From GRF Newsletter July 1991:
George Washington Gowens, eighth child of Charles Gowens and Elizabeth “Betsy” Gowens.
Prepared from data researched
By Harold Frank Gowing and Mary Ruth Marsh Gowing
1832 Buck Street, Eugene, Oregon, 97405
George Washington Gowens, eighth child of Charles Gowens
and Elizabeth “Betsy” Gowens, was born in 1802 in Kentucky,
probably Harrison County. His father was a Revolutionary
soldier of Henry County, Virginia and had moved to Kentucky
six years earlier. He was married about 1823 to Nancy Webb
who was born in 1805 in Virginia to Hall Webb and Elizabeth
Webb.
George Washington Gowens, shortly after marriage, adopted
“Gowing” as his surname, and his descendants continue to use
that spelling today.
It is believed that the young couple accompanied his parents in
a move to Gallatin County, Kentucky shortly after they were
married. By 1825, they moved westwardly again, to
Washington County, Indiana where “George Going” was
enumerated as the head of a household in the 1830 census,
page 341. About 1838, he removed to Washington County,
Arkansas. The family of “George W. Gowen” was recorded
there in the 1840 census in Providence township, page 61.
They removed to Cass County, Missouri about 1841. He and
his son, William Pleasant Gowing appeared in the 1848 tax list
of the county, page 16. He paid 71 cents tax on “2 horses,
value $80; 5 cows, value $74 and 1 timepiece, value $15,” and
his son paid 53 cents tax on “1 horse, value $60, 1 cow, value
$8 and military tax, $25.”
He was enumerated there in District 16 September 19, 1850 in
the federal census as the head of Household 394-394:
“Going, George W. 48, born in Kentucky, farmer,
$1,000 real estate
Nancy 43, born in Virginia
Pleasant 25, born in Indiana
George W. 18, born in Indiana
Susannah 20, born in Indiana
Patsey 16, born in Indiana
Francis M. 14, born in Indiana
Jerome 12, born in Arkansas
Chauncy [Drury] 11, born in Arkansas
Nancy 8, born in Missouri
Clarinda 6, born in Missouri
Thomas 4, born in Missouri
Lafayette 2, born in Missouri”
Shortly after 1850 George Washington Gowing moved across
the state line to Brooklin, Kansas, now extinct. In 1855 he
moved to LaCygne, Kansas in extreme eastern Linn County,
Kansas very near the Missouri border. He was frequently involved
in the border disputes that flared in “bleeding Kansas”
in the 1850s and 1860s.
Some events illustrating the adversities the family of George
Washington Gowing endured during that period were recorded
in the March 22, 1895 edition of “La Cygne Weekly
Journal.” The account was later republished in “Kansas
Historical Collection, 1923-1925” printed by Kansas Historical
Society. The account reads:
“In collecting memoranda for these articles there has
been found a very high regard for the Gowing family
who came here in 1855. The head of the family was
George Washington Gowing, Sr. who had been born
and raised in Kentucky and not opposed to slavery,
though he took no part in helping to establish it in
Kansas. The family consisted of himself and wife and
five sons–George W. Jr, Pleasant, Lafayette, Drury and
Thomas. Lafayette became a soldier in Company L,
Sixth Kansas Cavalry and was killed in action April 5,
1864 in the Battle of Stone’s Farm, Arkansas. Wash,
the younger, still lives in La Cygne, and Thomas recently
moved to Missouri.
On coming west, the family lived for a while in Cass
County, Missouri and then decided to come to Kansas,
and as they were traveling in wagons, Wash, the son,
came on in advance to find some old neighbors who
had settled here, among them Skillman Fleming.”
“October 5, 1855, Wash crossed at the ford where the
fair grounds at La Cygne are now located and continued
west till he found Brooklin, when he returned to
pilot his people. At that time all that is Lincoln township,
and to a line north and south along the John
Calvin farm three miles west in Scott township, was an
Indian reservation held by the Miamis and Pottawatomies.
The Miamis were wearing clothing, but
the Pottawatomies were still in blankets. Wash says
that none of them were troublesome. The Miamis
nearly all lived in houses, but the Pottawatomies traveled
around in bands.
When the Gowings located at Brooklin they were
among old acquaintances, and as the family had originally
come from the slave state of Kentucky they were
received as an accession to the proslavery forces. In
the condition of society then, they did not find it convenient
to assert that they had come to make homes and
wanted no politics, so they went along their way and
trusted to luck to avoid trouble. Young Wash was not
regarded with favor by old Skillman, and was
frequently asked to declare himself, but he would only
say that he had come to get a home and wanted no part
in politics. This made it particularly uncongenial for
him, and after he had taken his wife and located a farm
on the ridge north of Brooklin, he would sleep out in
some friendly straw stack or fence corner. Neutrality
then seemed impossible. He was distrusted among his
father’s friends and unknown to the other side, and he
felt uncomfortable, but felt compelled to stay.
One night he ventured to stay within his house, and had
a peaceful night till daybreak, when the sound of horsemen
was heard. He was called and ordered to come
out, with which he complied, expecting trouble. There
were 15 mounted men at his door, whom he recognized
at once as free-state men, who had evidently been out
all night. They asked him for feed for themselves and
horses. He replied that he did not want to give it to
them as it would give him the reputation of harboring
them and get him into trouble. He was assured that his
principles were well known to them, and that they
would see no trouble come to him and then dismounted.
Mrs. Gowing got breakfast for them with
much misgiving as to what the result would be when
the proslavery people heard of it. But beyond severe
criticism they were never disturbed, as by that time the
free-state men were beginning to get control, and they
did not forget to protect Wash.
Once, in 1856, when there were rumors of an invasion
by marauders, they all went over into Missouri to camp
until the trouble should blow over. At West Point,
Missouri they saw a big camp of men living in a halfmilitary
style, but without any authority other than assumed.
Old man Clarke was in command of it. Clarke tried to
take a team from the elder Gowing, and the old man
said they could not have it, that he would not part with
it. They then took possession of horses and man, and
the next morning the 400 ruffians of Clarke started to
raid through Linn County, and took Gowing with them
to haul their plunder.
There was also a young man named Smith, a son of Elisha
Smith of Twin Springs impressed into their service,
and when at Linnville Mr. Gowing took a hatchet
and defied the mob, as related last week, he also released
young Smith from their bondage.”
The incident “as related last week” referred to an account in
the March 15, 1895 edition of the “La Cygne Weekly Journal”
which described the atrocities the mob committed and
the courage of George Washington Gowing in a confrontation
with the mob. The account read:
“The crimes which followed are too foul for record.
Old man Gowing witnessed them, and climbing into
his wagon he threw all the plunder out on the ground,
and with a hatchet to defend himself, denounced the
fiends and told them he would die before he would
obey their orders further, and drove away unmolested.
On his way home he met Sheek and told him the details
of the affair. Mr. Sheek was a close friend of Pat
Devlin, the originator of the famous ‘Jayhawker’
patronymic, and had several adventures with him.”
George Washington Gowing was enumerated in the 1860
census of Linn County in Scott township, page 12:
“Gowins, George 59, born in Kentucky, farmer
Nancy 53, born in Virginia
Lafayette 19, born in Missouri, farmer
Nancy, Jr. 16, born in Missouri
Clarinda 14, born in Missouri
Thomas 13, born in Missouri
Moore, Marion 20, born in Illinois, laborer”
During the Civil War he enlisted in Company K, Sixth Kansas
Militia and appeared on the muster roll of that organization,
along with Drury Gowing and Lafayette Gowing, his sons.
George Washington Gowing wrote his will March 10, 1870:
I, George W. Gowing, considering the uncertainty of
this life and being of sound mind and memory do make
this, my last will and testament in manner and form
following, to wit:
First. I give and bequeath to my grandchildren, heirs
of my son Pleasant Gowing, the sum of One Hundred
Dollars. I give and bequeath to the heirs of my son
Jerome Gowing the sum of One Hundred Dollars to be
paid to them within six month after they becum of age
legaly to do Busness for them selves [21] and to be
equaly divided between them.
I farther give and bequeath to my wife Nancy Gowing
all of the residue of my Estate that may be left after the
payment of the foregoing bequests and the payment of
all of my Debts both real estate and personal property,
to have and to hold for her own use and benefit during
her life and at her death to be equally between all of
my heirs.
I also appoint my Beloved Wife sole executrix of this
my last will and testament hereby revoking all former
wills made by me in witness of which I have hereunto
set my hand and seal this the 10th day of March 1870.
G. W. [X] Gowing”
He died shortly after the will was written. Nancy Webb
Gowing, a widow was recorded as the head of Household 365-
352 in Lincoln township, page 49:
“Gowing, Nancy 66, born in Virginia
Nancy, Jr. 25, born in Missouri
Clarinda 23, born in Missouri
Thomas 22, born in Missouri, farmer
Gowing, Francis M. 16, born in Missouri, works on farm, grandson
George C. 14, born in Kansas, works on farm, grandson
Sarrah J. 10, born in Kansas, attends school, granddaughter
Clarinda 8, born in Kansas, attends school, granddaughter
William P. 5, born in Kansas, grandson
Gowing, Jane 12, granddaughter
James 10, grandson”
Nancy Webb Gowin died there in 1873.
Children born to George Washington Gowing and Nancy
Webb Gowing include:
William Pleasant Gowing born in 1825
Sarah Ann Gowing born about 1826
Susannah Gowing born in 1830
George Washington Gowing, Jr. born in 1832
Patsey Gowing born in 1834
Francis M. Gowing born in 1836
Jerome Gowing born about 1837
Drury Gowing born about 1838
Lafayette Gowing born about 1841
Nancy Gowing born in 1842
Clarinda Gowing born in 1844
Thomas Benton Gowing born March 23, 1847
GEORGE WASHINGTON GOWING DEFIED THE KANSAS JAYHAWKERS WITH A HATCHET
George Washington Gowens, son of Charles Gowens and Eliz-
abeth “Betsy” Blair Gowens, was born in June 2, 1802 in
Kentucky or in Claiborne County, Tennessee. His father
was a Revolutionary soldier of Henry County, Virginia.
He was married about 1823 to Nancy Webb who was born Aug-
ust 29, 1805 to Hall Webb and Elizabeth Webb, according
to Harold Frank Gowing, a descendant of Eugene, Oregon.
He and his wife, Mary Ruth Marsh Gowing, Foundation mem-
bers did extensive research into this branch of the fam-
ily.
George Washington Gowens, shortly after marriage, adopted
“Gowing” as his surname, and his descendants continue to
use that spelling today.
It is believed that the young couple accompanied his par-
ents in a move to Gallatin County shortly after they were
married. By 1825, they moved westwardly again, to Wash-
ington County, Indiana. They were enumerated there in
the 1830 census, page 341:
“Going, George white male 20-30
white female 20-30
white male 5-10
white female 0-5
white female 0-5″
About 1838, he removed to Washington County, Arkansas.
He was enumerated there in the 1840 census in Providence
township, page 61:
Gowen, George W. white male 30-40
white female 30-40
white male 15-20
white female 15-20
white female 10-15
white male 5-10
white female 5-10
white male 0-5
white male 0-5
white male 0-5”
Three members of the household were engaged in “agricul-
ture.” One of the parents was “illiterate.” No slaves
were enumerated.
It is believed that they removed to Cass County, Missouri
about 1841. He and his son, William Pleasant Gowing ap-
peared in the 1848 tax list of the county, page 16. He
paid 71 cents tax on “2 horses, value $80; 5 cows, value
$74 and 1 timepiece, value $15,” and his son paid 53
cents tax on “1 horse, value $60, 1 cow, value $8 and
military tax, $25.”
He was enumerated there in District 16 September 19, 1850
in the federal census as the head of Household 394-394:
“Going, George W. 48, born in Kentucky, farmer,
$1,000 real estate
Nancy 43, born in Virginia
Pleasant 25, born in Indiana
George W. 18, born in Indiana
Susannah 20, born in Indiana
Patsey 16, born in Indiana
Francis M. 14, born in Indiana
Jerome 12, born in Arkansas
Chauncy 11, born in Arkansas
Nancy 8, born in Missouri
Clarinda 6, born in Missouri
Thomas 4, born in Missouri
Lafayette 2, born in Missouri”
Shortly after 1850 moved across the state line to Brook-
lin, Kansas, now extinct. On October 5, 1855 he moved to
La Cygne, Kansas in extreme eastern Linn County, Kansas
very near the Missouri border. He was frequently involv-
ed in the border disputes that flared in “bleeding Kan-
sas” in the 1850s and 1860s.
Some events illustrating the adversities the family of
George Washington Gowing endured during that period were
recorded in the March 22, 1895 edition of “La Cygne Week-
ly Journal.” The account was later published in “Kansas
Historical Collection, 1923-1925” printed by Kansas His-
torical Society. The account reads:
“In collecting memoranda for these articles there has
been found a very high regard for the Gowing family who
came here in 1855. The head of the family was George
Washington Gowing, Sr. who had been born and raised in
Kentucky and not opposed to slavery, though he took no
part in helping to establish it in Kansas. The family
consisted of himself and wife and five sons–George W.
Jr, Pleasant, Lafayette, Drury and Thomas. Lafayette be-
came a soldier in Company L, Sixth Kansas Cavalry and was
killed in action April 5, 1864 in the Battle of Stone’s
Farm, Arkansas. Wash, the younger, still lives in La
Cygne, and Thomas recently moved to Missouri.
On coming west, the family lived for a while in Cass
County, Missouri and then decided to come to Kansas, and
as they were traveling in wagons, Wash, the son, came on
in advance to find some old neighbors who had settled
here, among them Skillman Fleming. On October 5, 1855,
Wash crossed at the ford where the fair grounds at La
Cygne are now located and continued west till he found
Brooklin, when he returned to pilot his people. At that
time all that is Lincoln township, and to a line north
and south along the John Calvin farm three miles west in
Scott township, was an Indian reservation held by the
Miamis and Pottawatomies.
The Miamis were wearing clothing, but the Pottawatomies
were still in blankets. Wash says that none of them were
troublesome. The Miamis nearly all lived in houses, but
the Pottawatomies traveled around in bands.
When the Gowings located at Brooklin they were among old
acquaintances, and as the family had originally come from
the slave state of Kentucky they were received as an ac-
cession to the pro-slavery forces. In the condition of
society then, they did not find it convenient to assert
that they had come to make homes and wanted no politics,
so they went along their way and trusted to luck to avoid
trouble.
Young Wash was not regarded with favor by old Skillman,
and was frequently asked to declare himself, but he would
only say that he had come to get a home and wanted no
part in politics. This made it particularly uncongenial
for him, and after he had taken his wife and located a
farm on the ridge north of Brooklin, he would sleep out
in some friendly straw stack or fence corner. Neutrality
then seemed impossible. He was distrusted among his fa-
ther’s friends and unknown to the other side, and he felt
uncomfortable, but as all he had was there, he stayed.
One night he ventured to stay within his house, and had a
peaceful night till daybreak, when the sound of horsemen
was heard. He was called and ordered to come out, with
which he complied, expecting trouble. There were 15
mounted men at his door, whom he recognized at once as
free-state men, who had evidently been out all night.
They asked him for feed for themselves and horses. He
replied that he did not want to give it to them as it
would give him the reputation of harboring them and get
him into trouble. He was assured that his principles
were well known to them, and that they would see no
trouble come to him and then dismounted.
Mrs. Gowing got breakfast for them with much misgiving as
to what the result would be when the pro-slavery people
heard of it. But beyond severe criticism they were never
disturbed, as by that time the free-state men were begin-
ning to get control, and they did not forget to protect
Wash.
Once, in 1856, when there were rumors of an invasion by
marauders, they all went over into Missouri to camp until
the trouble should blow over. At West Point, Missouri
they saw a big camp of men living in a half-military
style, but without any authority other than assumed. Old
man Clarke was in command of it. Clarke tried to take a
team from the elder Gowing, and the old man said they
could not have it, that he would not part with it. They
then took possession of horses and man, and the next
morning the 400 ruffians of Clarke started to raid
through Linn County, and took Gowing with them to haul
their plunder.
There was also a young man named Smith, a son of Elisha
Smith of Twin Springs impressed into their service, and
when at Linnville Mr. Gowing took a hatchet and defied
the mob, as related last week, he also released young
Smith from their bondage.”
The incident “as related last week” referred to an ac-
count in the March 15, 1895 edition of the “La Cygne
Weekly Journal” which described the atrocities the mob
committed and the courage of George Washington Gowing in
a confrontation with the mob. The account read:
“The crimes which followed are too foul for record. Old
man Gowing witnessed them, and climbing into his wagon he
threw all the plunder out on the ground, and with a hat-
chet to defend himself, denounced the fiends and told
them he would die before he would obey their orders fur-
ther, and drove away unmolested. On his way home he met
Sheek and told him the details of the affair. Mr. Sheek
was a close friend of Pat Devlin, the originator of the
famous ‘Jayhawker’ patronymic, and had several adventures
with him.”
George Washington Gowing was enumerated in the 1860 cen-
sus of Linn County in Scott township, page 12, Household
84-84:
“Gowins, George 59, born in Kentucky, farmer
Nancy 53, born in Virginia
Lafayette 19, born in Missouri, farmer
Nancy, Jr. 16, born in Missouri
Clarinda 14, born in Missouri
Thomas 13, born in Missouri
Moore, Marion 20, born in Illinois, laborer”
During the Civil War, he enlisted in Company K, Sixth
Kansas Militia and appeared on the muster roll of that
organization, along with Drury Gowing and Lafayette Gow-
ing, his sons.
George Washington Gowing wrote his will March 10, 1870:
“State of Kansas
Linn County, Lincoln Township
I, George W. Gowing, considering the uncertainty of this
life and being of sound mind and memory do make this,
my last will and testament in manner and form following,
to wit:
First. I give and bequeath to my grandchildren, heirs of
my son Pleasant Gowing, the sum of One Hundred Dollars.
I give and bequeath to the heirs of my son Jerome Gowing
the sum of One Hundred Dollars to be paid to them within
six months after they becum of [21] age legaly to do Bus-
ness for them selves and to be equaly divided between
them.
I farther give and bequeath to my wife Nancy Gowing all
of the residue of my Estate that may be left after the
payment of the foregoing bequests and the payment of all
of my Debts both real estate and personal property, to
have and to hold for her own use and benefit during her
life and at her death to be equally between all of my
heirs.
I also appoint my Beloved Wife sole executrix of this my
last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills
made by me in witness of which I have hereunto set my
hand and seal this the 10th day of March AD 1870.
G. W. [X] Gowing”
He died shortly after the will was written. Nancy Webb
Gowing, a widow was recorded as the head of Household
365-352 in Lincoln township, page 49:
“Gowing, Nancy 66, born in Virginia
Nancy, Jr. 25, born in Missouri
Clarinda 23, born in Missouri
Thomas 22, born in Missouri, farmer
Gowing, Francis M. 16, born in Missouri, works on
farm, grandson
George C. 14, born in Kansas, works on
farm, grandson
Sarrah J. 10, born in Kansas, attends
school, granddaughter
Clarinda 8, born in Kansas, attends
school, granddaughter
William P. 5, born in Kansas, grandson
Gowing, Jane 12, granddaughter
James 10, grandson”
Nancy Webb Gowin died there in 1873 and was buried beside
her husband in Star Valley Cemetery, east of La Cygne.
Children born to George Washington Gowing and Nancy Webb
Gowing include:
William Pleasant Gowing born in 1825
Sarah Ann Gowing born about 1826
Susannah Gowing born in 1829
George Washington Gowing, Jr. born August 14, 1830
Patsey Gowing born in 1834
Francis M. Gowing born in 1836
Jerome Gowing born about 1837
Chauncy Drury Gowing born about 1838
Lafayette Gowing born about 1841
Nancy Gowing born Nov. 25, 1844
Clarinda Gowing born in 1845
Thomas Benton Gowing born March 23, 1847
Goyen Family Tree 