John Kissig Cowen
Encyclopedia
John Kissig Cowen was a U.S. Representative
from Maryland
.
Born near Millersburg, Ohio
, Cowen attended the public schools and the local academies at Fredericksburg
and Hayesville
, Ohio
. He graduated from Princeton College in 1866 and from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He was admitted to the bar
of Ohio in 1868 and commenced practice in Mansfield, Ohio
, including service as prosecuting attorney of Holmes County
.
Cowen moved to Baltimore, Maryland, in February 1872 and was appointed counsel of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
, and, from 1876 to 1896, he served as the general counsel. He was elected as a Democrat
to the Fifty-fourth
Congress, serving from March 4, 1895 to March 3, 1897, but was not a candidate for renomination in 1896 to the Fifty-fifth
Congress.
In January 1896, Cowen was chosen to be president of the B&O Railroad, a position he served in until June 1901. He died in Chicago, Illinois, and was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery
in his home town of Millersburg.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Born near Millersburg, Ohio
Millersburg, Ohio
Millersburg is a village in Holmes County, Ohio, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 3,326. It is the county seat of Holmes County.-Geography:Millersburg is located at , along Killbuck Creek...
, Cowen attended the public schools and the local academies at Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Ohio
Fredericksburg is a village in Salt Creek Township, Wayne County, Ohio, United States. The population was 487 at the 2000 census.Fredericksburg was founded in 1824 by Jacob Frederick, and incorporated as a village in 1867.-Geography:...
and Hayesville
Hayesville, Ohio
Hayesville is a village in Ashland County, Ohio, United States. The population was 348 at the 2000 census.- History :The first settlers came to the Hayesville area in 1817. A post office for the settlers was established in 1827 at Hayes Cross Roads. Hayesville was laid out in Vermillion Township...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He graduated from Princeton College in 1866 and from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
of Ohio in 1868 and commenced practice in Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Richland County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio in the western foothills of the Allegheny Plateau, approximately southwest of Cleveland and northeast of Columbus....
, including service as prosecuting attorney of Holmes County
Holmes County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,943 people, 11,337 households, and 9,194 families residing in the county. The population density was 92 people per square mile . There were 12,280 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
.
Cowen moved to Baltimore, Maryland, in February 1872 and was appointed counsel of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
, and, from 1876 to 1896, he served as the general counsel. He was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Fifty-fourth
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
Congress, serving from March 4, 1895 to March 3, 1897, but was not a candidate for renomination in 1896 to the Fifty-fifth
55th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:* Republican: 206 * Democratic: 124* Populist: 22* Silver Republican: 3* Silver: 1* Independent Republican: 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Garret Hobart * President pro tempore: William P...
Congress.
In January 1896, Cowen was chosen to be president of the B&O Railroad, a position he served in until June 1901. He died in Chicago, Illinois, and was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery
Oak Hill Cemetery
Oak Hill Cemetery is a historic cemetery and botanical garden located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It includes the Oak Hill Cemetery Chapel and Van Ness Mausoleum which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
in his home town of Millersburg.