Cowles, Calvin J. (Calvin Josiah), 1821-1907

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Calvin 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.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
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
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Armin, Frank. person
correspondedWith Baird, Spencer F. person
associatedWith Brandreth, William. person
associatedWith Cowles, Arthur Duval. person
associatedWith Cowles, Chas. H. (Charles Holden), 1875-1957. person
associatedWith Cowles family. family
correspondedWith Endlich, Frederic M. (Dr.) person
associatedWith Finley, A. W. (Augustus Washington) person
associatedWith Gray, Julius Alexander, 1833-1891. person
correspondedWith Grosh, A. B. (Rev.) person
associatedWith Hanna, George B., b. 1835. person
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith Hinsdale, John. person
associatedWith Holden, W. W. (William Woods), 1818-1892. person
associatedWith Horton, Phineas. person
associatedWith Jackson, Davenport, 1850-1884. person
associatedWith Long, Max. person
associatedWith Polk, George. person
associatedWith Republican Party (N.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Reynolds, Henry. person
associatedWith Strauss, Charles. person
associatedWith Sutherlin, William Thomas, 1822-1893. person
associatedWith Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930. person
associatedWith Terry, Harvey. person
associatedWith Vance, Robert B. (Robert Brank), 1828-1899. person
associatedWith Young, John A. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Ashe County (N.C.)
North Carolina
South Dakota
Kansas
Subject
Copper mines and mining
Ethnology Archaeology Anthropology
Exchanges Of Publications
Families
Geology
Herb industry
Medicine
Merchants
Mica mines and mining
National Museum
Natural history
Real property
Scientific publications
Smithsonian Exchange
Smithsonian Publications
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1821-01-06

Death 1907-04-01

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