Charles McGowan & Mary Perdue

Charles McGowan was born March 27, 1829, in Jackson Township, Sandusky County, Ohio. His parents were James McGowan and Charity G. Stults. James McGowan was from Pennsylvania, born 1791. Charity G. Stults was born September 1803 in Bergen County, New Jersey. They were married January 24, 1819 in Muskingum County, Ohio, lived in Knox County about 1820 and then moved to Sandusky County by 1827.

Mary Perdue was born December 14, 1830, in Elmore, Harris Twp, Ottawa Co, Ohio, the daughter of James Perdue and Sarah Luman. She married Charles McGowan on November 18, 1847, She would have been nearly 17 when she got married.

Charles and Mary had two sons, James Henry McGowan, born January 27, 1854 at Elmore, Ottawa Co, Ohio and Charles William McGowan, born 1857 at Elmore, Ottawa Co, Ohio.

Charles and Mary moved to Marshall County, Indiana about 1858/59, and farmed in North Township near his older brothers Martin, Henry and William. He enlisted in the Army during the Civil War on December 14, 1861 at Elmore, Ottawa Co, Ohio. He was a private of Company "L", 3rd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. He was injured in the war, being discharged as a private on August 4, 1865.

Charles and Mary separated November 28, 1865 and their divorce was final on September 27, 1870 at Ottawa County,Ohio.

Charles married Sarah Pickard Titus, widow, who was born 1829 in New York State. Her father was born in England and her mother in Ireland. In the 1880 census for Carroll Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, Charles and Sarah are found with her three children, Andrew, age 18, Homer, age 15, and Flora, age 11. Flora later married James Cullens.

Mary married Edward G. Morgan on October 5, 1870 in Ottawa Co, Ohio. He also served in the Civil War between 1861 and 1865 (Company "E" of the Ohio Infantry). He was a carpenter. They lived in Elmore, corner of Fremont Street (front of house) and First Street (back of house), kind of a pie shaped lot.

Mary died April 10, 1906 and Ed was found dead in their home by neighbors May 29,1908.

They are buried side by side in the Elmore Union Cemetery although only a marker for Ed is present and a memorial marker stands near her son's family plot for both.

Charles McGowan is found in the Assessor's Correct List for Benton Township #2, 1900, listed under persons who served in the United States Army, Navy or Marine Corp, during the Mexican War, the War of the Rebellion and Spanish-American War:

McGowin, Charles, Service - Army, War-Rebellion, Rank-Private, Company "O" Present Residence - Rocky Ridge(town), County - Ohio....

To Whom It May Concern: Know ye that Charles McGowin, Private of Lt. Chas. Kelsey, Company "L", Third Regiment, of Ohio Veteran Cavalry Volunteers, who enrolled on the 23rd day of December, One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty Three to serve three years or during the war is hereby, Discharged from the service of the United States, this 4th day of August, 1865 at Edgefield, Tenn. by reason of ? The objection to his enlistment is known to exist, Said Charles McGowin was born in Sandusky County in the State of Ohio, is 35 years of age, 5 feet 6 inches high, fair complexion, Blue eyes, Brown hair, and by occupation when enrolled, a farmer. Given at Edgefield, Tenn, this 4th day of August, 1865 (Signed) J.?.P. Mears, Capt. 18 Infantry USA; A.C.M. C.C. M.D.M.; C S Kelsey, 1st Lieut, Cavalry Company.

Charles McGowan was admitted to the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Home at Sandusky on September 15, 1892. His residence was listed as Rocky Ridge, occupation as farmer and nearest relative,brother Henry McGowan. He went home to visit and did not return. His name was dropped June 20, 1895. He was readmitted on October 23, 1902 and died at the home on June 18,1 906. He is buried on the grounds in the Civil War Section F, Number 114. The building he resided in was torn down several years ago. Many of the original buildings do remain.

-This information was gathered by Ann Sherrill Davis, descendent of Charles and Mary McGowan

James Henry McGowan was born January 27, 1854 in Elmore, Ottawa Co, Ohio and died December 30, 1928 in Toledo, Lucas Co, Ohio. He married (1) Etta Dushea. He married (2) Adeline L. Carr/Karr, August 26, 1876 in Elmore, Ottawa Co, Ohio. She was the daughter of Eliab Karr/Kerr and Margaret Binkley.

James and Adeline had two children, Myrtle Eleanor McGowan, born February 19, 1877 at Elmore, Harris Twp, Ottawa Co, Ohio. She married (1) William John Frey on September 9, 1894 in Toledo, Lucas Co, Ohio. He was the son of Michael Frey and Gesina Hasebrock. She married (2) John Blackman after 1900. Myrtle died December 1, 1907 in Toledo, Lucas Co, Ohio

Charles William McGowan was born in 1857 in Elmore, Ottawa Co, Ohio. He married Elizabeth and died in Elmore, Ottawa Co, Ohio.

At one time, Charles was paid two cents for each street lamp he lit at dusk for the village of Elmore. When his mother died, he and his brother, James, inherited her house, but their stepfather, Ed Morgan, lived in the house until his death. James sold his portion of the house to his brother Charles and the house was rented out.

Family Tree of Charles McGowan

James McGowan b. 1791 in PA (father possibly Martin)d.1862?
m. Charity G. Stults, b. Sept 1803, Bergen Co., NJ d.before 1870 in Ohio,
24 JAN 1819 Muskingum Co., OH

Children:

1.. Martin b.1820 Knox Co., OH d. 1865 Marshall Co., IN
m. Sarah Dunham @ 1843
m. Lucy Dunham 10 Jan 1850 (Sister of Sarah)
children: Charity, Anna, David, Able, William.

2. Henry b. 23 Oct 1821 Knox Co, OH d. 19 Feb 1897 Ottawa, OH
m. Mary Ann Kline
children: James H., Emeline, Esmerella, Charles

3. William b. 3 Feb 1823 Knox Co., OH d. 19 Aug 1898 Buhannan, MI
m. Margaret Dunham b. 13 Jun 1826 Erie Co., OH
children: Almon b. 1846, Aritha b. 1848, James b. 1850,
Lorenzo Dow b. 1853, Frank b. 1855, Esther b. 1858, Adolphus b. 1861, Samantha b. 1865.
m. Mrs. Julia Aldridge
m. Sarah Cowels

4. Barbara Jane b. abt. 1825 Sandusky Co., OH d. abt. 1853
m. Samuel Weidner

5. Charles b. 27 Mar 1829 Sandusky Co, OH
m. Mary Perdue 18 Nov 1847
children: James Henry, Charles William

6.Margaret b.1835 Sandusky Co., OH

7. Jeremiah b. 1837? Sandusky Co., OH

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Copyright © 1998 Dorothy Gwynn
Most recent revision June 1, 1998