State – Michigan
MICHIGAN
No families of Gowen [or spelling variations] appeared in the 1830 census of Michigan.
==O==
Isaac Gowen was listed in the 26th Michigan Infantry Regiment in the Civil War, according to the Civil War military roster.
==O==
Monroe Gowen was listed in the 26th Infantry Regiment in the Civil War, according to the Civil War military roster.
==O==
Maroni Gowen was listed in the 20th Infantry Regiment in the Civil War, according to the Civil War military roster.
==O==
William Goins was enumerated as the head of a household in the 1880 census of Michigan, county unknown, Enumeration District 19, page 71, St. Joseph’s Township. The family was composed of:
“Goins, William 62, born in Kentucky
Alice 33, born in Indiana
Josephine 13, born in Indiana
Charles 3, born in Michigan”
ALLEGAN COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Benjamin Goen, was listed as the head of a household in the 1850 census of Allegan County, Michigan, Leighton Township, according to “Index to the 1850 Federal Population Census of Michigan.”
BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Jonathan Going appeared as the head of a household enumerated in the 1850 census of Barry County, Prairieville Township. According to “Index to the 1850 Federal Population Census of Michigan.”
BAY COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Jill Carol Gowing was born January 21, 1946 at Midland, Michigan. She was married August 30, 1967 to James Bernard Mocho who was born August 18, 1935 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, according to Bernalillo County, New Mexico Marriage Book 116, page 71511. At that time they lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico. No return was made of the license.
BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Emma Goines, daughter of William Goines and Alice Goines was born in Indiana in January 1873. She died in Madison County, Indiana July 19, 1873 at the age of “6 months, 14 days,” according to Berrien County death records.
==O==
John Goins, a mulatto, was listed as the head of a family enumerated in the 1880 census of Berrien County, Enumeration District 3, page 22, Berrien Township. The family was recorded as:
Goins, John 48, born in Ohio
Mary 33, born in Michigan
Mary 12, born in Michigan
John 9, born in Michigan
Thomas 8, born in Michigan
Charles 5, born in Michigan
Isaac 3, born in Michigan
Joseph 9/12, born in Michigan”
CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Staples Goens appeared as the head of a household in the 1850 census of Cass, County, Howard Township, according to “Index to the 1850 Federal Population Census of Michigan.”
==O==
John Goins was married to Delilah Rickman May 10, 1896 in Dowagiac, Michigan by Cornelius Lawson, J. P. Witnesses were James Steward and Jenetta Hill of Cassopolis, Michigan.
John Goins was remarried to Delilah Rickman Goins November 23, 1910 in Cassopolois by Lowell H. Glover, J. P. Witness by W. S. Eby of Cassopolis.
==O==
Rosa E. “Rosie” Goins, of Cassopolis, was married June 11, 1925 to Howard Virgil Haines, one of the 14 children born to Alma B. Cottman Haines and Loda Ellsworth Haines, according to Tanya Williams in an E-mail message dated March 22, 2000.
Children born to Howard Virgil Haines and Rosa E. “Rosie” Goins Haines include:
Leona Haines born about 1927
Howard Virgil Haines, Jr. born about 1930
Virgil Haines born about 1934
CHEBOYGAN COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Three Goin men, perhaps brothers, appeared as heads of households in the 1880 census of Cheboygan County.
Michael Goin appeared as the head of a household enumerated in the 1880 census of Cheboygan County, Enumeration District 35, page 9, Inverness Township:
“Goin, Michael 46, born in Canada
Margaret 42, born in Canada
Armazen 17, born in Canada
Jeremiah 15, born in Michigan
Isaac 14, born in Michigan
Phillip 11, born in Michigan
Amos 9, born in Michigan
Matilda 7, born in Michigan
George 6, born in Michigan
William 3/12, born in Michigan”
David Goin appeared as the head of aa family in the 1880 census of Cheboygan County, Enumeration District 35, page 10 Inverness Township:
“Goin, David 38, born in Canada
Mary 27, born in Canada
Louisa 9, born in Michigan
Emery 8, born in Michigan
Moses 4, born in Michigan
Felimon 3, born in Michigan, son
Sulamany 2, born in Michigan, daughter”
Charles Goin was recorded as the head of a family in the 1880 census of Cheboygan County, Enumeration Diestict 35, page 9, Inverness Township:
“Goin, Charles 30, born in Canada
Lenora 30, born in Canada
Matilda 11, born in Michigan
Albert 10, born in Michigan
Virginia 7, born in Michigan
Cornelia 5, born in Michigan
Delima 4, born in Michigan, daughter
John 3, born in Michigan”
CHIPPEWA COUNTY, MICHIGAN====
Thomas Gowan, an Irish emigrant, was enumerated as the heard of a household in the 1880 census of Chippewa County, Enumeration District 40, page 29, living on Ashman Street in Sault Sainte Marie. Apparently the family had arrived in Michigan from Canada between 1874 and 1878.
The family was recorded as:
“Gowan, Thomas 45, born in Ireland
Elizabeth 35, born in Ireland
William 12, born in Canada
Annie 13, born in Canada
John 11, born in Canada
Rachel 8, born in Canada
Maggie 6, born in Canada
Harry 2, born in Michigan”
==O==
Elizabeth Gowen of Sault Sainte Marie received a mortgage from W. Lee Drake, his wife, Rachel E. Drake and A. Millie Drake, widow, believed to be his mother February 1, 1901 in the amount of $1,000 with 380 acres of Madison County, Alabama land as collateral, according to Madison County Mortgage Book 53 1/2, page 156.
HOUGHTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Evil M. Gowan died January 8, 1874 in Houghton County, according to Michigan Bureau of Vital Statistics.
INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Donald Goins and his wife, Elizabeth Adams Goins, were residents of Lansing, Michigan in 1967 when her father, James L. Adams, Jr, a native of Girta, West Virginia, died.
==O==
Isaac Gowen was enlisted in the Union Army August 12, 1862 as a private at Williamston, Michigan at age 20.
==O==
Monroe Gowen was enlisted in the Union Army February 9, 1864 as a private at Williamston, Michigan at age 30, according to “American Civil War Soldiers.”
Monroe Gowen appeared as the head of a household enumerated in the 1880 census of Ingham County, Enumeration District 143, page 3, living in Williamston, Michigan. The family was recorded as:
“Gowen, Monroe 45, born in Michigan
Emma J. 25, born in Michigan
J. C. 4, born in Michigan
Ora A. 2, born in Michigan”
IONIA COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Ivory Going appeared as the head of a household enumerated in the 1850 census of Ionia County, Ionia Township, according to “Index to the 1850 Federal Population Census of Michigan.”
==O==
Edward McGowan and Anna E. McGowan lived at 317 E. Main Street in Ionia, Michigan in 1891, according to the Ionia city directory, page 251. She was shown as a saleslady for G. F. Whitney & Sons, and he was identified as “mach car sh” which might be interpreted as “machine car shop.”
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Andries Anderson was listed as residing in Kent County in the 1890 city directory of Grand Rapids.
==O==
James Anderson was listed as as residing in Kent County in the 1890 city directory of Grand Rapids.
==O==
Ole Anderson was listed as residing in Kent County in the 1890 city directory of Grand Rapids.
==O==
Mary A. Gowan was the only Gowan listed in the 1850 census of the state of Michigan. She appeared as the head of a household in Kalamazoo County, according to “Index to the Federal Population Census of Michigan.”
==O==
Benjamin F. Gowen was listed as a laborer residing at west side of Diamond, 1 block north of East Fulton in Grand Rapids according to the 1889 city directory.
==O==
Claude Gowen, Social Security No. 303-09-1210, was born August 28, 1909 and died in March 1980, according to the Social Security Death Index.
KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN
James Goings, a Negro, was listed as the head of a household in the 1880 census of Kent County, Enumeration District 139, page 24 living at 160 Lafayette Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan:
“Goings, James 33, born in Canada
Malinda 19, born in Canada
Robert 9/12, born in MI”
==O==
Elizabeth Gowan was married May 27, 1869 to Thomas M. Henry, according to Kent County marriage records.
==O==
E. George Gowen, an English emigrant, appeared as the head of a household in the 1880 census of Kent County, Enumeration District 116, page 5, Courtland Township:
“Gowen, E. George 33, born in England
Mary Ada 26, born in MI
Mary Ann 4, born in MI
Ellen E. 2, born in MI”
==O==
William A. Gowens lived at 121 Canton, SW, according to the 1972 telephone directory of Grand Rapids.
==O==
Michael Goyne, Janet Plessinger Goyne and their daughter, Claire Goyne were residents of Grand Rapids in December 1999. Janet Plessinger Goyne was a granddaughter of Olive Marie Van Meter Plessinger who died December 18, 1999 at age 90 in Guthrie, Oklahoma, according to her obituary in the “Guthrie News-Leader” of December 21, 1999.
JACKSON COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Wesley Goins, a Negro, was listed as the head of a household enumerated in the 1880 census of Jackson County, Enumeration District 117, page 13, living at 135 Clinton Street, Jackson, Michigan:
“Goins, Wesley 36, born in Illinois
Fanny 28, born in Indiana
Henrietta 13, born in Michigan
Lester 13, born in Michigan
George A. 8, born in Michigan
Charles 7, born in Michigan
Harry W. 3, born in Michigan”
==O==
William Goings arrived in Brooklyn, Michigan in 1910. He “partnered for a while” in a blacksmith shop with Mike Donahue and then went out on his own, according to Lacey. A great-granddaughter.
He helped to build the first popcorn factory in Brooklyn. From his blue eyes Lacey concluded that he was a Melungeon, and his wife was regarded as an Indian. All of his children stayed in Michigan except his son, Russell Going.
Children born to William Going include:
Albert Going born about 1883
Lester Going born about 1884
Vern Going born about 1886
Robert Going born about 1888
Leota Going born about 1891
Blanche Going born about 1894
Russell Going born about 1898
LENAWEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
William Goins was born July 16, 1838 in Virginia of parents unknown. He was married about 1866 to Sarah Rickman who was born in Virginia in 1828. They lived in Tecumseh, Michi-gan about 1869. William Goins died in Ripley County, Indi-ana in 1901.
Children born to William Goins and Sarah Rickman Goins in-clude:
Alice Goins born about 1869
Alice Goins, daughter of William Goins and Sarah Rickman Goins, was born about 1859 in Tecumseh, Michigan. She was married about 1875 to John Penn, half Cherokee, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to William Penn and Belle Mason Penn, according to “Sherry in Sandusky.”
==O==
Americus Gowing was listed as the head of a household in the 1880 census of Lenawee County, Enumeration District 157, page 17. The family residing in Hudson, Michigan was recorded as:
“Gowing, Americus 35, born in MI
Mary 35, born in MI
Addie 18, born in MI
John 8, born in MI
Francis 10, born in MI, son”
LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN
J. L. Going was listed as the head of a household in the 1880 census of Livingston County, Enumeration District 193, page 22, Marion Township:
“Going, J. L. 55, born in New York
Susan 40, born in Ohio
Nettie 14, born in Michigan
Malvina 11, born in Michigan
Anna 8, born in Michigan
George 6, born in Michigan
Mary 3, born in Michigan”
William Going, assumed to be a son of J. L. Going, was also enumerated as the head of a household recorded in the 1880 census of Livingston County, Enumeration District 193, page 25, Marion Township:
“Going, William 26, born in New York
Pheba 25, born in Michigan
Harry 3, born in Michigan
[unnamed] 1, born in Michigan”
MARQUETTE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
William Goyen, regarded as a native of Cornwall, was enumerated as the head of a household in the 1900 census of Marquette County, Richmond Township, in Palmer, Michigan, a short distance from Marquette, Michigan, according to a letter written March 19, 1993 by Gladys M. White. William Goyen was recorded as an iron ore miner. Both of his parents were born in England. He had come to the United States in 1865 and was identified as a “naturalized alien” who had been married for 33 years.
His wife, Katherine was born in August 1849 in Missouri. She was the mother of 12 children, seven of whom were living. At the time of the enumeration, she had eight boarders and one servant. The family was recorded as:
“Goyen, William 53, born in September 1846, England
Katherine 50, born in August 1849, MO
Arthur T. 19, born in March 1881, Illinois
Robert C. 16, born in May 1884, Michigan
William 22, born in April 1878, Illinois
Edward 14, born in May 1886, Michigan
Albert S. 10, born in Sept. 1889, Michigan
John F. 8, born in June 1891, Michigan”
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Gowen, Michigan is the name of a post office in Montcalm County. The community was once called Gregory’s Mill, and the community was settled by people from Denmark, according to Robertson Augustine who wrote of them:
“The Danish Invasion
The history of the Flat River in Montcalm County would be far from complete if the story of the “invasion” by the Danes was not included.
A young emigrant to America from Denmark, Christian Jens-en, a veteran of the Danish and Dutch War of 1849, found his way into the wilds of Michigan along the Flat River in 1853. He finally reached what later became the village of Gowen, but was then known as Gregory’s Mill from the name of the owner of a sawmill at that time. To the north of the hamlet, Jensen found a piece of level land with good quality soil, only partially lumbered off. He decided to settle, and his letter home described his prospects:
‘Here are cheap and plenty of good timber land, good wages, earnest people, good government, nice girls; I am going to marry one of them.
He did marry one, and they set up housekeeping in his small, rough shack. She was not a Danish girl; there were none of his nationality there beside himself, and she had to learn his language, and he had to learn hers. He Americanized his name from Jensen to Johnson.’”
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Walter Gowan Jr., 71, of Norton Shores, Michigan died Aug-ust 28, 2002 at his home. He was the husband of the late De-lores Gowan and was retired from Sargent Sand Mining Com-pany in Ludington, Michigan . Walburn-Sytsema Funeral Home handled the funeral in Muskegon, Michigan, according to Hope Engelmann, a step-daughter.
ROSCOMMON COUNTY, MICHIGAN
John Williams Gowen, white male, was born July 30, 1886 in Cedar Springs, Missouri, and resided at Roscommon County, Michigan at the time of service, according to WWI Civilian Draft Registration records.
ST. CLAIR COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Edward Goines, an Irish emigrant. was listed as the head of a household enumerated in the 1880 census of St. Clair County, Enumeration District 393, page 9, Wales Township:
“Goines, Edward 65, born in Ireland
Patience 63, born in Ireland
Cornelius 38, born in York State
Curry, Archie 11, born in Canada, grandson
Agnes 8, born in York State, granddaughter”
==O==
William H. Gowan, an Irish emigrant, was listed as the head of a household enumerated in the 1880 census of St. Clair, Enumeration District 366, page 30, living in Brockway, Michigan:
“Gowan, William H. 26, born in Ireland
Mary L. 25, born in Michigan
Herbert W. 3, born in Michigan
Lula M. 3/12, born in Michigan
Gowan, William 47, born in Ireland”
==O==
Richard Gowing appeared as the head of a household enumerated in the 1850 census of St. Clair County, Clyde Township, according to “Index to the 1850 Federal Population of Michigan.”
SANILAC COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Alfred Gawn was enumerated as the head of a household in the 1880 census of Sanilac County, Enumeration District 327, page 20, Buel Township:
“Gawn, Alfred 34, born in Canada
Olive 25, born in Michigan
Grafton 10, born in Michigan
Alma 8, born in Michigan
George 5, born in Canada
Cyrus 3, born in Canada
Laura 1, born in Michigan”
VAN BUREN COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Benjamin Goins, a mulatto, was enumerated as the head of a household recorded in the 1880 census of Van Buren County, Enumeration District 210, page 18, Covert Township:
“Goins, Benjamin 38, born in Virginia
Rosetta 24, born in Indiana
James W. 3, born in Michigan”
Levi Gowens, a mulatto, believed to be a brother to Benjamin Goins, was listed as the head of a household enumerated in the 1880 census of Van Buren County, Enumeration District 210, page 18, Covert Township:
“Gowens, Levi 28, born in Indiana
Lucy 26, born in Ohio
Frederick 9, born in Michigan
Rosa Lee 7, born in Michigan
Frank 5, born in Michigan
Gracie 2, born in Michigan”
==O==
John Goins was born about 1823, parents and place unknown. He was married about 1846 and lived in the area of Hartford, Michigan.
Children born to him, according to Jackie Goins Hammond, a descendant, include:
George Riley Goins born about 1848
Andrew Goins born about 1850
Lucy Goins born about 1852
Jasper Goins born in 1856
Jasper Goins, son of John Goins, was born in 1856. He was married about 1880. He died in 1932.
Children born to Jasper Goins include:
Almond Tecumseh Goins born in 1888
Almond Tecumseh Goins, son of Jasper Goins, was born in 1888. He was married about 1912.
Children born to Almond Tecumseh Goins include:
Jack Clark Goins born about 1918
Jack Clark Goins, son of Almond Tecumseh Goins, was born about 1918. He was married about 1946.
Children born to Jack Clark Goins include:
Jackie Goins born about 1950
Jackie Goins, daughter of Jack Clark Goins, was born about 1950. She was married about 1970, husband’s name Hammond. In 2000 Jackie Goins Hammond was actively researching her Goins family history.
==O==
Stephen Gowens, a Civil War veteran of Covert township in Van Buren County was enumerated in the 1894 Michigan census of Civil War soldiers.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Elijah McCoy, Automatic lubricating device.
Elijah Goins, son of George Goins and Mildred Goins, was born a slave in May, 1843 in Canada. Both of his parents, who had been slaves in Kentucky, escaped to Canada in the Fall of 1837 through the underground railroad. After settling in Canada, McCoy’s father joined the Canadian Army serving the British. Upon his honorable discharge he was given 160 acres of farmland in Cholchester in Essex County, Ontario.
After Elijah’s 15th birthday his father sent him to Edinburg, Scotland to study mechanical engineering. It appears that his surname was changed to McCoy while in Scotland. During this time of history most machines had to be stopped when-ever they needed oiling because in early locomotives, the inability to equalize steam pressure within the engine made it impossible to provide proper lubricating to the cylinders while the locomotives were in operation. Machinists would have to stop and start engines to oil them, and that wasted a lot of time. It was also expensive to turn huge engines on and off. McCoy realized that somehow he had to find a way to provide a continuous flow of oil on moving parts of a machine while it was still operating.
He came to the United States after the Civil War and settled near Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he worked in a machine shop, further increasing his mechanical knowledge and skills.
In 1870 McCoy was living in Ypsilanti where he began exper-imenting in his machine shop with lubricators for steam en-gines. At first locomotive enginers objected to use McCoy’s new invention on their engines simply because he was a black man. Eventually McCoy’s lubricating machine was extensive-ly used on stationary engines, and translation liners, and on machinery in factories. By 1920 McCoy had established his own business. Elijah McCoy Manufacturing Company also invented a popular graphite lubricator, known as the ”super-heater,” designed to oil a new locomotive.
In 1870 McCoy was living in Ypsilanti, Michigan where he began experimenting in his machine shop with lubricators for steam engines. At first locomotive enginers objected to use McCoy’s new invention on their engines simply because he was a black man. Eventually McCoy’s lubricating machine was extensively used on stationary engines, and translation liners, and on machinery in factories. By 1920 McCoy had established his own business. Elijah McCoy Manufacturing Company also invented a popular graphite lubricator, known as the” superheater,” designed to oil a new locomotive.
During this period, steam power was rapidly being harnessed as a prime industrial power source. It was the era of the machine age, a period from about 1865 to the early 1900’s. . Many of the inventions of the day involved numerous moving parts requiring lubrication. With all the ingenious devices invented, no one had yet solved the problem of getting oil to moving parts without first having to shut the machinery down, especially railroad engines.
In 1870, McCoy started working on the problem. In 1873, he developed a small, oil-filled container with an adjustable stop-cock that was capable of automatically oiling moving parts while machinery was still in motion. No longer did railroad engines have to stop every few miles while a work-man went around with an oil can oiling all of the parts. No longer did factory machinery have to be shut down for similar maintenance. McCoy’s invention literally revolutionized the railroad industry as well as continuously running factory machinery. His devices were used for years on both stationary and locomotive machinery in the West, especially the great railway locomotives, on steamships and in factories around the world.
He eventually set up the Elijah McCoy Manufacturing Company in Detroit, Michigan to develop and sell his inventions. The continuous hum of so many of the factories of today are due in most part to a self-taught mechanical engineer, son of fugitive slaves who had to leave the U. S. in order to be free.
During his lifetime, McCoy was awarded over 57 patents. In 1928, McCoy’s health began to fail. Because he had sold most of his patents for a fraction of their worth, he was never able to capitalize on his own inventions. McCoy entered an infirm-ary in Eloise, Michigan, for poor and elderly people. He died October 10, 1929.”
==O==
Daniel Gowen appeared in the 1850 census of Washtenaw County, Superior Township, as the head of a household, according to “Index to the 1850 Federal Population Census of Michigan.”
Harriett Gowen appeared in the 1850 census of Washtenaw County, Superior Township, as the head of a household, according to “Index to the 1850 Federal Population Census of Michigan.”
WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
Thomas Goeing was enumerated as the head of a household in the 1850 census of Wayne County, Detroit City Township, according to “Index to the Federal Population Census of Michigan.”
==O==
Charles Goins was occupied as a laborer at 816 Beaubien in Detroit, MI, according to the city directory of 1890.
==O==
Thomas Goins, “colored” was listed as a “whitewasher” in Johnston’s 1857-58 city directory of Detroit. He lived at 178 Adams Avenue.
==O==
Wesley Goins was occupied as a laborer at 816 Beaubien in Detroit, MI, according to the 1890 city directory.
==O==
Jack H. Gowan was born November 8, 1918 in Detroit of parents unknown. He was graduated from Wayne State University and entered the U.S. Army Air Corps early in World War II. He retired in 1945 as a Lt. Colonel. He was married about 1943, wife’s name Gertrude. He removed to Venice, Florida in 1985. He died February 8, 2000 at Venice, according to the “Sarasota Herald-Tribune” of February 10, 2000.
He was a member of Sahib Temple, Oriental Band and Venice Shriners. He was a Presbyterian. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Gertrude Gowan; two sons, David L. Gowan of Saginaw, Michigan and Steven Gowan of Schofield, Wis-consin. He was cremated.
==O==
William J. Gowan was a battalion chief in the Detroit Fire Department in 1895, according to an obituary of his half-brother, James Battle who was the Detroit Fire Department Chief. The obituary appeared in the March 25, 1895 edition of the “Detroit News.”
James Battle was born in County Sligo, Ireland July 17, 1830 and was brought to Toronto by his parents in 1831, to Chicago by 1838, to Dresden, Illinois in 1839. His father who died in 1843 was a wholesale pork producer in St. Catherines, Ontario. It is believed that he was married a second time to a “widow Gowan.” James Battle arrived in Detroit in 1848.
==O==
Helicia Gowen was enumerated as the head of a household in the 1850 census of Wayne County, Detroit City Township, according to “Index to the 1850 Federal Population Census of Michigan.”
==O==
John W. Gowen was occupied as an engineer at 20 Frank in Detroit, MI, according to the 1890 and 1891 city directories.
==O==
Maud Gowen was occupied as a box maker at 318 Mich Avenue in Detroit, MI, according to the 1890 city directory.
==O==
Donald Proctor Gowing was born in Detroit in January 1925 of parents unknown. He received his B. S. degree from the University of Michigan in 1948 and was married in that year, wife’s name unknown. He received his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1953. Later, he, the father of three children, was in the anatomy department, University of Kansas Medical School, Lawrence, Kansas.
Goyen Family Tree 