Death of Mr.
McGown
Rev. B. F.
Buck conducted the funeral services of Mr. McGown at the
home of the deceased Tuesday Aug. 24.
A large
number of his friends and neighbors, some of whom have known
him for the past quarter of a century were gathered under
the trees on the east side of the house. The services were
conducted from the porch where the mourners and choir were
seated.
Several of
those sweet songs that Mr. McGown had loved so well were
sung by the congregational church choir. The scripture
lesson was taken from the prayer of Moses as found in the 90th
psalm “Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all
generations,” and from the words of Christ “Come unto me all
ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
After the
following tribute of esteem was paid to the memory of the
deceased “Mr. Alexander McGown was born near Perth Scotland
July 24, 1835 and this is the anniversary of his birthday.
When he was
eleven years old his parents came to the United State and
settled near Avon Fulton County Illinois. Their industry,
faith and habits of life did much to civilize the west and
make their community what it is today. July 1st
1855 he was married to Miss Clarissa Woods of Avon. To them
were born four children three of whom survive him. When
Lincoln called for men at the beginning of the civil war Mr.
McGown enlisted with the 50th Regular Illinois
Volunteers as a musician. It was the soul stirring music
from his instrument that helped grant win his victories at
Ft. Donelson and Shilo. He came to Kansas in 1872 and
settled on the farm where he died. He spent a number of
years in railroad service first on the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy and the with the Hanibal and St. Jo. and lastly
as superintendent of water service on the Atchinson, Topeka
and Santa Fe. He was brought up as a Presbyterian but there
not being a church of that denomination in Avon his family
united with a Universalist church. At the time of his death
he was a member of the Haven Uneversalist church.
For the past
twenty years he has been a member of the A. O. W. and the
members of the Haven lodge performed the sad rite of
consigning his remains to the silent city of the dead.
Haven Weekly
Journal
Haven, Reno County, Kansas
Saturday, August 11, 1900
page – 5 *** column – 2