CHAPTER XXVII (Part 50)
BIOGRAPHICAL
William M. McCowan was born on a farm near Evansville, Indiana, in 1828, and died in Henry County, Missouri, in 1875. He was the son of James McCowan, who was a native of Kentucky, and a soldier of the War of 1812. James McCowan moved from Kentucky to Indiana and became an honored resident of the southwestern part of the State, founding a permanent home near the city of Evansville. When news of the great gold strike on Sutter's Mill Race on the slopes of the Sierras in California reached Indiana, Mr. McCowan was one of the first adventurous spirits to undertake the long and dangerous trip to the Pacific Coast in search of fortune. He remained in California until 1854, was successful in his quest of the yellow metal, and returned home. He then located near Windsor in Henry County, Missouri, and purchased a large tract of land near Calhoun, in Windsor township, which he developed into an important live stock ranch. He was owner of 600 acres of land and became widely known as a successful breeder of race horses and was also an extensive raiser and breeder of cattle for the markets.
During the Civil War, Mr. Mc Cowan was a captain of Missouri Home Guards and served until 1863. He followed agricultural pursuits until his death and was a prominent and influential citizen of Henry County during his residence here.
William McCowan was twice married, his first wife being Mattie Huston, who bore him three children: Cincinnatus, a farmer in South Dakota; Major Thomas B. McCowan, a surgeon of the American Army Hospital Corps, stationed at El Paso, Texas, as district surgeon, a service in which he has been engaged for the past eighteen years; William H., Deepwater, Missouri, engaged in the furniture and undertaking business.
The second marriage of William M. McCowan occurred in October, 1874, with Miss Fannie C. Page, who was born in Logan County, Kentucky, in August, 1848, the daughter of Thomas and Isabella (Catlett) Page, both natives of Virginia. Thomas Page was the son of James Page, a soldier of the Revolution. One child was born of this second marriage, Miss May McCowan.
When eleven years of age. May McCowan removed with her widowed mother to Oakland, California, and there she received a high school education. She graduated from Oakland high school in 1895. Miss McCowan has studied at the Warrensburg Normal School, specializing in history. She and her mother returned to Windsor, Missouri, in 1895 and she began her successful teaching career. Miss McCowan first taught in her old home district school in 1900, this school being at that time the oldest school house in Henry County. In 1902 she was selected to teach the primary department of the Windsor public schools and in 1906 she became teacher of English and algebra in the Windsor high school.
She next taught near Warrensburg, Missouri, and in 1908 became principal of the schools at Shawnee Mound, Henry county. In 1910, she returned to Windsor and taught English and mathematics in the local high school for the ensuing three years. Her next position was as teacher at Rodelia high school in 1913. Since 1913 Miss McCowan has been teacher of history in the Windsor high school.
Miss McCowan is a member of the Henry County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and takes a keen and absorbing interest in the affairs of this chapter, of which she is the local official historian. In her work as historian she has gathered and published considerable history of Windsor and vicinity and Henry County which is considered as authentic, reliable and written in an entertaining and readable vein. She is a member of the Baptist Church, and is affiliated fraternally with the Order of Eastern Star, of which order she is a past matron and is now serving as chaplain of the order.
William A. Shelton, United States marshal for the Federal District of Western Missouri, residing at Windsor, Missouri, is a member of one of the oldest and most prominent of the Missouri pioneer families. He was born at Camp Branch, Warren County, Missouri, June 22, 1855, and is the son of the Hon. Pines H. and Mary O. (Scales) Shelton, natives of Henry County, Virginia.
The late Hon. Pines H. Shelton was born July 18, 1809, in Virginia and died at his home in Henry County, January 25, 1888. He was reared and educated in his native State of Virginia and migrated to Missouri in 1830, making a settlement in St. Charles County, where he became a manufacturer of tobacco products in a small way. He erected the first brick residence in St. Charles County and was prominently identified with affairs of that county during his residence there. He served as a member of the Missouri Assembly from St. Charles County, both as representative and State senator. Upon his removal to Warren County, Missouri, he became an extensive farmer and resided in that county until he located in Hill County, Texas, where he was engaged in ranching and also became prominent in local public affairs, serving as a member of the Texas Legislature from Hill County, Texas, and was also State senator.
He came to Clinton, Missouri, in 1868, and one year later he located at Windsor, becoming owner of a large farm of 800 acres of land, three miles west of Windsor in Windsor township. This farm he improved and made into a valuable property. Mr. Shelton died at his home in Windsor, an honored and respected resident of the city and county.
Sixteen years of the life of Pines H. Shelton was devoted to public service. Besides his legislative experience he served as an official State tobacco inspector, being one of three tobacco inspectors appointed by the governor when the law went into effect providing for tobacco inspection and inspection of factories throughout the State. Mr. Shelton was three times married. His first wife was Rebecca Carter, who bore him seven children, and was born January 29, 1813. His second wife was Mary E. Wyatt, who bore him three children, who are deceased. Mrs. Mary Wyatt Shelton was born in Missouri, March 20, 1828, and died in St. Charles County, Missouri. His third marriage was with Mary O. Scales, who was born in Henry County, Virginia, June 4, 1839, and departed this life January 30, 1907. To this marriage were born two sons as follows: William A., subject of this review, and Thomas Marvin Shelton, deceased.
William A. Shelton was reared in Texas and Missouri. He received his early education in private and subscription schools in Windsor and studied in the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Missouri. For one year after completing his education, he was engaged in tilling his father's land. After a season or more as a clerk in a general merchandise store at Windsor, he became a traveling salesman in 1881 for a ready-made clothing house and continued in this capacity until 1913. March 10, 1915, he was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to the important post of United States marshal for the Federal Judicial District of Western Missouri, embracing fifty-seven counties. He has measured up to the exacting requirements of this very important official position and nothing but words of commendation have been heard of the manner in which Mr. Shelton has faithfully and conscientiously performed the duties of his important office. Mr. Shelton has ties of a commercial and home nature in Windsor, although his headquarters are necessarily in Kansas City, his presence there being required the greater part of his time. He is owner of a splendid farm of two hundred and seventy acres of land in Windsor township which he has supervision. Mr. Shelton is a director and vice-president of the Citizens Bank of Windsor and takes a keen interest in the welfare and general progress of his home city where he is popular with the citizens.
December 3, 1884, William A. Shelton and Miss Cora Stark were united in marriage. Mrs. Shelton was born in Pettis County, Missouri, the daughter of Captain Washington and Martha (Whitledge) Stark, the latter of whom makes her home in Windsor.
Mr. and Mrs. Shelton are rearing a nephew, Philip Kilpatrick, whose mother is deceased. She was a sister of Mrs. Shelton and the boy's father is a cousin of Mr. Shelton.
Fred W. Olson, cashier of the First National Bank of Windsor, Missouri, was born at Manistee, Michigan, October 14, 1873. He is the son of Andrew and Carolina (Benson) Olson, both natives of Sweden, having been born near Stockholm. When a young man, Andrew Olson immigrated to America and settled at Manistee, Michigan, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for a number of years. He later went to South Dakota and became a tiller of the soil in that State when it was still in the infancy of its development. He died in South Dakota in 1879. Four years later his wife followed him in death. Two children were born of this union: Fred W., subject of this review; and Mrs. Anna O. Aaker of Ruthton, Minnesota. After the death of Andrew Olson his widow married Ole Amdahl, and to this marriage were born two children.
Fred W. Olson was reared to young manhood in South Dakota and attended the Moody School, completing his high school course at Flandreau. Left an orphan at the death of his mother, he was compelled to make his own way in the world and hired out as farm hand until he was eighteen years old. He then became a clerk in a dry goods store at Flandereau for three years. After managing a clothing store in that city for a period he became owner of a store. Mr. Olson remained in South Dakota until 1900 and then came to Clinton, Missouri, to undertake the management of the stores of the Coon Creek Coal Company, a position which he held for five and a half years. Following this employment he became assistant cashier of the Bank of Deepwater, for two years, following which he held a similar position with the Clinton National Bank until 1913, when he came to Windsor as cashier of the First National Bank. Mr. Olson ranks high among the banking fraternity of Henry County.
October 26, 1904, Mr. Olson was married to Miss Mabel Spangler, the daughter of Levi A. and Frances (Houston) Spangler, of Fields Creek township, the former a native of Cass County, Missouri, and the latter of Henry County. Two children have been born to Fred W. and Mabel Olson, as follows: Frederick A., born July 23, 1908; Frances G., born July 12, 1910.
Mr. Olson is a Democrat. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Eastern Star, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and the Modern Woodmen of America lodges.
Personally, Mr. Olson is one of the most popular citizens of Windsor, agreeable, obliging and progressive, he has won a distinct and honorable place in the business and social life of the community. He is ever found in the forefront of progressive movements which are intended to advance the best interests of his home city and county.
