McGOWEN, Mary Jane BLOXTON
Born: 01 Dec 1840, Shelby Co, AL
Died: 23 Oct 1888, Wilsonville, Shelby Co, AL
Wife of George Washington McGOWEN;
Daughter of Edward Bloxton &
Lucinda Jane (Peyton) Bloxton Gregg
[Marker broken, missing;
next to George W. McGOWEN;
Initials on footmarker "M.J.McG."]

GEORGE WASHINGTON McGOWEN, farmer and prominent citizen of Wilsonville, was a native of Shelby County, Alabama. He was born October 8, 1834, to Edward & Priscilla (Bullock) McGowen. His father was born in Scotland; when quite young, he came with his parents to America. They, upon arrival, settled in North Carolina for only a short time, thence to Alabama, settling on a farm and engaging in farming and milling near where Montgomery "now stands" (1890). In 1830, they removed to Shelby County, AL; in 1854, on to Texas, where they lived until their deaths. Edward McGowen married in Montgomery, but remained with his parents until after they removed to Shelby County, where he settled down on a farm, remaining thereon until his death. The mother was born in NC. Her father, Leonard Bullock, was like the paternal grandfather of Mr. McGowen, a soldier in the Revolutionary War. George W. McGowen is the third of four brothers born to his parents--only one of whom, besides himself, being now alive (1890s). This brother, James, was also in the Revolutionary War. His father died when George was quite young, leaving his family in stringent circumstances, so George became wholly dependent upon himself; and, although his education was quite limited, like that of most other self-made men, he has so far been successful in accumulating a sufficiency of this world's goods and comforts.

In 1859, he married Miss MARY JANE BLOXTON,
daughter of Edward and Lucinda (Peyton) Bloxton,
by whom he had eight children--
four who died young:
two sons, Mardis (ca 1868 - 1871-1879),
and Wilson McGowen (ca 1884 -);
four of whom were living at this writing:
David N. (F.B.) McGowen (1866-1898):
Gravestone in the cemetery for Mary Jane's little grandson, McGOWEN, Garrette (23 Nov 1894 - 07 May 1896) "Little Garrette"; Son of David N. & F.B. McGOWEN;
Lula J. (ca 1869 -) (John Franklin "Frank", m. Oct 8, 1890, Shelby, AL) Milstead (1870-1939) & their son, Forest Dee Millstead (26 Jul 1890, Wilsonville, AL - 28 Apr 1951, Mobile, Mobile, Alabama, age 60), & her daughter, Luisa Lula Milstead (Joseph W.) Hurst, Walter W., and George Oscar McGowen, (Feb 1880 - 3 Apr 1949, age 69, Scott City, Talladega Co, Alabama).

Mary Jane was born and raised in Shelby County, and died in 1888. She was a most devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

In 1889, at Jacksonville, Calhoun County, AL, Mr. McGowen married his second wife, Sarah E. Privett, a native of Jacksonville, daughter of James & Elizabeth (Aderhold) Privett, both natives of NC.

George in 1862 enlisted in Company I, 18th AL Infantry, under Captain Peter Hunley, as a Private, and served as such throughout the Civil War. He was engaged in numerous battles; in the Battle of Chickamauga, he received two wounds which compelled him to retire from active service for six months. On returning to his Company, he was detailed to the Ordnance Department, in which he remained during the remainder of the War. He was at Resaca and Atlanta, where his duty was to issue ammunition to the soldiers in the field. After the close of the war, being left without property, he began life for himself as a farmer, which honorable vocation he has ever since followed, and his success and properity are indicated by the fact that now he possesses 700 acres of land, all in good condition for the production of crops. Mr. McGowen stands (circa 1890) high in the community as a straightforward, honest and upright man.

1880 Census (June 2, 1880), Farm, Fayetteville, Talladega Co., Alabama:
George W. McGowen 46 AL/Scotland/NC, Farmer
Mary Jane (Bloxton) McGowen 34 AL/VA/VA
David N. McGowen 14 AL/AL/AL, Farm Hand
Lula J. McGowen 12
Wilson McGowen 6
Oscar McGowen 4m

1870 Census (June 1, 1870), Farm, Beat 9, Wilsonville P.O., Shelby Co, Alabama:
George W. McGowen 33
Mary Jane (Bloxton) McGowen 23
Mardis McGowen 2
Lula McGowen 1
ANNIE E. BLOXTON, age 7 (d. age 17).

Shelby Chronicle, 15 Nov 1888 obituary for Mary Jane Blocton McGowen