Cowles, Charles W. 1844-1903

COWLES, OSTRANDER, HUNTTING, FLEMING, FLEMMING, SAWYER

Posted By: Volunteer transcribers
Date: 10/10/2016 at 12:27:15

Posted by S. Ferrall 9/15/2024:

~North Iowa Times, Thursday, September 3, 1903; pg 4
Chas. W. Cowles was born in the city of Milwaukee, Wis., Feb. 14, 1844, and died at McGregor, Iowa, at 9:00 o'clock P.M., Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1903, aged 59 years, 6 mos. and 18 days.

Deceased was the son of S.D. and Sarah (Ostrander) Cowles. The father died at Lansing, Iowa, in 1856, and the mother in 1862. He was of a family of three children, two sons and one daughter: James W., who enlisted in Company K., 5th Iowa Infantry Volunteers, was taken prisoner at Inka, and died in the Andersonville prison; Charles W. and Sarah D., wife of John Fleming.

He attended the schools in Milwaukee, Wis., and Lansing, Iowa, and graduated from Sloan's Commercial College, of Chicago, in March, 1862. He went to Lansing, Ia., where he was chief bookkeeper for a lumber firm one year, and was clerk on the steamers "Milwaukee" and "Diamond Joe," running between St. Paul and Dubuque.

He then began work for W. & J. Flemming, keeping a stock of lumber at Postville, Ossian, Conover, Cresco and Leroy, until 1868, when he was appointed chief bookkeeper for the firm in their office at North McGregor.

Mr. Cowles was elected Mayor of McGregor in 1879, and re-elected in 1881. He remained in the employ of the Flemming mill at North McGregor until its sale to Wingen about fifteen years ago.

The deceased has been a great sufferer during his last illness which was of thirteen weeks duration. He leaves hiswife, and son Charles, to morn the departure.

The funeral will take place next Saturday at 2 p.m., Rev. Marshall, of Cresco, officiating.

Those from abroad who attended the obsequies of the late C.W. Cowles were: Mr. Mack of Joliet, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Clinton, of Joliet, Ill.; Mrs. Gordon Sawyer of Joliet; Mrs. Maynard of Chicago; Mr. Chas. Turner of Minneapolis; Mr. J.P. Barnum of Prarie du Chien; Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Gillis of Prairie du Chien.
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Notes: He was the s/o Sylvester D. & Sarah A. (Ostrander) Cowles. His mother remarried to Capt. W.J. Flemming/Fleming after her 1st husb. died. See obit of Sarah Cowles - Fleming
https://iagenweb.org/boards/allamakee/obituaries/index.cgi?read=892352

Mrs. Maynard of Chicago noted as attending the funeral was his aunt, sister of Charles' mother Sarah.

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Posted by Reid R. Johnson, in 2026:

Elkader Register, Thur., 10 Sept. 1903. McGregor column ?

Charles W. Cowles died Wednesday night, Sept. 2nd, after a long illness lasting over three months. All the care possible was given him, but from the first it appeared a hopeless case and baffled his physicians. Most of his life has been spent here. He was married about seventeen years ago to Anne, daughter of W. F. Huntting. He was fifty-nine years old, and was born in Milwaukee. He served as mayor of our city in 1879 and was re-elected in 1881. A genial companion and public spirited citizen is mourned. The funeral services were held from his late residence Saturday afternoon, and were attended by a large number of friends. Rev. C. A. Marshall, of Cresco, officiated. The niece of the deceased, Mrs. Sara Fleming Sawyer, was present. His step-father, Capt. Wm. Flemming, was not able to be present because he is ill in Newfoundland with his own aged mother on her deathbed.

Note: Both spellings of Fleming/Flemming were used in the article.

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Added by Joy Moore 11/9/2019:

Source: Decorah Republican Sept. 10, 1903 Page 4 Col 6

Well Known McGregor Man Dead

McGregor, Sept. 3.—Hon. C. W. Cowles died last night at his residence in this city after a protaacted{sp} illness. Mr. Cowles was well known along the river in the palmy days of lumber manufact­uring from which business he retired about fifteen years ago. He served for several terms as mayor of McGregor and was very popular.
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Note: buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery