[p. 471] who owns eighty-six acres of first-class farming land near the Beaver County line in Little Beaver Township, Lawrence County, has been almost a life-long farmer on his present property. He was born here in the old log house home, March 20, 1846, and is a son of William and Matilda (Feazel) McCowin.
The grandparents were James and Margaret McCowin and they came to Little Beaver Township from Washington County, Pennsylvania, settling in the wilderness. Indians were numerous but generally friendly and on many occasions the grandmother of Albert McCowin fearlessly rode back to the old home on horseback in order to bring domestic necessities, especially salt. The grandfather cleared up a large tract of land and put up a log cabin on Mr. McCowin's present farm. Both he and wife, who had lived long and happily together, died on the same day, when over eighty years of age, he surviving her but three hours. They had the following children: James, Samuel, John, Joseph, Allen, Thompson and William, twins; Harvey, Elizabeth and Jane, all now deceased.
William McCowin assisted his father to clear the land and later he, with his brother, Thompson, came into possession of it. He married Matilda Feazel, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, and was one of the early teachers in this section, teaching for a number of terms in the Cook school-house. She died on this farm when aged sixty-six years and was survived eight years by her huband, his age being seventy-four years. They had seven children: Alexander, Thompson, Milton, Albert, James, Martha Jane and Anna Mary, the latter of whom married R. S. McAnlis. Albert and his youngest sister are the only survivors of the family.
Albert McCowin has never been fifty miles from home in his life and naturally is fond and proud of the old place in which are bound up the memories and interests of more than sixty years. His educational chances were meager, but he had a very intelligent and careful mother, and while he had to work hard through boyhood, her encouragement and instruction were very helpful. In early manhood he spent a short time in the oil fields, but his main occupation has always been farming. His land was secured from his father's estate and there are sixty-nine acres in the home place and seventeen acres further east.
On January 10, 1889, he was united in marriage with Mary C. Morrisy, who is a daughter of John Morrisy and they have three children: William, Matilda Maria and John. In his political views he is a Democrat, and at various times has served in many of the township offices, being a man of unusual good judgment and one who enjoys the confidence of his fellow citizens.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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