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- EMMETT D. McGOWAN has been for many years one of
- Janesville's most successful lawyers. His legal ability and
the painstaking and scholarly attention which he devotes to each
interest that is confided to his care have gained for him an
increasingly large clientage, while his broad, intelligent comprehension
of public affairs, and his genial and generous disposition, have
made for him many friends.
- As the name suggest, the family is of Irish descent on the
father's side,
- its native heath being Newtown Butler, County Fermanagh,
in the Emerald Isle. His mother's family is of military stock,
her grandfather, a hero of the
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- Revolution, having been one of the guards over Major Andre
and present at his execution, while her father, Daniel BENNETT,
was a volunteer in the war of 1812. Mr. McGOWAN's grandfather,
John McGOWAN, and father, James S. McGOWAN, emigrated to America
in 1843, and settled in Rochester, N.Y. Several years after James
S. removed to Walworth county, Wisconsin, making his home at
Allen's Grove. From that point he removed to Beloit, where he
was employed in the construction of the paper mills, and about
1858-59 he took up his residence in Janesville, where he is still
living. Mrs. James S. McGOWAN (whose maiden name was Louisa M.
BENNETT), the mother of Emmett D., was born in Jefferson county,
N.Y. Her brother, John R. BENNETT, was a distinguished and honored
Wisconsin jurist, having been for many years judge of the Twelfth
Judicial Circuit of Wisconsin.
- Emmett D. McGOWAN's life has been passed in Janesville, where
he was born July 15, 1859.
- He has one sister, Mary L. (Mrs. Charles F. NILES), of Menomonee,
Wis. In his education, as in his professional success, Mr. McGOWAN
is an example of that type of determined man of which America
is so justly proud, to which she owes so much, who, lacking the
early advantages which fall to some, have hewed out a place for
themselves. Not being able to go to college, he supplemented
attendance at the public school with a course of reading at home,
embracing substantially one of the classical courses of study
laid down by the Faculty of the Wisconsin State University. His
legal education was also obtained by his own efforts. He read
law in the office of BENNET & SALE, and in December, 1883,
was admitted to the Bar. In July of the following year he formed
a partnership with Edwin F. CARPENTER. In 1886 Mr. McGOWAN was
the successful candidate, on the Republican ticket, for the office
of clerk of the circuit court of Rock county. This dissolved
the partnership, and the aptitude and fidelity exhibited by Mr.
McGOWAN resulted in four elections to the same responsible position,
whose duties he continued to ably and honorably discharge until
1895. At the expiration of his official term he resumed the practice
of law, in which his natural talent, his ability for hard work,
and his professional skill, have brought him increasing reputation
and success. He is a Republican in politics. His love of social
association has made of his handsome home, at No. 154 Milton
avenue, a place which his friends delight to visit. He is a member
of Western Star Lodge, No. 14, A. F. & A. M.; of Janesville
Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M.; and of Janesville Commandery, No. 2,
K. T. He is also past chancellor in the order of the Knights
of Pythias.
- Mr. McGOWAN has been twice married, on June 30, 1887 to Abbie
L., a daughter of Joseph
- H. and Mary HILL, of Beloit, Wis., by which union there were
two children, Louise H. and Joseph B. Mrs. McGOWAN was an invalid
for several years from the illness that caused her death. She
was a member of Christ Episcopal Church. On Jan. 11, 1899, Mr.
McGOWAN married Katherine, a daughter of Ellis and Martha A.
(PARER) SHOPBELL. She is a member of the First Congregational
Church of Janesville.
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- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c)1901, pp. 64-65; lithograph from same book.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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