COWGILL, Elisha P. - Putnam

ELISHA P. COWGILL, an early settler of Putnam County, and a resident of Greencastle Township, was born in Mason County, Kentucky, July 4, 1819, son of Elisha and Ann S. (Tarvin) Cowgill, who were natives of Virginia and settled in Kentucky in 1794. He traces his ancestry back to four brothers who came from England and settled in Pennsylvania prior to the Revolutionary war. They were Quakers. In 1832 his parents came to Putnam County, settling on section 15, a short distance east of the present city of Greencastle. There the father purchased 160 acres of land, which was slightly improved. He lived there until 1854, when he removed to the farm now owned and occupied by our subject. He died in 1855, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. He was one of the representative men of the county, and greatly esteemed by all. In his demise Putnam County lost one of her best citizens. He was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a liberal supporter of the same. He was originally a Jackson Democrat, but in 1844 was a strong supporter of Henry Clay. He reared a large family of children, three only surviving--Sarah, wife of Lucius R. Chapin, of Greencastle, Dr. Henry E., of Kansas, and Elisha P. The latter was reared to manhood in this county, having come here with his parents when in his thirteenth year. He was educated in the schools of the early day, and has always been a farmer. He was a member of the first class formed in Asbury University, and attended that institution about eighteen months. August 1, 1839, he was married to Mary F. Talbott, born, August 19, 1820, in Shelby County, Kentucky. Her parents, William and Sarah Talbott, settled in Putnam County in 1824, and were among the early settlers of the county. Her mother was born in a fort in Kentucky, during the Indian war. Her father was born near Baltimore, Maryland. Her grandfather, Edward Talbott, was one of the first licensed Methodist preachers in the United States. Her parents and grandparents are interred in the Cemetery at Greencastle. Mr. and Mrs. Cowgill have had a large family, five of whom are living--William H., Mary J., wife of John Ziner, of Kansas, Elizabeth M., wife of Stacy R. Dicks, of Montgomery County, this State, and Susan C., wife of Fletcher H. Talbott, of Sangamon County, Illinois. In 1855 Mr. Cowgill was elected a commissioner of Putnam County, serving a term of three years, and was again elected in 1885, which office he still holds. Immediately after his election he was chosen president of the board of commissioners. He has served as assessor of both Putnam County and Greencastle Township. In 1847 he was deputy census enumerator of Marion and Jefferson townships. He owns 110 acres of good land, in a high state of cultivation. In politics he is a Democrat, and himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Cowgill has served as deacon and trustee. He has lived to see his children settled in life, and he is reaping the fruits of a life of usefulness and well doing.