Blocked

                   Biography Terry Cowan #32

1860 Census, Sebastian County, AR, p. 36, ancestry.com image
250/238.  Andrew Gist, 20, farmer, b. MOMary*, 17, b. MO
Sebastian Co, AR 1860 Census:
p. 995.  255/243.  William M. COWEN 50 farmer 400/300 GA
    Mary 49 GA
    Elisabeth 21 TN
    Celina 16 TN
    Francis 15 TN
    Lewis 10 TN
    William 12 TN
Sebastian Co, AR 1860.  p. 995.  257/245
John S. COWEN 27 farmer 250/300 TN
    Jane 24 AR
    William 6 AR
    Mary 1/12 AR
*this is Mary Hart, who died 1864.  Mary Cowan married him in 1866.

Terry Cowan Document #32
Sebastian County Biography of Andrew J.F. Gist published by Goodspeed about 1889
Biographical Appendix, p. 1319 [unknown book]
Andrew J.F. Gist, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Dayton Township, was born in Missouri, November 2, 1839, and is a son of Aaron and Elizabeth (Morrison) Gist, who removed to Missouri from Tennessee about that year, and in 1844 settled near Greenwood, Sebastian Co., Ark., where they lived one year, and then moved in the vicinity of where our subject now lives.  The father is now seventy-seven years of age.  He has always been an industrious farmer, and for some time was engaged at the carriage trade, which he learned when young.  He is of Irish descent, and some of his ancestors fought in the early Indian wars.  He has been thrice marrried.  His first wife died December 25, 1846.  She was the mother of five children, of whom Andrew J.F., and Lucy Ann, wife of Charles Smith, of Choctaw Nation, are now living.  By his second wife he had two sons and two daughter, three of whom are living in different parts of the West.  Mr. Gist is now living with his fourth wife.  He has been a member of the Protestant Methodist Church many years, and has always been a Jackson Democrat, his first presidential vote having been cast for Gen. Jackson. He was a Union man during the war, and so left Arkansas during that time and lived North.  He began to teach school when quite young, and followed that vocation to some extent until 1870, in Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas.  In 1860 he lost his left arm in a sorghum mill.  Our subject was but five years old when he came to Arkansas.  At the age of fourteen he began life for himself, and for two years worked for his board and clothes.  He then clerked for a short time in a drug store at Fort Smith, and then until 1859 worked at various things.  He was then united in marriage with Mary Ann, daughter of James and Elizabeth Hart, who came to Arkansas (this county) from Missouri in 1844.  Mr. Hart died before the war, but Mrs. Hart is still living.  Mrs. Gist was born in this county, and died in Choctaw Nation in 1864.  August 2, 1866, Mr. Gist married Elizabeth, daughter of William and Mary Cowen, a native of Tennessee.  Mrs. Gist died September 9, 1880, leaving one child, who is now deceased.  January 25, 1881, our subject wedded Mattie, daughter of Elza and Martha Harlow, natives to Missouri and Tennessee, respectively,  In an early day they came to this county, where Mrs. Gist was born.  Mr. Harlow was of Irish parentage, and died in Sebastian County, as did his wife.

Dear Naomi,
Yes, I've been looking for my elusive James/Jimmy Wilson and found 2 listed in Sebastian County, Sugarloaf twp AR in 1860.  One is married so don't know about him. He is 10 years older than Elizabeth (31) but could have had an affair, gotten Elizabeth pregnant and wouldn't own up to it?  The other James is single living with mother Eliza and siblings - age 20 - more Elizabeth's age.  I can't find a marriage license even for Elizabeth and Gist.  I found Eliza & children in MO (1850) with a Wm Wilson as head but younger than her and would have been only 14 years old when James was born  Possible I guess.  Where did Wm go in 1860?  I wish these earlier census were more informative, like widowed - married how many years, etc.
   As for Gist, I have him in my tree as Abner's father because in the 1870 census Abner is listed as his son and the Wilson has been dropped.  In 1880 is when Abner WILSON appears and I wondered what happened to make him change his name.  THEN I remembered Grandma said his daddy's name was Jimmy.  THEN I found the Goodspeed bio.  AHHHHHHHH  I can't have just a plan ol' boring tree
   I will leave Andrew Gist as father until I nail down Jimmy.
   You may be interested in how Abner Wilson died.  This is family information that I learned from an uncle just a few years ago.  He was aged so I'm not sure how good his memory was.  I've researched the Ft Smith criminal archives and have not found anything yet.
   Abner Wilson married Rosanna Willis, the daughter of Robert Willis and Sarah Woods.  Sarah was 1/2 Choctaw Indian, Rosanna was 1/4.  I have no information on Robert Willis either.  He is another brick wall.  Indian Territory, Choctaw Nation is a very difficult place to find information on white folks prior to statehood in 1907.  Rosanna was pregnant with my g-aunt Mary Jane and my grandmother Ada was a toddler.  I'm not sure of Mary Jane's exact birthdate so don't know the year but it was about 1888.  Abner was outside of Robert Willis (father-in-law) property fence.  Robert warned him not to cross the fence.  Abner said all he wanted was his saddle and stepped over to retrieve it.  Robert shot him dead.  End of story.  Rosanna went on to marry Allen Thompson, had one child with him and then shortly after married Ed Killingsworth a full-blood and they had 3 children.  Allen was still living.  From what I understand Allen nor Ed were wonderful spouses so what did Abner do that was so terrible?  Robert died not long after he shot Abner because I can't find him in any records and during the enrollment of the Indian relatives he is listed as dead.  I think that date was about 1896.
   I wish these people could have avoided the common names, James, William, John, etc.  Of coures, some many years from now someone will be looking for my Bob, James, Renee, Amy, Michael, etc  :o)  And thats with the last name of JOHNSON
   Have a great day and if you stumble upon something give me a shout  I'll do the same.
Thanks, arline johnson in Tulsa
   You can email me directly at rnhblm@yahoo.com if you like.
Arline Johnson in Tulsa

Terry Cowan Document #12
Coop Prairie Cemetery, next to Cumberland Presbyterian Church - both established in 1849, Mansfield, Sebastian, Arkansas.
Mary E., wife of A. J. F. Gist, Oct 3, 1838 - Sep 9, 1880


I cannot find a marriage for Mary or Elizabeth Cowan in Arkansas, ancestry.com February 2007