William Henry Cowper (abt. 1848 - 1943)

Born about 22 Jul 1848 in Dalhousie, Restigouche, New Brunswick, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Ida Jessie Mary (Thomas) Cowper — married 3 May 1872 in York, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died 12 Jun 1943 at about age 94 in Newfane, New York

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mark Cowper [send private message]

Biography

June 12, 1943, Obituary

W. H. Cowper, 95, Dies at Newfane

NEWFANE, N.Y., June 12 - A resident of Newfane for 31 years and active in community life until recently months, William Henry Cowper, 95, died this morning at his home in the Lockport-Olcott road, where his son, former Supervisor, Ewart G. Cowper, and family resided with him. He had been failing in health for six weeks. He would have been 96 years old on July 22.

Born in Dalhousie N. B., Mr. Cowper early in life became an American citizen and for 50 years conducted a lumber merchandising business in the Tonawandas.

He was the oldest member of the Queen's Own Rifles, famous Canadian regiment, of Toronto Ontario, and he possessed a medal given him when he was 17 for his part in helping repulse the historic Fenian Raid by Irish-American enthusiasts, who sought to free Ireland from England.^[1]

He was first a member of Cowper and Gregory, a lumber firm in Tonawanda, and later alone conducted the business of the W. H. Cowper company. Last summer he had complete care of a large potato patch, working daily in his son's garden. Until his recent lapse in health, he usually read four hours per daily, keeping fully abreast of home and foreign happenings.

Besides his son here, Mr. Cowper is survived by another son, Harold W. Cowper, and a daughter, Mrs. Alexander Allen, both of Buffalo; 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Four grandsons are in the armed services.

Friends may call at the home tomorrow afternoon and evening. Private funeral services will be conducted Thursday in Buffalo.

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/military-medals-1812-1969/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=17729&

• "Canada, Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMFY-VXL : 22 May 2021), Nancy Couper in entry for Willaim Henry Couper and Ida Jessie Mary Thomas, 03 May 1872; citing registration , Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,862,698.

• "New York State Census, 1892," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQSV-C4K : 23 February 2021), William H Cowper, 1892; citing Buffalo, Ward 24, E.D. 05, county offices, New York; FHL microfilm 825,695.

• Cowper, Mark. Personal recollection, 27, July 2016.