HUSBAND: Wiley McGOWAN
Birth Date: c. 1802
Birth Place: Hyde Co., NC
Marriage Date: Dec. 23, 1839 
Marriage Place: White Co., TN
Other Marriages: unknown
Military Service: unknown
Death Date: Dec. 19, 1868
Death Place: Saline Co., IL
Place of Burial: Saline Co., IL (?)
Father’s Name: James McGOWAN (c.1774-c.1854)
Mother’s Maiden Name: Elizabeth "Betsy" HODGES (c.1773-c.1852)
NOTES: Wiley McGOWAN moved from Hyde Co., NC to White Co., TN prior 
to 1830. He married in 1839 and began raising a family. Around 1857, 
Wiley moved his family from White Co., TN to Saline Co., IL located 
just north of the Ohio River. They they settled on a farm in Stonefort 
Township. It is unknown whether Wiley took his family North for 
economic or political reasons, but all three of his sons, James, John 
and Henry, served in the Union army. Wiley died in Saline County in 
1868.  Tabitha must have preceded him in death, sometime between 1860 
and 1868, since she is not mentioned in his probate.
SOURCES:  Hyde Co., NC Census Records, Hyde Co., NC Estate Records, 
White Co., TN Census Records, White Co., TN Marriage  Records, Saline 
Co., IL Census Records, Saline Co., IL Deeds, Saline Co., IL Estate 
Records. See: Estate records of Wiley McGowan, 1871.

.........................................................

WIFE: Tabitha NORRIS
Birth Date: c.1822
Birth Place: White Co., TN (?)
Other Marriages: unknown
Death Date: by 1868
Death Place: Saline Co., IL (?)
Place Of Burial: Saline Co., IL (?)
Father’s Name: unknown
Mother’s Maiden Name: unknown
NOTES: Descensants of daughter Rachel (McGOWAN) HUTCHCRAFT give 
Tabitha’s name as Rachel Tabitha (NORRIS) McGOWAN, however I have 
found no proof that this is true.
SOURCES: White Co., TN Census Records, White Co., TN Marriage 
Records, Saline Co., IL Census Records.

.........................................................

1st CHILD: James McGOWAN 
Sex: M
Birth Date: Feb. 25, 1841
Birth Place: White Co., NC (?)
Spouse’s Name: (3rd) Lilly Agnes SHANNON  (1867-1946)
Marriage Date: Nov. 7, 1886
Marriage Place: Sylvan Grove, Lincoln Co., KS 
Other Marriages: (1st) Jan. 18, 1866 to Amanda Melvina MARTIN (c.1850-
1874) in Saline Co., IL; (2nd) May 23 1876 to Eliza Ann EATON (d. 1878) 
in Conway Co., AR.
Military Service: Private, Co. H, 128th Regt. of Inf., Illinois Vols. 
& Co. K, 9th Regt. Mounted Inf., Ill. Vols., U.S.A.
Death Date: July 22, 1927
Death Place: Webster, Rooks Co., KS
Place Of Burial: Webster Cemetery (later moved to Stockton Cemetery)
NOTES:  While serving as a private in Company K of the 9th Regiment of 
Mounted Infantry, Illinois Volunteers, which was part of Sherman's 
March to the Sea in Georgia, James was capturned by the Confederates 
on May 14, 1864, in the first major battle at the Battle of Snake Creek 
Gap near Resaca, Georgia. He was imprisoned at Richmond, VA. About a 
year later, he was parolled on Feb. 25, 1865 and returned home. From 
1866-1874, he was married to Amanda MARTIN In Saline Co., IL. They 
possibly had two daughters. He then moved to Arkansas and was married 
to Eliza EATON (1876-1878) , no known children. By 1883 he was living 
in Kansas where he married Lilly Agnes SHANNON. She had two children 
before the marriage in 1886, whom James adopted, and they had one son 
and six daughters together. James was a farmer, as the men of his 
family had been for many generations, and probably raised wheat. In 
descriptions of him in his service record and his pension record, he 
is described as being 5' 7" tall with light complexsion, dark hair 
and blue eyes.
SOURCES: Saline Co., IL Census Records, Marriage Records, & Estate 
Records, Illinois Civil War Rosters, Conway Co., AR Marriage Records 
& Death Records, Lincoln Co., KS Marriage Records, Rooks Co., KS Census 
Records & Death Records, U.S. Pension Papers for James McGOWAN, Hyde 
Co., NC Estate Records.

.........................................................

2nd CHILD:  John McGOWAN
Sex:  M
Birth Date: Aug. 24, 1842
Birth Place: White Co, TN
Spouse’s Name: Marinda ROBERTSON (1847-by1920(?); d/o Thomas and Mary 
ROBERTSON. 
Marriage Date: April 9, 1868
Marriage Place: Saline Co., IL
Other Marriages: unknown
Military Service: Private, Co. H, 128th Regt.Inf., Ill. Vols., U.S.A.
Death Date: Feb. 16, 1914
Death Place: Cherokee Co., OK
Place Of Burial: Cherokee Co., OK (?)
NOTES: During the Civil War, John served in Co. H, 128th Regt. Inf., 
Ill. Vols. with his older brother James and his future father-in-law, 
Thomas ROBERTSON, who was 43 years old at that time. In September, 
1862, John was described as follows: age - 20, 5'9" tall, light hair, 
blue eyes, light complexion, single and that he was a farmer. In April, 
1863, the 128th Regiment was disbanded, mostly due to the high rate of 
desertions. In fact, John had been "absent without proper authority" 
from Feb. to Mar. 1863 for about six weeks. In May, 1863, he later 
claimed that "in the line of duty....he was taken sick with liver 
complaint and neuralgia, which resulted in partial loss of eyesight." 
He was discharged on June 26, 1863 at Columbus, KY and returned home 
to Carrier's Mill, Saline Co., IL where he underwent treatment for his 
eyes by local doctors and farmed as best he could.  In 1868 he married 
Marinda ROBERTSON. Within a few years he was blind in his right eye 
and partially blind in his left eye. In 1875 he moved his family to 
Burlington, Boone Co., AR. In 1888 he made application for a pension 
due to service disability, i.e. disease of the liver, neuralgia and 
blindness. Also, the charge of desertion was removed from his record 
by a provision of an 1884 Act of Congress. In 1892 he reapplied for 
a pension. One neighbor testified that John McGowen was totally blind 
in both eyes, that he had to have someone lead him around. He was 
pensioned at $12/month for his blindness. On this pension he was 
described as being 5' 6 1/2" tall, 140 lbs., light complexion, dark 
hair and blue eyes. (several inches shorter than his description in 
1862.) Sometime before 1900, John moved with his family a few miles 
north across the Arkansas state line to Kirbyville in Taney Co., MO. 
By 1910 he and Marinda were living in Parkhill, Cherokee Co., OK with 
their son James F. McGOWAN and his wife. They had probably participated 
in the Oklahoma land rush in 1907. He again applied for a pension 
increase and this time was awarded $24/month. (One can only wonder if 
he knew that his cousins and friends from his boyhood days in White 
County, the Clarks and the Heltons, were already living there before 
he arrived.) John died there on Feb. 16, 1914. The 1910 census 
indicates that Marinda had six children, four of whom were living at 
that time.  
SOURCES: Saline Co., IL Census Records, Marriage Records, & Estate 
Records, Illinois Civil War Rosters, Boone Co., AR Census Records, 
Taney Co., MO Census Records, Cherokee Co., OK Census Records, U.S. 
Pension Papers for John McGOWAN, Hyde Co., NC Estate Records.

...........................................................

3rd CHILD: Amanda J. McGOWAN 
Sex: F
Birth Date: c. 1845
Birth Place: White Co, TN (?)
Spouse’s Name: William C. HESTER
Marriage Date: Sept. 29, 1867
Marriage Place: Saline Co., IL
Other Marriages: Amanda J. HESTER married James R. HALL on Jan. 18, 
1869 in White Co., IL.
Death Date: bef. 1882
Death Place: unknown
Place Of Burial: unknown
NOTES: No known children.
SOURCES: Saline Co. Census Records, Saline Co. Marriage Records, Hyde 
Co., NC Estate Records.

............................................................

4th CHILD: Henry McGOWAN
Sex: M
Birth Date: c.1844
Birth Place: White Co., TN (?)
Spouse’s Name: Julia ADKINSON (c.1846-1928)
Marriage Date: Feb. 23, 1866 
Marriage Place: Saline Co., IL
Other Marriages: On Feb. 22, 1877, his widow Julia (ADKINSON) McGOWAN 
remarried to James T. HOLMES.
Military Service: Private, Co. G, 29th Regt. Inf., Ill. Vol. 
Death Date: June 15, 1871 
Death Place: Alto Pass, Union Co., IL 
Place Of Burial: Dutch Ridge Cemetery, Pomona, Jackson Co., IL.
NOTES: On Aug. 6, 1864, at the age of 20, he  enlisted in the U.S. 
Army into Co. G, 29th Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf.  He was described as 
being 5'4 1/2" tall, dark hair, blue eyes, of light complextion, a 
residence of Harrisburg, Saline Co., IL and a farmer.  In the Fall 
of 1864, the Regiment operated in Western Kentucky and Tennessee on 
routine patrol and in January, 1865 they were shipped to New Orleans. 
In Feb. and Mar., 1865 they participated in the continuous seige of 
Mobile, AL including the charge made against Fort Blakely on March 
9th, which resulted in the capture of the entire defending force. 
They remained in Mobile until they were sent to Galveston, TX on July 
9th. From there the Regiment operated in several towns along the Texas 
Central Railroad. On Nov. 6, 1865 they were mustered out of service 
and returned to Illinois. After his 1866 marriage to Julia ADKINSON, 
they moved to Union Co., IL on the Mississippi River. Henry and Julia 
had three children, all of whom were dead by 1882.
SOURCES: Saline Co., IL Census Records, Marriage Records, & Estate 
Records, Illinois Civil War Rosters,  Union Co., IL Census Records, 
Death Records, Hyde Co., NC Estate Records.

.............................................................

5th CHILD: Elizabeth McGowan 
Sex: F
Birth Date: c.1848
Birth Place: White Co., TN
Spouse’s Name: Levi TANNER (c.1837-  ? )
Marriage Date: Aug. 9, 1868
Marriage Place: Saline Co., IL
Other Marriages: unknown
Death Date: by 1881
Death Place: unknown
Place Of Burial: unknown
NOTES: Parents of four children born by 1882.
SOURCES: Saline Co., IL Census Records, Marriage Records, & Estate 
Records, Hyde Co., NC Estate Records.

..............................................................

6th CHILD: Mary McGOWAN
Sex: F
Birth Date: c.1851
Birth Place: White Co., TN (?)
Spouse’s Name: (1st) James (BANES/BAINS)
Marriage Date: Sept. 22, 1870
Marriage Place: Saline Co., IL
Other Marriages: (2nd) Nov. 9, 1882 to John Thomas HUTCHCRAFT in White 
Co., IL. 
Death Date: unknown
Death Place: White Co., IL (?)
Place Of Burial: White Co., IL (?)
NOTES: Mary had two daughtes by James BAINS and a son by James T. 
HUTCHCRAFT.
SOURCES: Saline Co., IL Census Records, Marriage Records, & Estate 
Records, Hyde Co., NC Estate Records, White Co., IL Marriage Records.

.................................................................

7th CHILD: Alemeda McGOWAN
Sex: F
Birth Date: c.1855
Birth Place: White Co., TN (?)
Spouse’s Name: Alexander FOWLER
Marriage Date: ca. 1875
Marriage Place: unknown
Other Marriages: unknown
Death Date: unknown
Death Place: unknown
Place Of Burial: unknown
NOTES: No further information.
SOURCES: Saline Co., IL Census Records & Estate Records, Hyde Co., 
NC Estate Records.

.................................................................

8th CHILD: Anna (Annie) McGOWAN
Sex: F
Birth Date: c.1859
Birth Place: Saline Co., IL
Spouse’s Name: John J. RUPERT
Marriage Date: April 9, 1876 
Marriage Place: White Co., IL
Other Marriages: unknown
Military Service: John J. RUPERT, Private, Co. C, 87th Ill. Vol. Inf.
Death Date: July 14, 1883
Death Place: White Co., IL
Place Of Burial: White Co., IL
NOTES: John J. RUPERT (1836-1885), s/o John & Mary (GARRISON) RUPERT. 
During the Civil War (1862-1865), John J. Rupert served as a private 
in Co. C,  87th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was described as: age: 
26, height: 5' 11", hair: light, eyes: blue, complexion: light, 
martial status: single and occupation: farmer. In July, 1863 he became 
ill with lung disease at Vicksburg, MS. On Sept. 3, 1892, Andrew F. 
Williams was appointed Guardian for Robert and Charles, minor 
children. On April 15, 1893, John’s brothers, George W. Rupert and 
Sylvester Rupert, made application for pension. The pension was 
approved and began on June 14, 1885 at $8 / mo., Mar. 19, 1886 at 
$12/mo. Pension ended on Apr. 12, 1898. John and Anna had three
sons, one of whom died young.
SOURCES: Saline Co., IL Census Records, Hyde Co., NC Estate Records, 
White Co., IL Marriage Records, White Co., IL Guardian Papers, Illinois 
Civil War Rosters, U.S. Pension Papers for John J. RUPERT.

.................................................................

9th CHILD: Rachel McGOWAN
Sex: F
Birth Date: c.1861
Birth Place: Saline Co., IL
Spouse’s Name: J.C."Hiram" HUTCHCRAFT (1840-1897)
Marriage Date: Sept. 6, 1882
Marriage Place: White Co., IL
Other Marriages: unknown
Death Date: unknown
Death Place: White Co., IL (?)
Place Of Burial: White Co., IL (?)
NOTES: Rachel (McGOWAN) HUTCHCRAFT was the 3rd wife of J.C."Hiram" 
HUTCHCRAFT (1840-1897) of White Co., IL, s/o Elijah & Elizabeth (RHODES) 
HUTCHCRAFT. Hiram and Rachel had four children.
SOURCES: Saline Co., IL Census & Estate Records, Illinois Civil War 
Rosters, White Co., IL Marriage, Census & Death Records, Hyde Co., NC 
Estate Records.

.................................................................

Additional Information: The parents of Tabitha (NORRIS) McGOWAN in 
White Co., TN are unknown; more research needed.

SUBMITTED BY: John B. McGowan 
DATE: February 12, 2003 
E-MAIL: jmack@carolina.net 

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