Cowles, Calvin J. (Calvin Josiah), 1821-1907
Variant namesCalvin Josiah Cowles was a Wilkes County, N.C., merchant specializing in roots and herbs who traded with the North and England. Cowles was a Whig and post-war Republican, superintendent of the U.S. Mint at Charlotte, N.C., 1869-1884, and consistent promoter of land, mining, and railroad development in northwestern North Carolina.
From the description of Calvin J. Cowles papers, 1773-1941 (bulk 1875-1907). WorldCat record id: 25507450
Calvin Josiah Cowles (1821-1907) of Wilkes County, N.C., was a merchant specializing in roots and herbs who traded with the North and England. Cowles was a Whig and post-war Republican and superintendent of the United States Mint at Charlotte, N.C., 1869-1884. Cowles was born in Yadkin County, N.C., to Josiah Cowles and Deborah Sanford Cowles. As a teenager and young adult, Cowles clerked at his father's store and in 1846 moved to Wilkes County, N.C., where he opened his own general merchandise store, specializing in roots and herbs, called J. & C. J. Cowles. Cowles was also deeply involved in the acquisition of land for purposes of mining, timber, railroad building, and speculation. He also owned land which he rented for agricultural production. A large portion of Cowles land interests were in North Carolina, however, he also speculated in lands further west, chiefly in Kansas and South Dakota, but also in Colorado and Wyoming. Cowles was also a voluntary county statistician and weather observer for the state and federal agricultural departments.
Cowles was married in 1844 to Martha T. Duvall, with whom he had five sons, including Arthur Duval Cowles. After Martha's death, Cowles married Ida Augusta Holden, daughter of North Carolina governor W. W. Holden. The second marriage produced five children, including Calvin Duval Cowles (1849-1937), who served with the United States Army in conflicts against Native Americans and the Spanish in Cuba, and Charles Holden Cowles (1857-1957), a North Carolina legislator and editor-publisher of The Wilkes Patriot.
From the guide to the Calvin J. Cowles Papers, 1773-1941, (bulk 1875-1907), (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)
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referencedIn | Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1865-1891 | Smithsonian Institution Archives | |
referencedIn | Smithsonian Archives. Ru 52: Assistant Secretary, Incoming Correspondenc. | ||
creatorOf | Calvin J. Cowles Papers, 1773-1941, (bulk 1875-1907) | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection | |
creatorOf | Cowles, Calvin J. (Calvin Josiah), 1821-1907. Calvin J. Cowles papers, 1773-1941 (bulk 1875-1907). | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | |
referencedIn | Weather Bureau | National Archives at College Park | |
referencedIn | Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 | Smithsonian Institution Archives |
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Ashe County (N.C.) | |||
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Kansas |
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Copper mines and mining |
Ethnology Archaeology Anthropology |
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Geology |
Herb industry |
Medicine |
Merchants |
Mica mines and mining |
National Museum |
Natural history |
Real property |
Scientific publications |
Smithsonian Exchange |
Smithsonian Publications |
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Person
Birth 1821-01-06
Death 1907-04-01