reported to be the first postmaster of New Paris, Elkhart County. IN

His eldest son, Joseph, who fought when a boy of seventeen, in the War of 1812, was a justice of the peace in this State and Ohio for more than forty years, a member of the State Legislature, and all his life an active and public-spirited citizen. Four of his nine children remain in this State: John W., an invalid, and blind for years; Mrs. P. C. Merrick and Mrs. Margaret Murray reside in Goshen, and his eldest daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Hively, in Elkhart. Two sons are in the far west; the rest are dead. Mr. Cowan, Jr., engaged in farming and merchandising in Kosciusko County until in.1849, when with a company of twenty men of which he was captain, he went to California and died there in December of that year. He left one child, a daughter, and a resident of Goshen. .

Invented the head of the modern spinning wheel. ...

Served in the War of 1812, was a captain in the militia where he
participated in an indian uprising in Nothern Indiana.

4 Apr 1825, elected as constable; 4 Jun 1825, fined $2.00 for
refusing to qualify as constable; 3 Apr 1826 elected constable;
7 Jun 1826, elected Justice of the Peace after the election was
contested, commission bears the date of 22 Jul 1826; 25 Jul
1829, Matthew Woods elected Justice of the Peace to suceed
expired term of Joseph Cowan; 17 Jul 1830, elected Justice of
the Peace in special election as Vice Isaac Wood deceased; 10
Aug 1833, re-elected Justice of the Peace.

Another source lists 1799, Virginia as birthdate. And another
lists 23 Mar 1795.
MILF Y