THE GOWEN MANUSCRIPT

File: GOWENMS.028, Page 2701

 

William Benjamin Gowen [William, Jr.7, Lt. William6, John5, [William4, [William3, Thomas2, Mihil1], regarded as a son of William Gowen and Mary "Polly" Crutchfield Gowen, was born May 4, 1821, according to his tombstone.  He was probably born in Rutherford County, Tennessee.  It is believed that the "white male, 15-20" enumerated in the 1840 census of the household of Mary "Polly" Crutchfield Gowen in Rutherford County was William Benjamin Gowen.

 

In the 1880 census of Madison County, Alabama William Benjamin Gowen stated that he was born in Tennessee, that his father was born in South Carolina and that his mother was born in North Carolina.

 

William Benjamin Gowen was married about 1846 in Grundy County, Tennessee, wife's name believed to be Mary Ann Elizabeth "Betty" Nunley, according to Tulah Catherine Gentry Reddick, a granddaughter.

 

In the census of 1850 he was enumerated in Davidson County as the head of Household No. 300-300 in Civil District 5.  The family, canvassed by Marshall Charles M. Hays between September 6 and September 9, 1850, was shown as:

 

"Gowin, William       30, born in Tennessee, bellowsmaker

               Mary            22, born in Tennessee

               Jerry B.          3, born in Tennessee

               Mary J.           2, born in Tennessee

               Eliza               1, born in Tennessee"

 

Two other bellowsmakers were living in adjoining households.  Three to six days earlier the two older children of William Benjamin Gowen had been counted in the home of Jeremiah B. Nunley, Sr. of Grundy County, Tennessee.  Since Grundy County is some 90 miles from Davidson County, this represents quite an accomplishment considering transportation facilities of Middle Tennessee in 1850. In any event the two children have the distinction of being enumerated twice in the 1850 census.

 

On the first occasion they were enumerated in the household of Jeremiah B. Nunley, Sr, their grandfather.  His census report, Household No. 119-119 of Civil District 5 in Grundy County, read:

 

"Nunley,  Jeremiah        76, born in Virginia, illiterate

                 Jane               60, born in North Carolina

                 Jane               24, born in Tennessee

                 Matison C.    18, born in Tennessee, farmer

                 Carroll           17, born in Tennessee, farmer

Gowen,    Jeremiah          3, born in Tennessee

                 M. J.                 1, born in Tennessee, female"

                                             ==O==

Jeremiah B. Nunley was born about 1774 in North Carolina of parents unknown.  “Jeremiah Nunally” obtained a marriage bond with “Janey Davis” March 30, 1809 in Rutherford County, North Carolina.  Simon Davis appeared as the bondsman on Bond No. 135497, according to “North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868.”  Jane Davis was born about 1790 in North Carolina, according to her 1850 census enumeration.  In 1860 she was shown as “born in South Carolina.”

 

Jeremiah B. Nunley appeared in the 1840 census as the head of a household in Warren County, Tennessee.  There he was enumerated as:

 

"Nunley,     Jeremiah, Sr.      white male     60-70

                                               white female  40-50

                                               white female  15-20

                                              white male      10-15

                                              white female   10-15

                                              white male        0-5

                                              white male        0-5"

 

Grundy County, Tennessee was organized in 1844 and was created by taking land from Franklin, Coffee and Warren counties.  The county was named for Felix Grundy, early day jurist of Nashville.

 

Jeremiah B. Nunley was called for jury duty from 1844 through 1855, according to Grundy County Court minutes.

 

He was enumerated in 1850 in Household No. 119-119 of Civil District 5 in Grundy County:

 

"Nunley,     Jeremiah       76, born in Virginia, illiterate

                    Jane              60, born in North Carolina

                   Jane               24, born in Tennessee

                   Matison C.    18, born in Tennessee, farmer

                   Carroll           17, born in Tennessee, farmer

Gowen,      Jeremiah          3, born in Tennessee

                   M. J.                 1, born in Tennessee, female"

 

Jeremiah B. Nunley, Sr. probably did not have to move to find himself in Grundy County in 1850.  Very little has been published of the early history of Grundy County.  In a visit to Altamont, Tennessee, county seat, population 400, in August 1971, few public records were found.  The library had no historical record of the county, and the courthouse yielded little information on the Nunley family and none on the Gowen family.  A large number of Nunley descendants were found in the county, primarily in the vicinity of Tracy City, Tennessee.

 

The librarian of Altamont mentioned that a "History of Grundy County Confederate Soldiers" had been written by Pearl Nunley for United Daughters of the Confederacy, but no copy has been located to date.  A relative supplied the address of the author [then 85 years old] as 46695 Ayres Street, Bel­lville, Michigan.

 

“Jerry Nunley, Sr.” and Jane Davis Nunley were enumerated in 1860 in Grundy living in the househould of their son, Carroll C. Nunley.

 

The family of Carroll C. Nunley, including his parents, ap­peared in the 1860 census of Grundy County, Fifth Civil Dis­trict, as Household No. 212-212:

 

"Nunley,      C. C.                      29, born in TN, farmer,

                                                          $300 real estate, $47

                                                          personal property

                  Mary                         25, born in TN, illiterate

                  Francis Marion     5/12, born in TN, son

Nunley,     Jerry, Sr                    88, born in TN, illiterate

                  Jane                          70, born in South Caro-

                                                          lina, illiterate

 

It is believed that Jeremiah B. Nunley and Jane Davis Nunley died during the decade.

 

Children born to Jeremiah B. Nunley and Jane Davis Nunley include:

 

          William Riley Nunley                           born about 1811

          John W. Nunley                                     born about 1812

          David Nunley                                        born about 1816

          Archilaus Nunley                                  born about 1819

          Mary Ann Elizabeth Nunley                 born about 1828

          Jane Nunley                                           born about 1826

          Matison C. Nunley                                born about 1831

          Carroll C. Nunley                                 born about 1833

 

William Riley Nunley, son of Jeremiah B. Nunley and Jane Davis Nunley, was born about 1811.  He was married about 1825 to Nancy Stepp. 

 

John W. Nunley, son of Jeremiah B. Nunley and Jane Davis Nunley, was born about 1812.  He was married about 1833, wife’s name Elender.  She was born about 1813, possibly in Georgia.  They removed to Graves County, Kentucky, probably after the Civil War and were in Caldwell County, Kentucky by the time of the 1870 census.

 

Children born to John W. Nunley and Elender Nunley include:

 

William Riley Nunley                   born about 1835

Nancy J. Nunley                            born about 1837

Jeremiah Nunley                           born about 1839

Charlotte Nunley                          born about 1841

Mary D. Nunley                            born about 1844

George W. Nunley                        born about 1847

Marvan G. [Jeff?] Nunley            born about 1849 [Geoffrey?]

John Nunley [twin]                      born about 1851

Marion Nunley, [twin]                 born about 1851

Joseph Spurlock Nunley              born about 1853

James Hasten Nunley                   born about 1856

 

William Riley Nunley, son of John W. Nunley and Elender Nunley, was born about 1835.  He was married about 1858 to Margaret Jane Meeks.

 

Mary D. Nunley, twin daughter of John W. Nunley and Elender Nunley, was born about 1841.  She was married about 1858, husband’s name Gibbs.

 

Jeremiah Nunley, son of John W. Nunley and Elender Nunley, was born about 1839.  He was married January 8, 1858 to Letty Johnson, according to Grundy County Marriage Book K, page 32.

 

George W. Nunley, son of John W. Nunley and Elender Nunley, was born about 1847.  He was married about 1870 to Nancy Ann Rogers.

 

Joseph Spurlock Nunley, son of John W. Nunley and Elender Nunley, was born about 1853.  He was enumerated as “Jane Davis Nunley” a seven-year-old in the 1860 census.  He was married about 1876 to Laura Ellen Wilmoth.

 

David Nunley, son of Jeremiah B. Nunley and Jane Davis Nunley, was born about 1816.  He was married about 1839 to Sarah Brown.

 

Archilaus Nunley, son of Jeremiah B. Nunley and Jane Nun-ley, was born about 1819.  He was married about 1842, wife’s name, Margaret A.

 

Jane Davis Nunley, daughter of Jeremiah B. Nunley and Jane Nun-ley, was born about 1826.  She was married about 1842 to Thomas Johnson.

 

Mary Ann Elizabeth Nunley, daughter of Jeremiah B. Nunley and Jane Davis Nunley, was born about 1828.  She was married about 1846 to William Benjamin Gowen.  For details of their family, see his section below.

 

Matison C. Nunley, son of Jeremiah B. Nunley and Jane Nun-ley, was born about 1831.  He was married about 1854 to Mary Emmaline Sanders.

 

Carroll C. Nunley, son of Jeremiah B. Nunley and Jane Davis Nunley, was born about 1833.  He was married about 1856 to Mary Sweeton. 

 

The family of Carroll C. Nunley, including his parents, ap­peared in the 1860 census of Grundy County, Fifth Civil Dis­trict, as Household No. 212-212:

 

"Nunley,           C. C.                      29, born in TN, farmer,

                                                              $300 real estate, $47

                                                              personal property

                        Mary                       25, born in TN, illiterate

                        Francis Marion   5/12, born in TN, son

Nunley,           Jerry, Sr                  88, born in TN, illiterate

                        Jane                        70, born in South Caro-

                                                              lina, illiterate

                                             ==O==

In 1860, living two households away from his father-in-law, in Household No. 210-210 in Fifth Civil District, was enumerated the family of William Benjamin Gowen who had apparently moved there from Davidson County during the decade to be near his wife's parents.  The censustaker recorded on July 21, 1860, page 22, the following:

 

"Gowins,      William  37, born in TN, house                       _                                               carpenter, $1,400 real estate,          _                                               $640personal property

                      Mary A.       32,  born in TN, illiterate

                     Jeremiah N. 13,   born in TN, attending school

                     Mary J.         11,  born in TN, attending school

                    Sarah B.          9,  born in TN, attending school

                    James C.         8,  born in TN, attending school

                   Manerva A.      6, born in TN, twin

                   Harriett E.       6,  born in TN, twin

                  William R.       2, born in TN"

 

William Benjamin Gowen was not found in a search of the 1870 census in Grundy County nor in Madison County, Al­abama, his place of residence in 1874, nor in adjoining Mar­shall and Jackson counties in Alabama, nor in adjoining Lin­coln County, Tennessee.  His name did not appear in the index to the 1870 census of Madison County.  However, the microfilm of the Madison County census had many pages that were illegible.

 

Although no evidence has been found for a Lincoln County residence for William Benjamin Gowen a license was issued there November 27, 1871 for the marriage of his daughter, Sarah Burleson "Sallie" Gowen.

 

Minnie May Gowen Shipley reported that her father received letters about 1900 postmarked "Sweetwater," suggesting that members of the family might have lived for a time at Sweet­water, Tennessee, about 45 miles southwest of Knoxville, Tennessee.  Garland Carroll Gowen, a grandson, referred to his grandfather as "Rev. William Gowen" in a letter dated March 4, 1973.

 

It is believed that Mary Ann Elizabeth "Betty" Nunley Gowen died about 1872.  She was buried in Rogers Cemetery "in Hurricane Hollow," according to Tulah Gentry Riddick, her granddaughter-in-law.

 

On November 24, 1874 William Benjamin Gowen, "resident of Madison County" purchased 80 acres of land from George M. D. Rogers and his wife, Margaret E. Rogers, paying $750 for the tract which was located in Section 4, Township 3, Range 2 East, according to Madison County Deed Book YY, page 459.  George D. Rogers had been a bondsman for the marriage of Sarah Burleson "Sallie" Gowen.

 

The log cabin that William Benjamin Gowen built on his property was still standing almost 100 years later when it was destroyed by a cyclone.  When the site was visited by Arlee Claud Gowen, his great-grandson in June 1982, the chimney was still standing.

 

The household of William Benjamin Gowen was enumerated June 12, 1880 in the federal census of Madison County, Enu­meration District 221, Maysville Township, page 221.  The family, living on a farm located "west of Hurricane Creek" in Township 3, Range 2 East, was listed as:

 

"Gowan,          William          59,  born in TN, father born in

                                                       SC, mother born in NC, farmer

                        Francis            49, born in TN, father born in VA,

                                                       mother born in VA, wife

                       Eliza                26, born in TN, father born in TN,

                                                      mother born in TN, daughter

                      Manerva           24, born in TN, father born in TN

                                                      mother born in TN, daughter

Gentry,         Willie                  4, born in AL, father born in TN,

                                                     mother born in TN, grandson"

 

William Benjamin Gowen was shown to have been unem­ployed for two months during the year.  Following the death of his mother William Gowen Gentry, a grandson, was living in the household of his grandfather.  "Francis" Gowen in the enumeration does not appear to be Sina Catherine Bradshaw Gowen.  "Francis" Gowen was born in 1831 of parents who were born in Virginia.  Sina Catherine Bradshaw Gowen was born in 1832, her father was born in Tennessee and her mother was born in South Carolina, according to her 1900 census enu­meration.  This suggests that William Benjamin Gowen was married for the third time after 1880 to Sina Catherine Brad­shaw Gowen, however Tulah Catherine Gentry Riddick stated that she was named for her "Grandmother Sina Catherine."  If the second and third wives were "the same" then her name might have been "Fransina."  Another source shows her name as Sina Catherine Harris.

 

On July 16, 1880, one month after the 1880 census was taken, William Benjamin Gowen wrote his will, mentioning "my beloved wife, Sina Gowen."

 

William Benjamin Gowen, "old and respected citizen, near Maysville" died October 2, 1881, according to a brief obituary published in the October 5 edition of the "Huntsville Demo­crat," page 3.  His tombstone shows the date as October 1, 1881.  He was 60.  He was buried in Rogers Cemetery "in Hurricane Hollow," according to Tulah Catherine Gentry Riddick, a granddaughter-in-law of Huntsville, Alabama interviewed by Miriam Riddick Dendy in November 1981 when she was 89 years old.

 

Tulah Catherine Gentry Riddick stated that William Benjamin Gowen was reputed to be a good man, very faithful in his church attendance and a hard worker.  He tanned hides, made shoes for all of his family.  He hewed the logs and made shin­gles for their house "on their land in the hollow."  He was a wood worker and made coffins as well.

 

The coffin he most regretted having to build was for "baby sis­ter Mandy" who was killed when she was riding horseback to church and her horse stumbled over a log, throwing her to the ground.  She miscarried and died shortly afterwards.  Tulah Gentry Riddick advised that [the unidentified] Mandy [Amanda?] was married to Bill Ivy.

 

Located adjacent to the grave of William Benjamin Gowen were the graves of "Gentry Infant, born 1880, died 1880; Oney Martisha Rountree, born June 18, 1843, died March 30, 1862; William Rountree, born February 17, 1818, died August 26, 1872 and Benjamin Rountree, born January 1845, died December 1886."  The Rountree individuals have been identified as negroes by Sally S. Gentry Johnston.

 

The cemetery, containing about 10 marked graves, when visited in June 1982 by Arlee Claud Gowen, was in an unkept condition.  It was located about 200 yards west of the farm of William Benjamin Gowen in a grove of oak trees on top of a half-acre knoll.  The tombstone of William Benjamin Gowen was the only one remaining upright, the others having been toppled by cattle.

 

The tombstone inscription read:

 

"William Gowen, born May 4, 1821, died October 1, 1881.  Blessed are the dead which died in the Lord."

 

He died "on or about the first day of October, 1881," leaving a home-made will, according to his probate records dated Octo­ber 19, 1881:

 

"The last will and testament of William Gowen, de­ceased.

 

In the name of God, amen.

 

I, William Gowen, being of sound mind and of rea­sonable health, do make this, my last will and testament, to wit:

 

I will and bequeath to my beloved wife, Sina Gowen, all my personal property except enof [sic] to make up to my two daughters, Eliza and Manerva, what I gave my other children when they left me.  Also I give my wife the right to sell any place and buy another if she can better herself, though at her death my property is all to be sold and equally divided among my heirs.  William Gowen Gentry is to have his mother's interest in my estate.

 

Witnessed in the presence of the undersigned.

 

William Gowen

W. G. McKelvy, J. J. Burdine"

 

"State of Alabama, Madison County Probate Court

 

To the Hon. William Richardson, Judge Probate of said Madison County.

 

The petition of the undersigned Sina Gowen respectfully represents unto your Honor that William Gowen who was at the time of his death an inhabitant of this county departed this life at his home on or about the first day of October, 1881, leaving assets in the state and leaving a last will and testament duly signed and published by himself and attested by William G. McKelvy and J. J. Burdine.

 

That your petitioner, as she verily believes, is named in said will as sole devisee and does now herewith surrender said will to the court and prays that after proper proceedings and proof it may be probated and admitted to record as the last will and testament of the deceased.

 

Your petitioner further represents that I, Sina Gowen, am the widow of said deceased, and that the names, ages, residence and conditions of the next of kin are as follows to wit:

 

Jeremiah Gowen who is over 21 years of age, of a sound mind, residence unknown.

 

Eliza C. Gowen who is over 21 years of age, of a sound mind and resides in Madison County, Alabama.

 

Sarah B. Gentry who is over 21 years of age, of a sound mind and resides in Madison County, Alabama.

 

James C. Gowen who is over 21 years of age, of a sound mind and resides in Lincoln County, Tennessee.

 

Manerva A. Gowen who is over 21 years of age, of a sound mind and resides in Madison County, Alabama.

 

William Gowen Gentry who is under 21 years of age, of a sound mind and resides in Madison County, Alabama.

 

Your petitioner would further represent that William G. McKelvy and J. J. Burdine, the said attesting witnesses are alive, of sound mind and residing in Madison County, State of Alabama, and therefore further prays that a day be set for the hearing of this petition and that due notice thereof be given as required by law to the widow and next of kin of said deceased, and that such other proceedings, orders and decrees may be had and made in the premises as may be requisite and proper to effect the due probate and record of said will according to law.

Sina Gowen"

 

"State of Alabama Madison County

 

Before me, Hugh P. Bone, Notary Public and ex officio Justice of the Peace for said county, personally appeared Sina Gowen known to me to be the widow of the late William Gowen, deceased, who upon oath says that the statements in the foregoing petition are the truth to the best of her knowledge and belief and subscribes to the same.  This the 19th day of October, 1881.

 

Hugh P. Bone, N.P.

ex-officio J. P."

 

"The foregoing petition was delivered into the office of the Probate Court on 22nd October 1881 and pursuant to a decree of this court was duly recorded on the 20th September 1882.

William Richardson, J.P.C."

 

"Estate of William Gowen, deceased Petition to Probate Will, October 22, 1881

 

This day came Sina Gowen who is a devisee of a certain instrument in writing, purporting to be the last will and testament of William Gowen, deceased, late a resident of the County of Madison, State of Alabama and presenting to my court said last will and testament and asks and prays an order admitting the same to probate as the last will and testament of the said William Gowen deceased.

 

It is ordered by the court that the 29th day of November 1881 be and is appointed a day on which to hear, consider and determine said petition together with proof submitted in support of same.

 

It is now ordered by the court that William J. Vaughn be and now is appointed Guardian Ad Litem [guardian for this particular action] to represent and protect the interests of William Gowen Gentry, a minor of this proceeding.

 

And that notice of the filing of the petition, the nature of the same and the time appointed for the hearing, memo to be given to Jeremiah Gowen and James C. Gowen, non-resident heirs and distributees of said decedent by publication for three successive weeks in the "Huntsville Independent," a newspaper published in this county.

 

And that citation be served as the law directs upon William J. Vaughn guardian Ad Litem aforesaid, Sina Gowen, the widow of the said decedent, Eliza C. Gowen, Sarah B. Gentry and Manerva A. Gowen who are of full age and reside in Madison County, Alabama.

 

It is also ordered that a subpoena issue to W. G. McKelvy and J. J. Burdine, attesting witnesses, to appear before the Probate Court at the time for hearing said petition and testify as to the due and loyal execution of said will by the said William Gowen, deceased.

 

Ordered that the petition be filed and recorded."

 

Sina Catherine Bradshaw Gowen appeared living alone in the 1900 census of Hurricane Township, Precinct 21, Madison County, Enumeration District 121, page 8:

 

"Gowen, Sinai 67, born in October, 1832 in TN, father

born in TN, mother born in SC,

widow, farmer, white, literate, land

owner, no mortgage."

 

Apparently Sina Gowen, widow of William Benjamin Gowen, died in 1900 and was buried in Rogers Cemetery beside her husband in an unmarked grave.  In September of that year pro­bate proceedings of the estate of William Benjamin Gowen were resumed presumably after the death of Sina Gowen.  It is believed that the family nominated Eliza C. Gowen Berry, el­dest child residing in Alabama to be administratrix of the will of William Benjamin Gowen.  Apparently her husband died about this time, and she declined the administration.  The job then devolved to Manerva A. Gowen Riddick.  On September 15, 1900 she applied for letters of administration:

 

"Estate of William Gowen, deceased. Petition for letters of administration, The State of Alabama, Madison County Probate Court

 

In the matter of the Estate of William Gowen, de­ceased: To the Hon. S. M. Stewart, Judge Probate Court, Madison County.

 

The petition of the undersigned Manerva A. Riddick respectfully represents that William Gowan departed this life at on or about the 1 October 1881, leaving a last will and testament, and that his death was known more than fifteen days before this day, and this peti­tion further shows that the said William Gowan was, at the time of his death an inhabitant of this county and died seized and possessed of real and personal estate in the State, consisting chiefly of Household furnature [sic] and some live stock, all of said real and personal estate being estimated to be worth about Two hundred dollars, and probably not more; that the names, residence, ages and condition of the heirs and distributees of the estate of the said dece­dent so far as your petitioner knows are believed are as follows, to wit:

 

The widow, Eliza C. Berry, over 21, resides Alabama City.

 

Sallie B. Gentry, over 2l, resides Alabama City.

 

James C. Gowen, over 21, resides Lincoln County, Tennessee.

 

Manerva A. Riddick, over 21, resides Madison County, Alabama.

 

William Gentry, U.S. Army, Philippine Islands, heir of Elizabeth Gowen Gentry, deceased, wife of T. H. Gentry.

 

That the said [word missing] has declined to admin­ister the said estate, as appears from written request of J. C. Gowen, Manerva A. Riddick, Eliza C. Berry and Sallie B. Gentry and T. H. Gentry request, that your petitioner, being daughter of said deceased, an inhabitant of this state, above the age of twenty-one years and in no respect disqualified under the law from serving as an administrator, believed that said estate should be immediately administered to the end that the said property may be collected and preserved for those who shall appear to have legal right or in­terest therein, does therefore by virtue of her right under the statute, pray that your honor will grant letters of Ad­ministration to petitioner, on the estate of William Gowen upon her entering into bond in such sum as is required by the statute and with such security or securities as shall be approved by your honor.

 

signed: Manerva A. Riddick

 

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 15th day of September, 1900.  Endorsed.  Filed in the office of the Judge of Probate Court this 24th day of Septem­ber, 1900 and duly recorded by order of court this 23rd day of October, 1900.

S. M. Stewart

Judge, Probate Court"

 

"Estate, William Gowan Application, Administration (will annexed) In Probate Court September 24, 1900

 

This day comes Manerva A. Riddick and files her application in writing and under oath, praying to be appointed to the administration of the said estate al­leging in said petition that she is oldest child of said decedent who was an inhabitant of the state at the time of his death, that he departed his life in this county leaving a will and no executor, also leaving property therein of about the value of Two hundred dollars and probably not more to the best of pe­titioner's knowledge, information and belief.

 

And also showing in and by said petition who are the heirs and next of kin of said deceased and their re­spective ages, sex, condition and residence, so far as she knows.  And it being shown to the satisfaction of the court that the allegations of said petition are sub­stantially true and said Manerva A. Riddick having given bond in the sum of Four hundred dollars with Eliza Berry, Sallie B. Gentry, T. H. Gentry and J. C. Gowen, J. T. Burdine and S. M. Burdine, sureties, which has been duly taken and approved by the Judge of this Court.

 

It is ordered adjudged and decreed that said Manerva A. Riddick be, and she is hereby appointed to ad­minister said estate as administratrix with will an­nexed and that proper letters of administration be is­sued to her forthwith.  It is ordered that said petition be recorded."

 

On September 24, 1900 the judge ordered that the estate of William Benjamin Gowen be appraised by H. P. Bone, J. T. Burdine and J. M. Burdine.  On November 24, 1900 they re­turned the following appraisement bill to the court:

 

"Estate of William Gowen, deceased. An Appraise­ment Bill of the Personal Estate of deceased made in accordance with the annexed warrant:

 

Quantity Article   Value

 

6 Empty Barrels, 20c each $1.20

1 Dining Table .25

1 Wash Kettle .50

1 Keg .25

1 Loom .50

1 Bureau 1.50

1 Sewing Machine 5.00

1 Bed Stead .25

24 Bee Gums 1.20

1 Spinning Wheel .50

20 Bee Hives 10.00

1 Mare and Colt 30.00

10 Bushels Corn, at 50c/bu. 5.00

1 Lot Books 5.00

1 Bed Stead 1.50

5 Chairs 1.25

1 Small Table .25

1 Trunk .10

1 Shawl .25

2 Blankets .50

2 Quilts .50

1 Shotgun 2.50

1 Pr. Andirons .70

1 Shovel .10

1 Cookstove 1.50

500 lb. Seed Cotton at $3/cwt. 15.00

 

Total $106.30

 

On December 10, 1900 the probate court gave Manerva A. Gowen Riddick permission to sell the estate items at action and required her to report back to the court the results of the sale.

 

Children born to William Benjamin Gowen and Mary Ann Elizabeth "Betty" Nunley Gowen include:

 

Jeremiah Benjamin Nunley Gowen born May 30, 1847

Mary Jane Gowen born in 1849

Eliza C. Gowen born in 1850

Sarah Burleson "Sallie" Gowen born Feb. 14, 1851

James Carroll Gowen born July 12, 1852

Manerva A. Gowen (twin) born June 10, 1855

Harriett Elizabeth Gowen (twin) born June 10, 1855

William R. Gowen born in 1858

 

 

 

  Gowen Research Foundation                        Phone:806/795-8758, 795-9694

  5708 Gary Avenue                                        E-mail: [email protected]

  Lubbock, Texas, 79413-4822                GOWENMS.028, 04/12/01

Internet: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gowenrf

 

 

 

Family Researchers:

 

Miriam Readdick Dendy, 1800 Ballard SE, Huntsville, AL, 35801, 205/534-0947

Sue Satterfield Frederick, 2800 William Blvd, Seminole, OK, 74868, 405/382-7665,

[email protected]

Arlee Gowen, 5708 Gary Ave, Lubbock, TX, 79413, 806/795-8758, 795-

[email protected]

Sally Gentry Johnston, Box 892, Jacksonville, AL, 36265, 205/435-8519

Jamie Lee Price Kistardt, Box 43, Cortado, AZ, 85652, 520/682-0287,

 [email protected]

Ellis Glen Rotan, Raytown, MO, [email protected]

Troy Sanders, [email protected]

Betty Gentry Stevens, 2804 W. Boyce, Ft. Worth, TX, 76133, 817/921-0528

Nell Woodul Wood, 1004 Avenue K, Lamesa, TX, 79331, 806/872-7843,

[email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Membership Application

 

Gowen Research Foundation  806/795-8758 or 795-9694

5708 Gary Avenue E-mail: [email protected]

Lubbock, Texas, 79413

 

Website: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gowenrf

 

I enclose payment as indicated below for

[  ] New Membership,

[  ] Renewal Membership

in Gowen Research Foundation.

 

$15 [  ] Member

$25 [  ] Contributing Member

$100 [  ] Sustaining Member

 

  [  ] Please E-mail a sample copy of the Electronic Newsletter to the family

      researcher(s) listed on sheet attached.

 

  [  ] Please send Gift Membership(s) as indicated above to individual(s)

      listed on sheet attached.

 

  Name(s)_________________________________________

 

  Address______________________Phone_______________

 

  City________________State_____Zip________[+4]______

 

  E-mail Address____________________________________