George W. Chowning ^{1 3 4 5 6 7 8}

  General Notes:

[Jean M. Cuevas, Brøderbund WFT Vol. 7, Ed. 1, Tree #2478]
"His mother died when he was about three years old, and he was placed in the care of a Mrs. Bennett, where he lived until young manhood, his father having died not many years after his mother. He came to Illinois to search for his sister, Mary, whom he hadn't seen since his early childhood. He returned to Kentucky, remained a short time, married, and took his wife to Lincoln, Logan County, Illinois."
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George was a painter by trade, and some of Lincoln's first buildings were painted under is contract. He served Lincoln as first constable, first street commissioner, firs tax collector bought the firs plow and scraper ever on its streets. In 1869, he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law in the implement business, and established the well known firm of Edgar and Chowning. He belongs to Christian church and was a democrat.
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November 1889: At the state IOOF convention, Philanthropist George W. Chowning of Lincoln's Odd Fellows' Lodge 204 and the City of Lincoln pledged 40 acres and $10,000 for the [Illinois Odd Fellows' Children's] home to be built in Lincoln (Shelbyville was also being considered) ("Homeless Children and Orphans Find Haven at Lincoln Odd Fellows' Home," p. 2). In addition to the preceding grants, "Lincoln also contributed another $4,000 toward the purchase of land, while $8,000 was donated by R. B. Latham, P. P. Andrews, [D. H.] Harts [Sr.], and [Frank] Frorer, and S. A. Foley (Gleason, Lincoln: A Pictorial History, p. 185). With these funding sources "and the touching remarks of Mr. Chowning together with the central location and railroad facilities, Lincoln was chosen as the site for the home" (Courier, August, 26, 1953, p. 2).
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In the book "Genealogy of the Houser, Rhorer, Dillman, Hoover Families" by Dr. W. W. Houser, published 1910, page 87, a death date of 15 Feb 1903 for George is provided. The circumstances of his death are provided in great detail. However, the date given must be incorrect because in the 1900 Census, his second wife, Ellen Duff Wood, was already listed as widowed. Therefore the correct death date for George must be some time before June 1900.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He has alternate birth date of 1827 and a birth location of Kentucky.

This birth year was referenced by his age of 33 on the 1860 census.
. ⁷

• He appeared on the 1860 US Census in Lincoln, IL on 24 August 1860. ⁷

1860 US Census
Page 321, Roll 200, Dwelling 2275, Family 2336
Lincoln, Logan County, Illinois
Geo. Chowning..33..KY..Carpenter
(Living with wife and daughter.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 22 Feb 1825, then his age should have 35 instead of 33.
.

• He appeared on the 1870 US Census in West Lincoln Township, Logan County, IL on 13 August 1870. ⁸

1870 US Census
Page 60, Dwelling 410, Family 418
West Lincoln Township, Logan County, Illinois
G. W. Chowning..45..KY..Agricultural Implements
(Living with his daughter, Anna, at the home of his married sister, Mary.)
.

• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in East Lincoln Township, Logan, IL on 18 June 1880. ⁴

1880 US Census
Page 150A, District 42, Dwelling 296, Family 296, Roll 0227
East Lincoln Township, Logan County, Illinois
Pulaski Street
G. W. Chowning..Self..54..KY..Laborer
(Living with 2nd wife and 3 children.)

NOTE - If 22 Feb 1825 was his birth date, then his age should have been 55 instead of 54.
.

• He has alternate death information of 15 February 1903 and Lincoln, IL. ^{2 3}

George married Nancy Eloise Ryan on 23 December 1852 in Kentucky.^{1 2 3} (Nancy Eloise Ryan was born on 27 November 1836 in Kentucky ^{1 3} and died on 16 March 1864 ^{1 2 3}.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They appeared on the 1860 US Census in Lincoln, IL on 24 August 1860. ⁷

1860 US Census
Page 321, Roll 200, Dwelling 2275, Family 2336
Lincoln, Logan County, Illinois
Geo. Chowning..33..KY..Carpenter
Nannie Chowning..26..KY
Dulcinu Chowning..1..TN
.

  Marriage Notes:

This census record for George I. Chowning may indicate the existence of another son of George W. Chowning or he may be a son of one of the other multiple Chownings that lived in the area at the time:

1880 US Census
Page 446D, District 78, Family 71, Roll 203
Tunbridge Township, DeWitt County, Illinois
Geo. I. Chowing..Servant..23..IL..KY-KY..Farm Hand

He was living with his 1st cousin, William Perry Howser, and his wife.
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George next married Ellen Duff Wood on 14 November 1872.^{1 4} (Ellen Duff Wood was born on 29 November 1839 in Moscow Mills, MO ^{1 4 9 10} and died in 1926.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They appeared on the 1880 US Census in East Lincoln Township, Logan, IL on 18 June 1880. ⁴

1880 US Census
Page 150A, District 42, Dwelling 296, Family 296, Roll 0227
East Lincoln Township, Logan County, Illinois
Pulaski Street
G. W. Chowning..Self..54..KY..Laborer
Ellen Chowning..Wife..40..MO..Keep House
Mozena Chowning..Dau..19..IL
Pearl Chowning..Dau..5..IL
Charly Chowning..Son..3..IL

NOTE - Mozena was a daughter of George's first wife, Nancy Ryan.
.

  Marriage Notes:

The 1900 US Census clearly shows that Ellen was a widow but some researchers continue to provide a death date for her husband, George Chowning, of 15 Feb 1903 based on incorrect information in the book "Genealogy of the Houser, Rhorer, Dillman, Hoover Families" by Dr. W. W. Houser, published in 1910. Obviously the 1903 date must be incorrect and George must have died sometime before 1900.
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