Recorded Features of the Gowin Family from Civil War Records

Through research and muster roll documentation from the Civil War, I’ve been able to confirm the features of many of the GOWIN brothers and sons of Pollard Gowin & Mary “Polly” Conner. All three brothers fought with the Union Army.

JOHN CONNER GOWIN (b. 1831):
Unit: Company H, 123rd Infantry Volunteers, Illinois
Mustered: 6 Sep 1862
Age: 31
Rank: Sergeant
Description: 6ft. ½ inch; Light Hair; Blue Eyes; Fair Complexion; Married
Occupation: Farmer
Birth: Madison County, KY
City of Muster: Mattoon, IL for 3 years
Residence at time of enlistment: Neoga, Cumberland, Illinois
Mustered out: 28 Jun 1865 in Nashville, TN by Capt Hosea
Mustered out rank: First Sergeant
NOTE: Another document shows he was injured in one of his legs.


WILLIAM MENEFEE GOWIN (b. 1832):
Unit: Company E, 27TH Mounted Infantry, Home Guard Volunteers, Missouri
Unit: Company A, 54th Infantry Volunteers, Illinois (See Note 2)
1st Muster: 4 Aug 1861
2nd Muster: Joined 14 Nov 1861 in Coles County, IL and mustered in on 17 Feb 1862; show in records as ‘reenlisted as veteran’
1st Muster Age: 29
2nd Enlistment Age: 29
Rank: Private
Description (See Note 2): 5ft. 9 inch; Dark Hair, Grey Eyes, Light Complexion, Married
Occupation: Farmer
Birth (See Note 2): Madison County, KY
City of 1st Muster: Johnson County, MO for 3 years
City of 2nd Muster: Jonesboro, IL
Residence at time of enlistment at 1st Muster: Johnson County, MO
Mustered out with 27th Mounted Inf: The unit mustered out on 27 Jan 1862
Mustered out with 54th Inf: Unknown
Mustered out rank: Private
NOTE: Captured at the Battle of Lexington on 12 Sep 1861 with the 27th MO Inf.
NOTE 2: I was told by a family member that after being captured, he then went to Illinois and joined Company A, 54th Infantry. The county and information fits, but the name appears as “William W Gowin”.


THOMAS JEFFERSON GOWIN (b. 1841):
Company E, 45th Infantry Regiment Volunteers, Missouri
Enlisted: 10 Aug 1864
Muster: 10 Aug 1864
Age: 23
Rank: Private
Description: 5ft. 9 inch; Dark Hair; Hazel Eyes; Fair Complexion; Married
Occupation: Farmer
Birth: Madison County, KY
City of Muster: Warrensburg, MO for 3 years
Residence at time of enlistment: Not mentioned
Mustered out: 6 Mar 1865 in St. Louis, MO
Mustered out rank: Private
NOTE: