YourRoots Logo SIGN UP
banner

Import your family tree

to get weekly genealogy reports and discover parents of your “end-of-line” ancestors — FREE with AI Ancestor Finder.

SIGN UP

John Alexander Cowan 1868 – 1939 – Genealogical Records

Birth Date: 14 Sep 1868

Birth Location: Brooke Township, Lambton County, Ontario, Canada

Death Date: 27 Apr 1939

Death Location: Petrolia, Lambton, Ontario, Canada

Father: William Cowan

Mother: Eleanor Whitcraft

Spouse(s): Sarah Smith, Catherine Osborne

Children(s): Elvie Cowan, Flossie Cowan, Maude Cowan, Alexander Cowan, Agnes Cowan, John Cowan, Marion Cowan, Mary Cowan, Gertrude Cowan

Early life: John Alexander Cowan arrived in Brooke Township, Lambton County, Ontario, Canada in 1868, born to William Cowan and Eleanor "Ellen" Whitcraft. Over time, John Alexander Cowan formed a family with Sarah Louisa Smith and Catherine Osborne, which included Elvie Ellen Levina Cowan, Flossie Alberta Cowan, Maude Evert May Cowan, Alexander James Cowan, Agnes Louisa Cowan, John Henry "Harry" Cowan, Marion Eva Cowan, Mary Edith Cowan and Gertrude Catherine Cowan. John Alexander Cowan concluded life in Petrolia, Lambton, Ontario, Canada in 1939.

Find more search results for John Cowan
JC

Family tree

Parents

William Cowan
1831 – 1912
Birth Location: Armagh Ireland
WC
Eleanor Whitcraft
1831 – 1923
Birth Location: Bryanlitter, Clontibret, Monaghan Ireland
EW

Spouses(s)

Sarah Smith
1868 – 1895
Birth Location: North Dorchester Twsp, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada
SS
Catherine Osborne
1878 – 1955
Birth Location: Lambton County, Ontario, Canada
CO

Children(s)

Elvie Cowan
1888 – 1954
Birth Location: Alvinston, Lambton, Ontario, Canada
EC
Flossie Cowan
1891 – 1976
Birth Location: Lambton County, Ontario, Canada
FC
Maude Cowan
– 1895
Birth Location: Weidman, Lambton, Ontario, Canada
MC
Alexander Cowan
1901 – 1975
Birth Location: Petrolia, Lambton, Ontario, Canada
AC
Agnes Cowan
1905 – 1987
Birth Location: Lambton County, Ontario, Canada
AC
John Cowan
1907 – 1980
Birth Location: Petrolia, Ontario, Canada
JC
Marion Cowan
1909 – 1910
Birth Location: Petrolia, Enniskillen, Township, Ontario, Canada
MC
Mary Cowan
1916 – 2007
Birth Location: Enniskillen, Township, Ontario, Canada
MC
Gertrude Cowan
1918 – 2000
Birth Location: Enniskillen, Township, Ontario, Canada
GC

Sources

    Genealogy Event 1
    Event Type: Birth
    Event Year: 14 Sep 1868
    Event Place: Brooke Township, Lambton County, Ontario, Canada
    Record Source: 1871 Census of Canada, 1881 Census of Canada, 1901 Census of Canada, 1911 Census of Canada, 1921 Census of Canada, 1931 Census of Canada, Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, Michigan, County Marriages, 1822-1940, Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952, Ontario, Canada Deaths, 1869-1934, Web: Canada, GenWeb Cemetery Index, Year: 1881; Census Place: Enniskillen, Lambton, Ontario; Roll: C_13277; Page: 83; Family No: 391, Year: 1871; Census Place: Brooke, Lambton, Ontario; Roll: C-9895; Page: 58; Family No: 195, Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Collection: MS 935; Series: M047449; Reel: 625, Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952; Film: 69; Film Description: 1900 Macomb-1900 Washtenaw, Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Seventh Census of Canada, 1931; Folder Number: T-27274; Census Place: Lambton East, Ontario, Canada; Page Number: 11

    Genealogy Event 2
    Event Type: Custom Event
    Event Year: 14 SEP 1867
    Event Place: 1901 Census

    Genealogy Event 3
    Event Type: Residence
    Event Year: 1871
    Event Place: Brooke Township, Lambton County, Ontario, Canada
    Record Source: 1871 Census of Canada, Year: 1871; Census Place: Brooke, Lambton, Ontario; Roll: C-9895; Page: 58; Family No: 195

    Genealogy Event 4
    Event Type: Residence
    Event Year: 1881
    Event Place: Enniskillen, Lambton, Ontario, Canada
    Record Source: 1881 Census of Canada, Year: 1881; Census Place: Enniskillen, Lambton, Ontario; Roll: C_13277; Page: 83; Family No: 391

    Genealogy Event 5
    Event Type: Occupation
    Event Year: BEF 1895
    Event Place: Weidman stave mill making barrels

    Genealogy Event 6
    Event Type: Custom Event
    Event Year: BET 1895 AND 1927
    Event Place: Newel Healy Ash Company, owner turn wood ash to soap sold 1927

    Genealogy Event 7
    Event Type: Residence
    Event Year: BET 1895 AND 1938
    Event Place: North Street

    Genealogy Event 8
    Event Type: Residence
    Event Year: 1901
    Event Place: Petrolia (Town/Ville), Lambton (East/est), Ontario, Canada
    Record Source: 1901 Census of Canada

    Genealogy Event 9
    Event Type: Residence
    Event Year: 1911
    Event Place: Lambton, Ontario, Canada
    Record Source: 1911 Census of Canada

    Genealogy Event 10
    Event Type: Residence
    Event Year: 1 Jun 1921
    Event Place: Town of Petrolia, Lambton East, Ontario, Canada
    Record Source: 1921 Census of Canada

    Genealogy Event 11
    Event Type: Custom Event
    Event Year: BET 1927 AND 1939
    Event Place: Service Station in the Normandy block, Petrolia partnership with son Alex

    Genealogy Event 12
    Event Type: Residence
    Event Year: 1931
    Event Place: Petrolia, Ontario, Canada
    Record Source: 1931 Census of Canada, Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Seventh Census of Canada, 1931; Folder Number: T-27274; Census Place: Lambton East, Ontario, Canada; Page Number: 11

    Genealogy Event 13
    Event Type: Residence
    Event Year: 1935
    Event Place: Lambton; Kent, Ontario, Canada
    Record Source: Canada, Voters Lists, 1935-1980

    Genealogy Event 14
    Event Type: Custom Event
    Event Year: 1939
    Event Place: Hillview Cemetery, Petrolia

    Genealogy Event 15
    Event Type: Custom Event
    Event Place: Jack

    Genealogy Event 16
    Event Type: Custom Event
    Event Place: Marriage 006 148-88

    Genealogy Event 17
    Event Type: Custom Event
    Event Place: Brick maker

    Genealogy Event 18
    Event Type: Custom Event
    Event Place: Petrolia's Fire Brigade

    Genealogy Event 19
    Event Type: Residence
    Event Place: Ontario
    Record Source: Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952, Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952; Film: 69; Film Description: 1900 Macomb-1900 Washtenaw

    Genealogy Event 20
    Event Type: Death
    Event Year: 27 Apr 1939
    Event Place: Petrolia, Lambton, Ontario, Canada
    Record Source: Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, Ontario, Canada Deaths, 1869-1934, Web: Canada, GenWeb Cemetery Index, Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Collection: MS 935; Series: M047449; Reel: 625

    Genealogy Event 21
    Event Type: Burial
    Event Place: Hillsdale, Petrolia, Lambton County, Ontario, Canada
    Record Source: Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, Web: Canada, GenWeb Cemetery Index

About YourRoots

Family Tree Map

Explore your family tree geographically

Import your GEDCOM file to transform your family tree into an interactive global map. See your roots laid out visually and understand your true geographic heritage.

Powerful tools like “Trace Back To Me” instantly map your family’s migration paths from a chosen ancestor all the way back to you.

LEARN MORE
AI Genealogy Research

Discover ancestors beyond “end-of-line” automatically

Import your family tree and let AI expand it for you. AI Ancestor Finder scans “end-of-line” ancestors to uncover their parents across hundreds of family lines at once. AI Deep Research analyzes selected ancestors and family clusters, suggesting relevant records and next steps.

Turn on Auto Research Mode to get new discoveries daily or weekly, so your tree keeps growing even while you’re away.

LEARN MORE
DNA Match

Find more DNA matches across all DNA tests

Combine your DNA data with your family tree to unlock the full power of YourRoots DNA Match. Connect with relatives across major testing services — Ancestry, 23andMe, MyHeritage, and more.

View your matches’ maps and trees to identify shared ancestors, and soon you’ll be able to add them directly to your own tree and map.

LEARN MORE
Ancestry Reports

Ancestry DNA analysis that goes deeper than others

Unlock exclusive reports that reveal your deeper origins.

  • Deep Ancestry Report — Analyze 130+ ethnicities, sub-regions, and 1,800+ communities in one detailed view.
  • Global & Native American Reports — Developed with Stanford researchers to uncover hidden ancestries across all 22 chromosomes.
  • Ancient DNA Series — Compare your DNA with 1,000+ ancient genomes from Viking, Celtic, and early American civilizations.
LEARN MORE