Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Rev. Alexander McGowen (1781-1857) Immigrant, Plasterer, Preacher

Side By Side
In the Elverson Methodist Cemetery, in what was once known is the Springfield Methodist Episcopal Church, are two graves side by side. One is that of the Rev. Alexander McGowen, and the other, his wife Magdalena Bruner McGowen. They are now part of the "landscape" of early Pennsylvania history; a history that they and their compatriots, originating from diverse homelands in Europe, created as they converged in the new world.

From Antrim O'er the Atlantic
Pennsylvania was a land of opportunity; a favorite destination for the Scots and Irish in the early 1800's, and for Swiss and Germans before that. So when young Alexander McGowen, born about 1781 in the Parish of Ramoan, County Antrim, came of age, he was also likely filled with dreams of a better life in America as he boarded the ship for his trans-Atlantic crossing. To this day, many McGowans live in the northern part of Antrim in the area known as "The Glens", in towns like Ballycastle, Toberbilly, Moyarget, Moss-side and Bushmills, who may very well be the offspring of the McGowan clan that Alexander had bid farewell to.

Destination and Destiny
Alexander arrived in Pennsylvania on July 16, 1807, which was a tenuous time for British-American relations. The USS Chesapeake Incident had occurred only a month earlier, and America was in the process of closing its ports to British vessels. The details are lost to us, but soon after his arrival, he became acquainted with the family of Ulrich (a.k.a. Owen) Bruner. The Bruners were of Swiss Palatine origin, and had immigrated to the new world a generation earlier. They were an influential family both in terms of the local economy and the local church in Chester, Berks and Lancaster counties. Perhaps it was Alexander's joining the Methodist church that led to his eventual marriage with one of Bruner's daughters, Magdalena, within the same year. Magdalena had been recently widowed, with two children. Fanny and Christian Detwiler retained the surname of their real father, but evidence suggests that Alexander cared for them as much as his own biological offspring. A total of six children were born between Alexander and Magdalena, one of which died in infancy. John Bruner McGowen, born 1815, was Alexander's only biological son, and the first child born after Alexander was naturalized as an American citizen on August 2, 1813. As Alexander had left his home town decades ago in search of a better life in a new land, eventually John B. would likewise seek a more fertile environment to build his own house upon, taking him "out west" to Ohio.

Plasterer, Preacher and Matchmaker
Alexander was a plasterer by trade, documented as being engaged in the rebuilding of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Morgantown, Berks County, Pennsylvania, and being paid a total of $250 for his efforts. He was also an active figure in the Methodist movement, becoming one of the first trustees of the Springfield Methodist Episcopal Church and the second class-leader, preaching as a lay minister until the time of his death. And like all people did back in those days, he farmed to feed his family, and the family provided helping hands. Alexander and his farm are mentioned in the family history of the Klingaman family: "When Betsey, or Elizabeth Klingaman was a young woman, it was customary for young ladies to take their spinning wheels around among the farmers and spend a week or more in doing up the spinning. At 'Elac' sic Alexander McGowen's she became acquainted with James Queen (sic Quein) a young man of sterling worth. Shortly after that, in 1811, they were married at James O'Neaill's." It was one of the descendants of the Klingaman family, Mr. Jim Turner, who researched and uploaded Alexander McGowen's grave to Find A Grave nearly two centuries later.

A Modest Yet Meaningful Legacy
In his will, dated April 9, 1852, Alexander McGowen leaves his wife Magdalena an estate of $1,700 with interest to be paid to her annually. Aside from this, he leaves $100 to his son John B. McGowen; $150 to his stepson Christian Detwiler; $30 and his carriage to his stepdaughter Fanny Detwiler Sypherd as well as $10 to each of Fanny's children. To his son-in-law, Jacob Bruner (husband of Elizabeth McGowen) went "Clark's Commentary", and the rest of his books were divided between sons-in-law John P. McCord (Jane McGowen's husband) and Elijah Bull (Harriet McGowen's husband) who are also named as executors of the will. And in a codicil dated August 18, 1852, he leaves $10 to each of Christian Detwiler's children. Samuel Shingle and Israel Finger witnessed both the will and the codicil.

With his only son and step-son moving away from home, one might be tempted to conjure up images of a lonely old man with perhaps only his wife to keep him company. But looking at census records for West Nantmeal Township will tell a different story. There never seems to be a shortage of other "unknown" souls living in the McGowen household, and one mustn't forget that his daughters and sons-in-law were living close by to offer them companionship in time of need. Alexander died on December 22, 1857. Magdalena joined him nearly 10 years later. Side by side in eternal rest, it seems safe to say that Alexander and Magdalena lived good and meaningful lives, and helped to enrich the lives of others in doing so.

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