Veteran Bio

Andrew J. McGown, subject of this sketch, came to Texas in 1835, as is stated in the Headright Certificate issued to him February 1, 1838 by the San Augustine County Board of Land Commissioners for one-third of a league of land. He was a member of Captain William Kimbro's San Augustine Company at San Jacinto and on February 1, 1838 he received Donation Certificate No. 875 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. On December 29, 1837 he had been issued Bounty Certificate No. 1438 for 320 acres of land for having served in the army from March 15 to June 15, 1836. He sold the certificate to Matthew Hopkins for one hundred dollars.

Mr. McGown was deputy surveyor of Harrison County in 1847. He later became a minister of the gospel. For several years he edited the Texas Presbyterian at Huntsville, retiring in May, 1856. He was a prominent Mason and for a time published the official organs, the BLUE LODGE and the KNOGHTS TEMPLAR.

REV. McGown died at Crockett, Texas, August 7, 1870 but was probably buried in Huntsville. The following notice of his death appeared in THE TELEGRAPH , Houston, August 11, 1870.

DEATH OF A.J. McGOWN-- A dispatch came yesterday to our fellow citizen, Dr. W. C. McGown announcing that his brother, Rev. A. J. McGown died suddenly in Crockett on Sunday last. Bro. McGown was an old Texan, a soldier at San Jacinto, whose life had been spent in Texas. He was a most useful and laborious minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He assisted in the organization of the First Church, the First Presbytery, and the first Synod of that church in Texas. He established and for several years edited with marked ability, the Texas Presbyterian. At the time of his death he was traveling as agent or evangelist of the General Assembly in Texas. Reverend McGown is buried in a grave near Huntsville. Reverend McGown was married to Martha Ann Hightower in Florence, Alabama in 1853. Mrs. McGown died January 30, 1918 in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas. Children of Reverend and Mrs. McGown were Samuel Houston, who died in youth; Miss Margaret H. residing in Huntsville, Mary, who married J.F. Plyler; and Martha Ann McGown, who married W.E. Trimble.

Samuel Houston McGown, son of Andrew Jackson McGown, was married to Kate Hess. Their children were Andrew H. McGown, who married and lived in Dallas. Eugene McGown, who married and lived in Dallas. And three more children whose names were unknown as of this writing. Copy of letter to Andrew H. McGown Nov. 9, 1938 from compiler L.W. Kemp.

Nov. 9, 1938 Mr. Andrew H. McGown 901 North Tyler Street Dallas, Texas. For many years I have been gathering information about the men who participated in the Battle of San Jacinto. You are receiving two copies of this sketch, one of which you are to keep. I shall appreciate it if you will either fill in some of the blanks in the other and return it to me, or suggest the name of someone for me to write to. L.W. Kemp 214 Westmoreland Avenue Houston, Texas.

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