Person Page - 151

     Charles Goss was born circa 1813 at Canada.² He was born circa 1815 at Canada.^3,4 He appeared on the census of 1855 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁵ He lived in 1870 at Savannah, Wayne, New York, USA.²

     Julia Gowans was born circa 1852 at New York, USA.¹

     Simmons Gowers was also known as Simmons Gowen. Simmons Gowers was also known as Simon Gowers.¹ He was born circa 1825 at Saratoga, New York, USA.^1,2,3 He lived in 1850 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.¹ He married Huldah M Fuller, daughter of Hezekiah Fuller and Mary Ball, on 23 January 1850 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁴ Simmons Gowers appeared on the census of 1855 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁵ He lived in 1860 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.

     John Gowers married Lucy Daley, daughter of Nathaniel Daley and Sarah Daley.

     James R Gowers was also known as James A Gowers. He was born circa 1858 at Cayuga, New York, USA.¹ He lived on 25 June 1875 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.¹

     Huldah M Fuller was also known as Huldah Maynard.⁴ She was born circa 1830 at Cayuga, New York, USA.^2,5,3 She lived in 1850 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.² She married Simmons Gowers, son of John Gowers and Lucy Daley, on 23 January 1850 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁶ Huldah M Fuller lived in 1860 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA; Age: 29.³ She lived on 25 June 1875 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁵

     Fred G Gowers was born circa 1855 at New York, USA.

     William Gowers was born circa 1854 at Cayuga, New York, USA.^1,2

     Oscar H Gowers was also known as Oscar A Gower.⁵ He was born circa 1871 at Cayuga, New York, USA.^1,2,5,3,4 He lived on 25 June 1875 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.¹ He married Elizabeth Burdgug. Oscar H Gowers lived on 1 June 1915 at Auburn Ward 7, Cayuga, New York, USA; Age: 44Relation to Head of House: Head.⁵ He lived in 1920 at Seneca Falls Ward 3, Seneca, New York, USA; Age: 49Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head.³ He married Anna McDonald on 21 September 1924 at Geneva, Ontario, New York, USA.⁶ Oscar H Gowers lived in 1930 at Seneca Falls, Seneca, New York, USA; Age: 59Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head.² He lived in 1935 at Seneca Falls, Seneca, New York, USA.⁴ He lived on 1 April 1940 at Seneca Falls, Seneca, New York, USA; Age: 69Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head.⁴ He died on 23 July 1949 at Seneca Falls, Seneca, New York, USA.⁷

     Mary E Gowers was born circa 1864 at Cayuga, New York, USA. She lived on 25 June 1875 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.

     Mary Ball was also known as Polly Ball.³ She was born circa 1814 at Cayuga, New York, USA.^1,3 She married Hezekiah Fuller. Mary Ball appeared on the census of 1855 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁴ As of 1865, Mary Ball lived at Aurelius, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁵ She died on 9 October 1887.⁶

     Hezekiah Fuller was born circa 1806 at Greene, New York, USA.^1,2 He married Mary Ball, daughter of Samuel Ball and Mary Hedden. Hezekiah Fuller appeared on the census of 1850 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.³ He appeared on the census of 1855 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.² He died on 12 December 1863.⁴

     Jacob Groff was born circa 1783 at New York, USA.² He was born circa 1788 at New York, USA.¹ He was born circa 1789 at Montgomery, New York, USA.^4,5 He married Hannah Ramon. Jacob Groff lived in 1840 at Cayuga, New York, USA.³ He lived in 1850 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.² He lived in 1860 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁴ He lived in 1870 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.¹

     Her married name was Hatfield. Angeline DeGroff was also known as Harriet DeGroff. She was born circa 1820 at New York, USA.^1,2 She married William Hatfield on 30 September 1838 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.³ Angeline DeGroff lived in 1850 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.² She lived in 1860 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.¹ She died on 10 November 1862 at Erie Canal; Accidental drowning.

     Hannah Ramon was also known as Annie Groff.⁴ She was born circa 1787 at New York, USA.⁴ She was born circa 1793 at Herkimer, New York, USA.^1,3,5 She was born circa 1794 at Herkimer, New York, USA.^2,5 She married Jacob Groff. Hannah Ramon lived in 1850 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.² She lived in 1860 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.³ She lived in 1870 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.¹ She lived in 1880 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁴ She died in 1880.⁶

     William Groff lived at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.² William Groff was also known as William Graff.⁷ He was born on 8 July 1836 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.^1,2,3,6,7 He was born in 1838 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁶ He was born in July 1838 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁵ He was born circa 1842 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁴ He married Fanny (?) William Groff lived in 1870 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.³ He lived in 1880 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁴ He lived in 1892 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA; Age: 55.⁷ He lived in 1900 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁵ He lived in 1910 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA; Age in 1910: 72Marital Status: Widowed; Relation to Head of House: Self; Relation to Head of House: Head.⁶ He died on 18 January 1915 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA, at age 78.⁸

     William H Graff was also known as William H Graff.¹ William H Graff was also known as William W Groff.^2,3,4 He was born circa 1862 at New York, USA.³ He was born in August 1863 at Cayuga, New York, USA.^2,4,1,5 He lived in 1880 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.³ He lived in 1892 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA; Age: 29.¹ He lived in 1900 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁴

     James Gowers was also known as James Gowens. He was born circa 1820 at New York, USA.³ He was born circa 1822 at New York, USA.⁴ He was born circa 1823 at London, England. He was born circa 1824 at Saratoga, New York, USA.^1,2,5 He was born circa 1825 at Cayuga, New York, USA.⁶ He married Jennett Unknown. James Gowers lived in 1850 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁴ He appeared on the census of 1855 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁷ He lived in 1860 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.² He lived in 1870 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.³ He lived in 1880 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.¹ He died on 1 October 1885 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁸

     John H Gowers was also known as John H Gowens. He was born circa 1848 at Cayuga, New York, USA.^1,2,3,4 He lived in 1850 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.¹ He lived in 1860 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA; Age: 12.² He lived in 1870 at Auburn Ward 4, Cayuga, New York, USA; Age: 22.³ He married Jennie (?)

     Jennett Unknown was also known as Janette Grower.¹ Jennett Unknown was also known as Genet Gowers.² Jennett Unknown was also known as Genet Perry.³ Jennett Unknown was also known as Janett Gowens. She was born circa 1818 at Schenectady, New York, USA. She was born circa 1827 at Jefferson, New York, USA.^2,4 She was born circa 1828 at New York, USA.⁵ She was born circa 1830 at New York, USA.¹ She married James Gowers, son of John Gowers and Lucy Daley. Jennett Unknown lived in 1850 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁶ She lived in 1870 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.¹ She lived in 1880 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁵

     Lucy Daley was born circa 1797. She was born circa 1807 at Albany, New York, USA.¹ She was born on 21 July 1807 at Schenectady, New York, USA. She married John Gowers. Lucy Daley married (?) Perry.² Lucy Daley married John Smalley. Lucy Daley lived in 1860 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA. She lived in 1880 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.³ She died on 3 November 1883 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA, at age 76.⁴

     (?) Perry married Elizabeth Perry. (?) Perry married Lucy Daley, daughter of Nathaniel Daley and Sarah Daley.¹ (?) Perry died before 1850.

     Jennie (?) lived at Auburn, Cayuga, New York, USA.¹ She was born circa 1853 at New York, USA.¹ She lived in 1870 at Auburn Ward 4, Cayuga, New York, USA; Age: 17.¹ She married John H Gowers, son of James Gowers and Jennett Unknown.

     Ida M. Gowers was born circa 1874 at Cayuga, New York, USA.^1,2 She lived on 25 June 1875 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.² She lived in 1880 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA; Age: 6Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Granddaughter.¹

     John Gowers was born circa 1830 at Saratoga, New York, USA. He was born circa 1833.⁴ He married Melissa Sanders on 4 July 1850 at Cayuga Bridge, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁵ John Gowers appeared on the census of 1855 at Mentz, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁶ He began military service on 2 August 1862 at Montezuma, Cayuga, New York, USA.^2,3 The story of John Gowers is sad, indeed. He deserted his regiment only to be by his wife's side as she gave birth to their sixth child, his namesake. John willingly allowed himself to be arrested and returned to the regiment to face punishment. And John paid the ultimate price when he was later captured on the battlefield, confined to Andersonville prison, and died a captive.
But there is so much more to the story. At some point in 1864, John's wife Melissa Sanders Gowers "absconded from her home in Montezuma, NY, in the year 1864, with one William Phenus, and took the younger child, John Gowers…with her and left the other children." The five children, ages 14 through 5, were taken in by family member William Gowers.
But what became of Melissa. The man she ran off with, William Phenus, happened to have a wife of his own, Gower family friend Julia Phenus. Melissa and William “moved to New York city and kept a house of ill fame in 1866.” According to family friends, Melissa and five-year-old John died in the city in 1868.
William Gowers applied for and was granted a minor’s pension to help him care for the five older children. It took a while for the pension to be approved, and only happened with the help of Colonel MacDougall.
The 111th New York Volunteer Infantry: A Civil War History
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The 111th New York Volunteer Infantry: A Civil War History


· After being captured at Harpers Ferry mid-way through September 1862, the notion that they were entitled to go home and remain there until paroled was the topic of much discussion among the men of the 111th New York. If they were not allowed to take up arms against the enemy until properly exchanged, didn’t it make sense that they return to their loved ones in New York and wait there? This was hotly debated between the officers and enlisted men. It was a crushing blow when the New Yorkers learned they would instead be confined at Camp Douglas in Chicago.
It is unclear when John Gowers first learned that his wife had taken ill and was confined to her home. Most certainly the thirty-two-year-old Gowers knew his wife was due to give birth within the month when he enlisted that August, but the news that she was not well probably hit like a gut punch. That feeling of despair must have become overwhelming as Gowers and his comrades marched away from Harpers Ferry as paroled prisoners, their fate uncertain.
What is also unclear is when Gowers made up his mind that he needed to get home to his wife and their ten-year-old daughter, Julia Alfreta. Did Gowers leave the ranks along with seven others when the regiment was camped outside of Frederick, Maryland, on September 19th? Or did he wait until the regiment arrived in Annapolis on the 21st of the month, where another three soldiers slipped away for parts unknown.
Between when the 111th New York left Annapolis on September 24th and when it arrived at Camp Douglas late on September 27th, twenty-four men deserted from the ranks. It is possible that Gowers jumped the train in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, along with seven other members of his Company C. It is also possible that Gowers arrived in Chicago and over the next few months was one of the forty-three New Yorkers who found their situation intolerable and abandoned the regiment.
There is no documentation as to when Private Gowers left the regiment and made his way back to New York. In fact, the only reference to his desertion comes from a document published in June 1874 by the Committee on Military Affairs of the 43rd Congress of the United States. This report accompanied H.R. Bill 3401, which was introduced in the House of Representatives by the man representing New York’s 25th Congressional District, Clinton MacDougall. The title of the bill was, “The Relief of John Gowers.”
According to the report, John Gowers and others “seem to have held the idea that, being paroled, they had the right to go to their homes and remain until exchanged. Gowers went to his home, at Montezuma, N.Y., and remained there until he was arrested.” The report indicates that Gowers returned to be with his wife and when arrested willingly rejoined his regiment. The one-page report further states that, “He was tried by an illegal court, and sentenced to pay expense of arrest; to wear…the wooden overcoat, and to be confined in the guard house.” It isn’t until the end of the report that the reason for Gowers’ desertion is given. “The evidence also shows that his wife was confined, and gave birth to a child, two days after his arrest.”
Unfortunately, the tale does not have a happy ending. “He served out his sentence, and afterwards did good service until he was captured, in 1864, and died at Andersonville prison…The committee think the case one of peculiar hardship, and one in which great injustice has been done to the heirs of the soldier, who did good service and had no intention of deserting.” Left out of the report was that Gowers was captured in June 1, 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA, probably while on picket duty, and that he died three months later of dysentery. It is there in Andersonville that he rests; not in New York with the wife for which he sacrificed so much.
What is the relief sought by the bill introduced by Gowers’ one-time regimental commander? Like much of the details surrounding the life of John Gowers, that, too, is unclear. But there are enough clues to make some educated guesses. It could be that Mrs. Gowers had applied for a widow’s pension and was denied. But those records have proven elusive. On July 22, 1869, William M. Gowers was granted a minor’s pension for this father’s service with the 111th New York. It is possible that this is the child that caused the elder Gowers to abandon his post and rush to his wife’s side. We may never know. What is clear, however, is that after more than a decade, Congressman MacDougall was still looking out for the welfare his men and their families. He must have thought that the Gowers had sacrificed enough for their country and it was time the country did something for them.^7,5 He died on 10 September 1864 at Andersonville, Sumter, Georgia, USA.¹

     Charles Henry Gowers was born on 28 July 1853.^3,4 He married Georgie Anna Cline on 10 April 1916 at Cayuga, New York, USA.² Charles Henry Gowers died on 16 July 1934 at Seneca Falls, Seneca, New York, USA, at age 80.⁵

     Melissa Sanders was born circa 1835 at Cayuga, New York, USA.^3,4 She married John Gowers, son of John Gowers, on 4 July 1850 at Cayuga Bridge, Cayuga, New York, USA.⁵ Melissa Sanders died circa 1868 at New York, USA.⁵

     Julia A Gowers was born on 11 December 1853 at Cayuga, New York, USA.^2,1,3 She married John M Denson in 1874.⁴ Julia A Gowers died in 1939 at Cortland, Cortland, New York, USA.

     Josephine Gowers was born on 15 August 1857 at New York, USA.^1,2,3 She married William Wilkins in 1874.⁴ Josephine Gowers married Joseph Duest between 1920 and 1930. Josephine Gowers died on 28 February 1939 at age 81.

     Emily Jane Gowers was born on 11 March 1851 at Cayuga, New York, USA.^1,3,2 She married Dana Beardsley.⁴ Emily Jane Gowers died on 18 March 1927 at Sennett, Cayuga, New York, USA, at age 76.⁵