Person:Frank Cowan (3)

Frank was born at 1:00pm at Stockton, Missouri on the old home place. This place is located at Crabtree Branch East of Stockton in Cedar County about 5 to 10 miles. The doctor was F. A. Brown, M. D. Birth was filed August 12, 1913 by J. E. Allder, Registrar. Frank always said in jest, "I remember it well!" Frank said that they had to put up the stove the day he was born it was so cold.

Frank said that Mertiler Hughes "delivered all of us kids". She may have assisted but didn't deliver them alone per the birth certificate. Every year at Memorial Day, Frank would place a flower on Mertiler Hughes grave in memory of delivery of the family. She was born April 16 of 1860 and died September 8, 1948 per her obituary in Frank Cowan's possession at his death. Per her obituary, she was born April 16, 8160 and died September 8, 1943 at the age of 82 years and 5 months. Mertiler had lived all her entire life in Cedar County, Missouri. In 1885, married William Wiley Hughes of Bear Creek, Missouri. They had the following children living at the time of her death: William Eddie Hughes of Bear Creek, Ora Melvin Hughes of Stockton and Myrtie Dixon of Exter, California. She had four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is buried at Lindley Prairie, Bear Creek, Missouri, as are many of the Cowans/Abbotts. Her story is included since she was of such importance to Frank.

Frank was named for Fannie Abbott's brother who died very young.

In a letter from Laura Abbott Cheek, sister of Fannie Mae Cowan, she states "Frank was the 1st and only grandson the folks had at the time (when she stayed with the L. L. Cowan family) and he was a good kid. Do things for them, worked so good at home, too. Doing the chores and was so dependable. I stayed with Fannie and Lem so much when I was a kid and tried to help all I could. When the kids were small so they all seem like my own." Donna Atkinson had told her that the "old truck from Virginia" was in her possession and Laura said "I remember the old trunk but didn't know what had become of it. Glad you have it."

Frank attended Bear Creek School and Forrest Home, then attended Golden City High School. He may have attended Stockton High School for a while. He lacked one month of graduating from high school. He always told the story about starting to school at age five and tearing up 3 reader books (which his parents had to buy) and what a bad boy he was. However, in today's world, it appears he had a learning disability of some type. He never read beyond about a third-grade level but had an accurate oral comprehension and memory. He would have Norma Rae read legal real estate documents to him and could retain everything. He had to work on the farm a lot and said he never liked school. His agriculture teacher, Mr. White, was always remembered; especially for the saying "He who knows not and knows that he knows not, shun him, etc" which we later found to be from an Arabic Quotation. It was Frank's guide throughout life along with the Proverbs from the Bible. The High School Superintendent?Ted Wynes (Wines) was also a man who had Frank's respect. Frank Cowan said the basketball team he was on took 2nd place. He played at Golden City.

Per a "story" written about Forrest Home School, Children's Day was held at the school. The children from the school would give the program at the Old Forrest Home Church a mile to the east. There would be preaching in the morning and the men would build some tables under the trees for the basket dinner; then the children would do some pantomimes and sing. One child remembered a Poppy Drill which the children performed with red crepe-paper poppies on sticks. People from "as far away as Red Hill and Prairie Valley" would come for the day.

In a quote on page 193 of a "story" written about Forrest Home, District No. 53, Consolidated District No. 1, Cedar County, Missouri, Frank tells the following story: Frank Cowan's memories of Children's Day add some imagery of the way things were. There was no water at Old Forrest Home Church so water for the crowd was brought in in barrels. Frank saw the first stock tank he had ever seen when someone brought it to hold the water. Someone also brought a "300 pound chunk of ice from Stockton" to float in the water. A cup was furnished also. On the day he recalls, the crowd became a little squeamish after a little boy toppled in and waded out on the other side. It was a while before anyone wanted to drink...but by the end of the hot afternoon, the water was nearly gone". Donna Atkinson, his daughter, has heard this story a lot of times. It may have been embellished a bit but, she too remembers the "single dipper or single cup" used for water at the school wells and has seen water "troughs" with ice in them.

This Forrest Home Church mysteriously burned in 1929. Frank Cowan told the story that one family of the church was offended by the sermon one Sunday. The family returned to the church and burned it. Per the "story" about the Forrest Home School/Church, the burning was believed by many to have been a vengeful act by one who was especially stung by the minister's sermon the Sunday before. For 10 years, there was no Forrest Home Church but in 1937, the WPA finished the big rock school at Bear Creek and Forrest Home students were soon being bussed there; leaving the one-room school sitting empty. A new church congregation organized and bought the schoolhouse and met there until it too was burned in 1954. The congregation built a new church building on the same spot and retained the name of Forrest Home. Frank Cowan also told the story of the church being burned two times.

Frank O. Cowan moved at age age 15 to the Irma Arment Place in Dade County, just east of Golden City, Missouri, then to the McNaught Place which the family rented. Next the family moved to the Cox Place north of Frank and Dean Cowan Stolting's place which they also rented. Frank went to work in Los Alamos at the Ft. Lyons Hay Company about 1930. He stayed at Beck's Motel while he worked at the Denver Alpha Milling Company.

Frank always told this story about his arrival in Los Alamos, Colorado during the depression. He always said that he and a couple of other young men came to town to find work. Frank decided to go to the mill and volunteer his services, which he did. After volunteering his work, the man who owned the mill hired Frank and also the other two young men.

The Wyatt property and its place in the history of Golden City. The information and picture of this house (included in the pictures of this couple) were given to the Missouri State Archives in 2009.

1870 Golden Grove, Barton County, Missouri John T. Wyatt 48 b. Delaware Carrie M. 20 b. Il (wife) Lucy B. 1

1880 Golden City Township, Golden City, Barton County, Missouri J. T. Wyatt b. Del Cara M Lucy B Jessie (female)\ Alma

1900 John F. Wyatt (that is what is shown on the Census) b. 8-1820 79 b. Del Wife Lulie 10-1867 (only person that might be J. T. above) but wife is different.

1900 Will R. Crowther b. Mo. 19 Aug 1870 Alma (Wyatt) b. 3 Aug 1876 Wife This couple is in Golden City Township, Golden City, Barton County, Missouri in the same neighborhood as J. T. above. The assumption has to be made that the couple moved into the house known as the Wyatt-Crowther home ,where the Cowan, Fike family lived at later dates, and which was occupied by J. T. Wyatt earlier. Since Alma was the daughter of J. T. Wyatt, the farm could have been willed to the couple. Sister Jesse died very young per the Golden City History on file.

1910 Golden City Township, Barton County, Mo. William R. Crowther 39 Alma 33

1920 Golden City Township William R. Crowther 49 Alma 42

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   Details: Footnote: Bear Creek was also known as Paynterville. Crabtree Branch is East of Stockton Missouri about 3/4 of the way to Bear Creek or about 5 to 6 miles west of Paynterville-Bear Creek, Missouri. Frank was born at 1:pm. He always said "he remembered it well!" They had to put up a stove the day he was born due to the cold. Footnote: Bear Creek was also known as Paynterville. Crabtree Branch is East ofStockton Missouri about 3/4 of the way to Bear Creek or about 5 to 6 miles west of Paynterville-Bear Creek, Missouri. Frank was born at 1:pm. He always said "he remembered it well!" They had to put up a stove the day he was born due to the cold.

   Bear Creek was also known as Paynterville. Crabtree Branch is East ofStockton Missouri about 3/4 of the way to Bear Creek or about 5 to 6 miles west of Paynterville-Bear Creek, Missouri. Frank was born at 1:pm. He always said "he remembered it well!" They had to put up a stove the day he was born due to the cold.