Rev. John Bruner McGown (1815-1862) Plasterer, Preacher, Soldier

In His Father's Footsteps
   Born June 18, 1815, John Bruner McGown (or McGowen depending on the time frame), was the only son between Alexander McGowen and Magdalena Bruner McGowen. He was raised in West Nantmeal Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania (present day Elverson) along with his four biological sisters and two half-siblings from Magdalena's previous marriage. Like his father, he became a plasterer by trade and a preacher by calling.

The Call of the West
   In 1836, twenty-one year old John Bruner McGown left Pennsylvania through the port of Philadelphia, traveling to New Orleans and then northward to Cincinnati and finally Urbana, Ohio. From there he wrote to his half-brother Christian Detwiler who was 12 years his senior, urging him to come to Ohio, where they could farm without picking up hunks of stone. The following year, Christian Detwiler and his family made their westward move, meeting up with John McGown at the home of John Kenaga who had moved from Pennsylvania a few years ago. John Kenaga's wife, Fanny, was a niece of Magdalena. John McGown went into business with Christian Detwiler in Urbana, offering plastering services as Detwiler, McGown & Co. On March 14, 1838, John McGown married Margaret Kenaga, the sister of John Kenaga, but happiness was short-lived as he lost his newborn daughter and then his wife in the span of two months in 1839 to what was most likely scarlet fever.

   A map from 1858 shows a property registered to "Alexander McGowan" East of Urbana Township, and just across the street from a property in the name of "John Kenega." One might deduce that the McGowan property was where John B. lived, first with Margaret, and later with Clarissa Sampson, daughter of Calvin Sampson from Massachusetts. On October 11, 1840, Clarissa became John McGown's second wife. She was six years younger than John, and eventually gave birth to 11 children, most of whom lived long and fruitful lives. In 1854, John's half-brother and business partner Christian Detwiler died of blood poisoning brought on by infection. John carried on as a professional plasterer, lay minister, and it is also said that he taught music on occasion (such an Irish thing to do!).

The Footsteps of War
   On April 12, 1861, far away in South Carolina, the first shots that sent America spiraling into civil war rang out at Fort Sumter. Ohio's role in the Underground Railroad would attest to the fact that it was for the most part anti-slavery, but for many months, Ohioans showed little interest in the war between north and south, since they considered themselves as westerners. As it became clear that the "rebellion" was unfortunately not coming to a swift conclusion, the people of Ohio began to organize. The 66th Ohio Voluntary Infantry was mustered in at Camp McArthur on the southern outskirts of Urbana, on December 17, 1861, including Company G to which John was assigned. His initial rank was Private but was quickly promoted to Sergeant (see photo), perhaps because of his age. At 46, he was a fatherly figure among many only half his age. His regiment got their marching orders a month later on January 17, 1862, and departed to the bitter cold of snow-covered Virginia.
   What compelled John McGown to leave the comfort of his home and love of his family to volunteer for the war effort, we can only guess, however in light of his faith, one might assume that he felt some sense of "duty" to assist in the spiritual well-being of the younger recruits that were joining from his neighborhood. Or, on a more personal level, maybe he wanted to be the able bodied male from his family to volunteer instead of his son Lemuel, who would have been 20 years old at the time.

Praying, Marching, Facing the Enemy
   Endless days of marching, camping, provost duty, and more marching passed, and freezing cold gave way to sweltering heat. John wrote home to family as well as his neighbors back in Urbana, including that of his mess mate, young Abraham Hefflebower. Family tradition has it that John was awaiting papers to be assigned to the position of Chaplain when his regiment was given orders to advance on Port Republic on May 25, where forces of Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson, the brilliant Confederate tactician, awaited them.

   In a letter, John McGown wrote "I know we sometimes have our fears that our prayers are unavailing. I am fully aware that the enterprise in which we are engaged is one of extreme uncertainty. We may be permitted to reach our homes again and embrace those we have left behind; or it may be our lot to fall upon some battle field... and never again impress those warm lips with friendly kisses. But I am glad there is a brighter land beyond this veil of tears. Sorrow may continue for a night, but joy will come in the morning. Oh how much wickedness there is in the army. I pray God for the safety of our men, and for their eternal salvation..." So it may be either ironic, or befitting, that it was John himself who took a "minie ball" in the chest whilst defending an artillery position called the "Coaling" for his mates at the Battle of Port Republic on June 9, 1862, in the first real battle faced by the inexperienced 66th OVI.

Tears for the Departed
   Joseph C. Brand, agent of the Underground Railroad that helped fugitive slaves escape to freedom, and then regimental quartermaster for the 66th OVI, wrote in a letter dated June 27, 1862, to the widow Clarissa McGown, "He fell quite near me, from a musket ball in his breast. I was fearful it was fatal, and after he was taken back some ten steps from the line of battle, I dismounted to see him. I found him dying. He recognized me, was calm, quiet, and died without a groan or struggle. I asked him if he was wounded badly. He put his hand upon his breast, and I opened his bosom, was it was fatal; and so told him. He moved his head, as much as to say that he was conscious of it. I took him by the hand. I bade him farewell; told him he was dying in a good cause; that he had discharged his duty nobly, and all would be well with him soon. He was sinking very rapidly, and as I turned to leave him his eyes gradually closed in death. The most painful part is yet to be told. After a most desperate and terrific fight, the fortunes of the day turned against us, and a hasty retreat compelled us to leave the dead, and many of our wounded soldiers as they lay upon the battlefield." After the chaotic Union retreat, any efforts to assist the wounded were further hampered by Union artillery fire from across the Shenandoah River, meant to harass the Confederates. The 66th OVI suffered the second-highest number of casualties out of the eight Union infantry regiments engaged, with 20 dead, 75 wounded, and 110 captured or missing.

   Upon learning of John's tragic demise, his sister Harriet, wife of Elijah Bull residing back in Pennsylvania, penned this poem: "There is a place on Virginia soil, I love above all others; Its on that dreary battle field, Where lays my only brother. Far from his home and kindred dear, On Southern soil he fell, Without loved ones to shed their tears, Or bid the last farewell. Now Angels wake his corpse, The night birds sing their song, While kindred spirits hover around, Our dearest brother John." Services for John were held at the Second Methodist Episcopal Church in Urbana, where his brethren from I.O.O.F. Urbana Lodge No. 46 (now defunct) attended en masse.

Together Forever

   Today, at the Oak Dale Cemetery in Urbana, next to the grave of Clarissa Whiting Sampson McGown can be found a much smaller gravestone with the inscription "SGT. J. B. McGOWN CO. G. 66TH OHIO INF." and a GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) star nearby. This could mean that the body of John B. McGown was eventually recovered and transported back to Urbana for burial. Or they could simply be markers in recognition of John's final and ultimate contribution to the Union's cause while his body rests at Staunton National Cemetery as one of the 521 "unknown soldiers." Either way, looking at the couple side by side (including the size disparity that somehow hints at a matriarchal relationship) gives the visitor a warm sense of familiarity, reassurance, closure, and rediscovery.

(P.S. It may also give us some comfort in knowing that young Abraham Hefflebower who John McGown had mentored, survived the war. He was married in 1870 to an Urbana woman, and lived in Champaign County until his death in 1875. Seven years later his widow, left with three children, in an irony of ironies, married a man who had served in the Confederate army who then legally adopted all three children.)