Biography - J. A. McGOWN
J. A. McGown, a most successful business man and a typical farmer
residing in Newman township, was born in Edgar county, Illinois, March 30,
1832, and is a son of John and Olive Blackman, who were natives of Kentucky
and New York respectively. His father emigrated to Edgar county, where he
resided up to his death, which occurred April 18, 1882. His mother died in
1892.
J. A. McGown was reared to manhood on a farm in his native county and in
about 1875 located in Newman township, where he now resides. He owns four
hundred and seventy-two acres of highly cultivated land and one of the most
magnificent residences in the county. He farms on business principles and
has made himself independent in a financial way by his careful and
methodical way of doing things. On November 22, 1881, he was united in
marriage to Miss Martha C. Todd, and to their marriage have been born five
children: Florence, Olive, Grace, Arthur and Anne.
Our subject has held the office of road commissioner for nine years, and
twenty-one years out of the twenty-five he has resided in Newman township he
has been school director and is greatly interested in the success of
education. In 1898 he built his new house. He is a member of the Knights of
Pythias and the Order of Woodmen.
Extracted 22 Jul 2019 by Norma Hass from the Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois, published in 1900, pages 241-242.
