Ozias Denton McGowen was born February 2, 1850 in White County, Tennessee. He moved to Caldwell County, Kentucky with his family after the Civil War. Around 1878 he married Sarah Elizabeth "Betty" O'Donnell who had been born in Kentucky around May, 1852. In the 1880 Census, Ozias and Sarah were living in Bainbridge Township of Christian County, Kentucky, near the county line of Caldwell & Christian Counties, where Ozias was a farmer. By 1884, Ozias had moved back to Tennessee and in 1900 he was living there in Cannon County where he owned his farm. By that time, Sarah had had five children, four of whom were living and three were still living at home. Sarah died on November 11, 1918 in Warren County, Tennessee and is buried there at the Shady Grove Cemetery at the Shady Grove Baptist Church. Ozias Denton died on January 14, 1936 at Speers Hospital in Dayton, Campbell County, Kentucky. He had been living in Bellevue, Campbell County, Kentucky, with his daughter, Mrs. Isaac R. (Minnie May) Dodd. His body was then shipped by rail to the depot at Tullahoma, Tennessee from where it was carried for burial. He was also buried in the Shady Grove Cemetery near Centertown in Warren County, Tennessee where he was buried beside his wife. Ozias and Sarah were parents of: Florida M., Etta (Etter), Grover Cleveland, Minnie May and Maude (Maria ?) McGowen.

The above photo may or may not be Ozias Denton McGowen. It appears that the photo was taken in the 1870's or 1880's, so it might also be a photo of Joe McGowen or of Green McGowen. Anyone with knowledge of who the man is in the above photo, please let us know.

(Photos and information submitted by Pamela (McGowan) Tippy, Perry McGowan and John McGowan.)

McGowan Family History