

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Source

Original Source: A letter from Mrs. Laura Cowan Blaine, of Springfield MO, to J. Max Cowan then of Bloomington, IN, dated December 7, 1916.

Intermediate Source: This item is provided in Fleming, 1971:364

Previously provided at FamilyPedia

Related

Indian Captivity Stories of the Cowan Family

Analysis:Captivity Stories for Ann Walker Cowan, and Mary Walker Cowan

Text

My father's father's name was John Cowan. He had one brother James. My grandfather John was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia. Married in Rockbridge County, Virginia 1st Margaret Weir; 2nd in 1819, Anna Maxwell, in Jefferson County, Indiana. My father is the only child by the second marriage. Do not know my great grandfather or great grandmother's name. Father always thought the name was John, but he was not sure. He was one of seven brothers and was killed by the Indians and his wife was captive to the Indians for six years at one time and several months at another. We feel certain they were connected with the Walker family, as the name was has been given to several generations of Cowans of our line." Fleming comments at this point about Mrs. Blaine's father "his recollection of the name of his grandfather obviously was correct. he was Major John Cowan, son of Samuel Cowan, the immigrant."

Commentary

Fleming believes the John Cowan identified in the letter refers to Major John Cowan, son of Samuel. This is easily shown not to be the case (see below), but the story told in Mrs. Blaine's letter does bear some resemblance to the Mary Walker Cowan and Ann Walker Cowan stories.