Waupaca County's last two surviving Civil War Veterans, taken on Memorial Day 1938. Charles Cowan, left, served in Co. B, 41st Wis Vol. Inf. James Minton, right, served in Co. A, 8th Wis Vol. Inf. Minton died shortly after this photo was taken.

The following information was transcribed from Charles Cowan's newspaper obituary:

Charles Cowan died at his home Saturday, May 29 after a decline of one year. Son of Ira and Nancy Cowan, he was born at Worthington, Ohio June 6, 1845. Had his life been spared eight days he would have reached 98 years. Up to one year ago this veteran of the Civil War would inspire the admiration of his acquaintances as he strode along the street with martial tread giving the soldier salute to his friends, and his friends were legion. A banker at Ripon for many years, Mr. Cowan came to Waupaca on retiring about twenty years ago.

On August 20, 1884 he was married to Miss Alice Gillette at Ripon, Wis., who preceeded him in death. One son, William P. Cowan, Manitowoc, and a grandson, William Cowan Jr., of Fond du lac, and two cousins, George P. Cowan and Charles Cowan, both of Spokane, Washington, are the surviving relatives.

The last rites were fittingly observed at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, of which he was a loyal member, on Tuesday, June 1st, the Rev. C.B.W. Maddock officiating. Interment was in Hillside Cemetery, Ripon, beside the resting place of Mrs. Cowan and their daughter, Miss Emogene Cowan, whose tragic death preceeded the passing of the parents.

Sources: Waupaca County Post, June 3, 1943
U.S. Federal Census 1870-1930
1890 Veteran's Schedule
Waupaca County Library

Researched by Bro's Vince Barker, Jim Waid, and Kim Heltemes

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