Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2025 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of Buffalo & Pepin Counties, Wisconsin - Vol. 1 pub. H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., Winona, MN - 1919 [page 128-130] ALLAN J. COWIE, now living in Arcadia, was for many years one of the leading citizens of Buffalo county, and his work as an educator, agriculturist and State Probabtion Officer has been of such a nature as to give him a place among the county's most prominent sons. Born on a farm in Glencoe township, Aug. 25, 1865, son of GEORGE and MARGARET (FAULDS) COWIE, he received his early education in the district schools and was reared to agricultural pursuits. Such good progress did he make with his studies that in the winter of 1881-82 he was engaged to teach in the Roesch district in his native township. He attended the Arcadia high school during the school year of 1882-83, taught in Gale township during the school year of 1884-85, and in the Carpenter district near Blair during the school year of 1885-86, resigning in the spring of 1886 to be- come principal of public schools at Independence, serving until the close of the school year in 1887. In the meantime he had spent his spare time in working on the farm. The fall of 1887 found him employed by the Northwestern Elevator Co. of Minne- apolis, with which concern he remained for three years, being located at Marshall, Granite Falls and St. Cloud, all in Minne- sota. Returning to his home in the fall of 1890, he formed a partnership with J. G. FAULDS, in the publication of the Arcadia Leader, selling out two years later to his partner. In 1893, a year after his marriage, he located permanently on the home farm, which in 1904 he purchased from the other heirs. Successfully carrying on general agriculture, he took an active interest in public affairs, served for many years on the school board of his district, was treasurer of his township for two terms, and finally became chairman, doing most efficient work both in the town and as a member of the county board. In 1908 he rented the farm and moved to Arcadia, in order to secure better educational advantages for his family. A year later he was appointed by the State Board of Control as Probation Officer, and after six month's service was elevated to the rank of Chief Probation Officer with two assistants. He continued to give the state most faithful and valuable service until the fall of 1911, when he returned to the farm. In the spring of 1912 the Glencoe Co-operative Creamery Co. was organized and MR. COWIE was elected as its first secretary and manager. He held this position for two years, when he re- signed to give his entire attention to his farming interests. In the summer of 1916 he retired, and again moved to Arcadia, where he has a pleasant and commodious residence and where he is one of that city's leading citizens. Of a fraternal nature, MR. COWIE joined the Masonic order in 1891, Independent Order of Foresters in and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen in 1902, and in all of these orders he still retains his membership. In politics he has been an independent Democrat and has been an unswerving supporter of President Woodrow Wilson and his policies since his first en- trance into political life, doing everything in his power as a loyal citizen to aid the cause of America and her noble Allies. MR. COWIE was married Jan. 24, 1892, to ANNA MUIR, daughter of JAMES and MARTHA (FAULDS) MUIR, also a native of Glencoe town- ship, and they have four children: DOUGALL P., RODERICK A., MARTHA MURIEL and JAMES EUGENE. ALAN C. TAFT, son of a sister of MR. COWIE, who was orphaned at an early age, was also a member of the family until he finished high school in 1916, when he en- tered Leland Stanford University, taking a course in journalism. A year later he enlisted in the Ambulance Corps and has been with the American Expeditionary Forces in France since January, 1918. DOUGALL P., born May 5, 1893, in Glencoe township, was graduated from the Arcadia high school and is now with the American Expedi- tionary Forces over seas. RODERICK A., born in Glencoe township, Feb. 23, 1895, also graduated from the Arcadia high school and is in the United States Naval radio service at Harvard Radio School, Cambridge, Mass. MARTHA MURIEL, born in Glencoe, July 23, 1899, was graduated from the Arcadia high school, and was for one year employed as a stenographer for the superintendent of schools at New Richmond, Wis.; now enlisted in student nurse reserve. JAMES EUGENE, born in Glencoe, Nov. 24, 1906, is a student residing at home. MR. COWIE and his family are people of high social standing. He is a brother of JUDGE ROBERT S. COWIE of La Crosse, Wis., the well known lawyer and jurist, and his own record in the educational field has been such as to bring him into considerable prominence and make friends for him all over the state. He is now but little past the prime of life, and it may well be that his career of useful- ness is not yet ended. ===========================================================================