Jonas H. McGowan
Encyclopedia
Jonas Hartzell McGowan was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.
McGowan was born in Smith Township, Ohio
(then part of Columbiana County
, now Mahoning County). He was the eighth of ten children of Samuel and Susan McGowan. His paternal -Irish ancestors had fled religious persecution and settled in Pennsylvania
. His father was a pioneer in Columbiana County, Ohio, where he cleared a tract of government land and occupied it as a homestead. In 1854, Samuel moved his family to Orland, Indiana
, where he died in 1860. McGowan's mother was of German descent and survived the father for another four years. McGowan's father was an abolitionist and his house served as a depot on the Underground Railroad
.
McGowan attended a seminary in Alliance, Ohio
and the Orland Academy. He graduated from the University of Michigan
at Ann Arbor
in 1861 and taught in the city schools of Coldwater, Michigan
for one year. In 1862, he married Josephine Pruden, then preceptress at the High School in Coldwater.
During the Civil War, McGowan served in the Fifth
and Ninth Regiments, Michigan Volunteer Cavalry
. In August 1862, he enlisted as a private in the Fifth Regiment and was soon promoted to Sergeant of his Company. In November 1862, he was made a Captain in the Ninth Regiment, and went into the field early in 1863. Their first service was chasing Confederate
General John Hunt Morgan
, who made incursions into southern Indiana and Ohio on Morgan's Raid
. McGowan took part in the Battle of Salineville
, which resulted in the capture of McGowan in July 1863, near Salineville, Ohio
. He went into campaigns in East Tennessee with General Ambrose Burnside
, until he was forced to resign in 1864 for reasons of poor health.
McGowan returned to Coldwater, where he studied law, was admitted to the bar
in 1867, and commenced practice. He served as prosecuting attorney of Branch County
from 1868 to 1872. He was also director of the Coldwater school board for six years. He began serving as a member of the University of Michigan board of regents in 1870 and served until 1877 when he resigned after being elected to Congress. He also represented the 10th district in the Michigan Senate
from 1873 to 1874.
In 1876, McGowan was elected as a Republican
from Michigan's 3rd congressional district
to the 45th United States Congress
. He was re-elected to the 46th Congress
and served from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1881. He declined to be a candidate for re-nomination in 1880.
Jonas H. McGowan resumed the practice of his profession in Washington, D.C.
, until his death in 1909. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery, Coldwater, Michigan.
McGowan was born in Smith Township, Ohio
Smith Township, Mahoning County, Ohio
Smith Township is one of the fourteen townships of Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 4,977 people in the township, 3,895 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
(then part of Columbiana County
Columbiana County, Ohio
Columbiana County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 107,841. It is named for Christopher Columbus and the county seat is Lisbon....
, now Mahoning County). He was the eighth of ten children of Samuel and Susan McGowan. His paternal -Irish ancestors had fled religious persecution and settled in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. His father was a pioneer in Columbiana County, Ohio, where he cleared a tract of government land and occupied it as a homestead. In 1854, Samuel moved his family to Orland, Indiana
Orland, Indiana
Orland is a town located in the northwest corner of Steuben County, Indiana in Millgrove Township at the intersection of State Road 120 and State Road 327. The population was 434 at the 2010 census...
, where he died in 1860. McGowan's mother was of German descent and survived the father for another four years. McGowan's father was an abolitionist and his house served as a depot on the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
.
McGowan attended a seminary in Alliance, Ohio
Alliance, Ohio
Alliance is a city in Stark and Mahoning counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 22,322 at the 2010 census. Alliance's nickname is "The Carnation City", and the city is home to the University of Mount Union....
and the Orland Academy. He graduated from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
in 1861 and taught in the city schools of Coldwater, Michigan
Coldwater, Michigan
Coldwater is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,945. It is the county seat of Branch County....
for one year. In 1862, he married Josephine Pruden, then preceptress at the High School in Coldwater.
During the Civil War, McGowan served in the Fifth
5th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
The 5th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Cavalry was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was a part of the famed Michigan Brigade, commanded for a time by Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer.-Service:...
and Ninth Regiments, Michigan Volunteer Cavalry
9th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
The 9th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Cavalry was an cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.The Ninth Cavalry began its organization in the fall of 1862, at Coldwater, under the direction of Colonel James L. David, of Trenton, who had been Quartermaster of the 1st...
. In August 1862, he enlisted as a private in the Fifth Regiment and was soon promoted to Sergeant of his Company. In November 1862, he was made a Captain in the Ninth Regiment, and went into the field early in 1863. Their first service was chasing Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
General John Hunt Morgan
John Hunt Morgan
John Hunt Morgan was a Confederate general and cavalry officer in the American Civil War.Morgan is best known for Morgan's Raid when, in 1863, he and his men rode over 1,000 miles covering a region from Tennessee, up through Kentucky, into Indiana and on to southern Ohio...
, who made incursions into southern Indiana and Ohio on Morgan's Raid
Morgan's Raid
Morgan's Raid was a highly publicized incursion by Confederate cavalry into the Northern states of Indiana and Ohio during the American Civil War. The raid took place from June 11–July 26, 1863, and is named for the commander of the Confederates, Brig. Gen...
. McGowan took part in the Battle of Salineville
Battle of Salineville
The Battle of Salineville occurred July 26, 1863, near Salineville, Ohio during Morgan's Raid in the American Civil War. It was one of the northernmost military actions involving the Confederate States Army. The decisive Union victory shattered John Hunt Morgan's remaining Confederate cavalry and...
, which resulted in the capture of McGowan in July 1863, near Salineville, Ohio
Salineville, Ohio
Salineville is a village in southwestern Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,397 at the 2000 census.The Civil War Battle of Salineville, which ended Morgan's Raid and resulted in the capture of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan, took place near Salineville on July 26,...
. He went into campaigns in East Tennessee with General Ambrose Burnside
Ambrose Burnside
Ambrose Everett Burnside was an American soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, and politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor and a U.S. Senator...
, until he was forced to resign in 1864 for reasons of poor health.
McGowan returned to Coldwater, where he studied law, was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1867, and commenced practice. He served as prosecuting attorney of Branch County
Branch County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 45,787 people, 16,349 households, and 11,575 families residing in the county. The population density was 90 people per square mile . There were 19,822 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile...
from 1868 to 1872. He was also director of the Coldwater school board for six years. He began serving as a member of the University of Michigan board of regents in 1870 and served until 1877 when he resigned after being elected to Congress. He also represented the 10th district in the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
from 1873 to 1874.
In 1876, McGowan was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
from Michigan's 3rd congressional district
Michigan's 3rd congressional district
Michigan's 3rd congressional district is a United States Congressional district in Western Michigan. It consists of the counties of Barry, Ionia, and all except the northwest portion of Kent. The district is currently represented by Republican Justin Amash, the second youngest member of the house...
to the 45th United States Congress
45th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:-Senate:*President: William A. Wheeler *President pro tempore: Thomas W. Ferry -House of Representatives:*Speaker: Samuel J. Randall -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
. He was re-elected to the 46th Congress
46th United States Congress
The Forty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1881, during the last two years of...
and served from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1881. He declined to be a candidate for re-nomination in 1880.
Jonas H. McGowan resumed the practice of his profession in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, until his death in 1909. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery, Coldwater, Michigan.