Tribute to John Moran, Confederate Veteran

John Williamson Moran,
portrait by Cornelius Hankins

From the Confederate Veteran
vol. 20, no. 6, June 1912

John W. Moran

That no worthier man wore the Confederate gray than John Moran will stand all tests.  He was born in Dresden, Tenn., March 20, 1840; and died in a Nashville Hospital April 12, 1912. His father, James Moran, was a merchant of Dresden, and his mother was Miss Harriet Harris, of McLemoresville, Tenn.  He was educated in the schools of his neighborhood.  He was of philosophic temperament; and while performing the duties that were incumbent upon him, his humor was proverbial and he was ever entertaining to his associates.

He was about ready for business life when the War of the States began, and he, together with a younger brother who soon surrendered his life in the cause of the Confederacy, enlisted in Company I, 31st Tennessee Infantry, in the brigade gallantly commanded by Brig. Gen. O.F. Strahl.  His first battle of importance was that of Perryville, Ky, in which the army and his company suffered heavily.  It had perhaps the largest percentage in killed and wounded of any company in that sanguinary battle.  He was wounded in the battle of Chickamauga.  He was again severely wounded in the battle of Franklin, and was long a sufferer in the hospital.  He frequently told a good story of his experience in the battle of Resaca.  He had captured a rabbit, which he secured in his shirt bosom, and of course had fond anticipations of a feast after the fight.  The battle waxed so hot, however, and his heart became so generous toward "Molly Cottontail" that he gave her freedom.  He may have been author of the Zeb Vance story in saying: "Go it, Molly Cottontail!  If I had no reputation at stake, I'd run too."  At all events, when the battle was over he regretted not having the rabbit for supper, as he had more appetite then than during the battle.

The funeral was conducted by Rev. J.W. Irion, assisted by the regular pastor of the M.E. Church, South, Rev. Mr. Douglass, and Rev. G.T. Mayo, pastor of the Baptist Church of Dresden.  It was largely attended.

Joseph E. Jones in an interesting sketch of Mr. Moran states that "he succeeded along all the lines of life that are worthwhile.  His business methods were open and above suspicion.  As possessor of a large fortune at his death, there was not in it all an unclean dollar."

Mr. George W. Martin, a life-long friend and a man who has long given liberally of his time and his means for the cause of education, paid high tribute to the deceased at the funeral and complied with the request of the Veteran in sending the manuscript that follows:

"The late John W. Moran, who died recently at St. Thomas Hospital, Nashville, on his way from Florida to his home in Dresden, Tenn., was one of the most prominent and best known citizens of his county.  His father was one of the early settlers of Dresden, and for many years was a leading merchant of the place.  John spent his entire life where he was born and reared, with the exception of four years in the Confederate Army.  When not at school he was in the store assisting his father, and had just arrived at manhood when the War of the States began.  He volunteered early in the struggle, remaining throughout the the entire war, and from the record given by his comrades no one performed his duties with greater fidelity and bravery than he. He spoke often of the war, but claimed little for himself.  He took great pleasure in commending the noble acts of others, as he was accustomed to do through life.  He was a man of remarkable courage, but he used it with great discretion and justice. He had excellent self-control and possessed decided opinions on all subjects, but expressed himself reasonably and rationally and always with a view of being just and truthful.

"As a successful merchant and banker his integrity was above reproach and never questioned by any one who had business relations with him, and he performed every duty put upon him with noble fidelity.  His integrity was of such high order that if I had met him in the most remote part of the world and he had been on his way to Weakley County I would have been willing to intrust my entire fortune, great or small, to him to deliver in Weakley County without the slightest fear of his failing to comply with my request literally.  His individual wants were few and easily supplied but he spent his life in honest toil to supply the wants of his family and to fulfill his duty to the public, which he did admirably.

"John Moran was a well-developed and an "all-round" man.  As husband, father, citizen, soldier, neighbor, he contributed well to all these relations.  He had the misfortune to lose his wife when his children were young, and his devotion to rearring and training them cannot be commended too highly.  If there is anything that can lighten the grief and sorrow for the loss of this valuable man it is to know how well his life was spent and all his duties performed.  The influence of his life will long retain a benefit and a blessing to many."

While frugal in his personal affairs, he was diligent for the public, and served most efficiently as chairman of the Democratic committee of his (Weakley) County as well as publicly in many other useful ways.

In his early thirties Mr. Moran married Miss Sophia Gunn, whose father, Dr. Gunn, formerly lived in Nashville.  She preceded her husband to the better land seventeen years.  Their five children are, Fannie (Mr.s J.B. Ezell), Ida (Mrs. W.G. Timberlake), Marion (Mrs. C.Eh. Cobb), Harold (Should be Harrell), and James.  The latter of the two sons succeeds as president, while Harold takes the place of their beloved father on the directorate of the Bank of Dresden.  He is survived by an aunt, Mrs. Virginia Wood, and a sister, Mrs. Aggie Irvine.  Not only these loved ones but the entire community sorrowed in his death as if all were of close kin to him.  The testimony at his funeral of a life devoted to uprightness and love for his fellow men was well worth his struggle for seventy-two years.

Manie Campbell Hatton

I haven't yet been able to make the connection between the Hatton's and the Moran's but I know there is one.  I had previously written about Emma Hatton, a cousin of Sophia Riley Gunn Moran.  Manie Hatton is Emma's sister.  This obituary was found among family papers in the Moran home.  Manie was born in Lebanon Tennessee, September 25, 1855 and died in Americus, Georgia March 14, 1938.  She is buried with her parents in Cedar Grove Cemetery.

NOTE:  The article title lists her as Marie, she is Manie.  In addition, they mention several of her Towson relatives but they mispell the name as Towsen.

Death End Long Career of Service as School Teacher in Nashville for Marie (Manie) Hatton
Miss Manie Ann Hatton, 82, teacher of three generations of Nashville's public school pupils until her retirement in October, 1935, died in Americus, GA., Monday night, friends were advised Tuesday.

The daughter of Gen. Robert Hatton, Civil War officer whose monument stands on the public square of his native Wilson county in Lebanon, Miss Hatton won laurels of her own in Nashville.

For nearly 50 years, most of them in old Howard School, she served as teacher, hall principal and friend of pupils, many of whom are now gray-haired grandparents.

In the latter years of her service in the school system before she requested that she be retired Miss Hatton in the capacity of hall teacher for the three lower grades had seen some of her early pupils' grandchildren attend her classes.

Since her retirement Miss Hatton had lived with her nephew, Lambuth R. Towson, of Americus. She is also survived by a niece, Miss Manie Hatton Towson, missionary to Japan who is now on leave at Americus.

Funeral services will be held at the First Methodist Church in Lebanon at 10 o'clock with the Rev. Dean Stroud officiating.  Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery beside her parents.

Miss Hatton was born in Wilson County in 1856.  Her father, who practiced law in Lebanon and was a member of the United States Congress before the Civil War, was killed at the Battle of Pines.  She was educated at the Corona School in Lebanon, Dr. D.C. Kelly's School for Women which flourished during the Civil War period and afterwards.  Later she was graduated at Ward's Seminary in Nashville.

In Nashville Miss Hatton taught school while her mother served as state librarian.  They maintained a home here until Mrs. Hatton resigned her state post to join another daughter, the late Mrs. W.E. Towson, in Japan, where Mr. Towson served as a missionary.  After her mother moved to the Orient Miss Hatton made her home with various friends, most of the time residing with Mrs. George Gray at 45 Rutledge Street.

Children at Howard School from the elegant eighties down to the modern thirties loved Miss Hatton.  They recall her as looking the same always, the plump little lady of the old South whose gentle pleasant manner beguiled them into the regimentation of Howard School's class system.

Miss Hatton attended Peabody College even in recent years, keeping abreast of her profession.  She was a member of McKendree Methodist Church and was frequently honored by the various local chapters of the Uniteed Daughters of the Confederacy.  Her last visit to Nashville was last summer when she spent a short time with Mrs. Gray.  *NOTE: McKendree Methodist Church is also where Sophia Eleanor Ezzell married Matt Dobson.

Lycurgus Confucious Cowardin, 1872-1903

I was spending time today with some of the COWARDIN relatives.  Specifically, Lycurgus Confucious Cowardin or "Curg" to his friends.  Curg was the son of Collin Hunter Cowardin and Louisa McLoud and was born in Illinois.  The Cowardin family moved from Illinois to Iowa in 1875 when Curg was about three years old.

In 1896, Curg married Lydia Ann LINCOLN.  She was the daughter of Alvin A. Lincoln and Sally Jane Hobson.  The following year they had a daughter, Byma Lincoln Cowardin.  In 1899 another daughter was born named either Lora or Leora "Sarah".  In 1902 Dwight Leslie was born and their last child was born in 1903 and was named Lycurgus Chalmers.

On March 15, 1903, Curg went out to his duck blind on the Missouri River, just a little less than a mile from his home.  Unlike hunters of today who hunt mostly for sport I'm sure Curg was hunting for food to feed his family.  Curg had probably been handling a gun for many years and duck hunting since he was a boy.  However, on this fateful day he made the mistake of reaching for the gun and taking it by the muzzle.  The trigger caught on something and the bullet entered his left wrist and travelled up to his elbow, just about taking his lower arm off.   He was weak, probably lost a lot of blood and in shock but he was also alone so he had to do his best to make it back home by himself.  According to reports when he got close to his house he called for help.  He was taken inside and the Doctor was called  but his injuries were too great.  

Lycurgus Confucious Cowardin died at 5:05 am on the morning of March 16, 1903. He was just 30 years old.

From the Mill County Tribune, March 19, 1903

DIES FROM WOUND

L.C. Cowardin Accidentally Shot While Hunting Ducks

L.C. Coward, living northwest of Pacific Junction about a mile distant from the Missouri river, died last Monday morning at 5 o'clock from the effects of the accidental discharge of a shot gun.

On Sunday afternoon--the day before--he was down in the willows on the river bank alone, hunting ducks.  About 6 o'clock while waiting for game he set his gun up against a willow in front of him.  Wishing to recover it, he reached forward and grasping the barrel near the muzzle with his left hand, drew it towards him.  The hammer caught on a twig, the gun was discharged, the load catching the unfortunate man in his wrist and tearing its way up the forearm to the elbow.

This is the story of the accident as related by Mr. Cowardin and confirmed by those who visited the spot later and found his gun.

He immediately started for home, a mile distant, faint from the shock and growing momentarily weaker from the loss of blood, and the trip was the limit of his endurance.  It was 8 o'clock before a doctor could be summoned and reach him and he never fully rallied from the shock, continuing to grow weaker until Monday morning when he died.  During most of this time he was conscious and able to talk, and told the story of the accident about as related above.

The deceased was an estimable young farmer about 30 years of age who came here about five years ago from hamburg and last fall bought a farm in section 12 of Platteville township.  He married Lydia Lincoln, the daughter of Al Lincoln, and she is left with a 4 year old girl and 2 year old boy.

Funeral services were held Wednesday at 10 o'clock, at the home, conducted by Rev. I.P. Kelley of the Pacific Junction Methodist church, burial being made in the Glenwood Cemetery.

From the Malvern Leader, March 19, 1903

A fatal accident happened over on the Missouri bottom Sunday afternoon about 5 o'clock.  L.C. Cowardin had gone duck hunting and having staid some time in a "blind" watching in vain for ducks to come in he decided to go home.  Taking up his gun by the barrel he pulled it toward him when it discharged and literally tore off one of his arms.  He was given surgical attention as soon as possible but despite all efforts he died Monday morning at 5 o'clock from loss of blood.  He was a large strong man 30 years old and a son-in-law of Albert Lincoln.  The funeral was Wednesday. (Actually his father in law was Alvin A. Lincoln.  HIS father was Albert.)

From the Glenwood Opinion, March 19, 1903

The people of Pacific Junction and Glenwood and vicinity were saddened Monday to learn of the death by accidental shooting of L.C. Cowardin, commonly known as "Curg."  Mr. Cowardin was out shooting along the Missouri river Sunday afternoon.  He was on his own farm about three-fourths of a mile from the house, and about 5 o'clock was about to pick up his gun and return home.  He grasped the gun by the muzzle pulling it toward himself when the trigger struck something and it went off.  The charge went into his left arm. Cowardin made for home as pest he could.  But he was so weak from loss of blood and pain that he almost fainted several times.  When he got near enough to the house he shouted and fell in a swoon.  Dr. DeWitt was immediately summoned but the poor fellow was so exhausted that he sank rapidly and died the next morning at 5:05.  Death is particularly sad coming in such a manner to one so young.  Mr. Cowardin leaves a wife and two children. (Actually, according to census records he leaves behind a wife and four children)

Mrs. Cowardin is a daughter of Al Lincoln.  The deceased was born July 3, 1872 in Sullivan County, Mo., and besides his wife and children leaves a mother, a sister, Miss Stella, a brother, O.B. Cowardin, all of Humphreys, MO.; another brother D.K. of Filmore MO. These and Mrs. Allen, an aunt, and mark Maer, a nephew also of Humphreys, were present at the funeral which occurred Wednesday, interment being in the Glenwood Cemetery.

Interestingly enough Curg's son, Dwight Leslie Cowardin, died in a hunting accident just 30 years later.  Dwight was out with two other men and their motorboat capsized and sunk.  Dwight could not swim so his two friends tried to save him but in their attempts they almost drowned as well.  Dwight was just 32 years old at the time of his death and he left behind a wife and three children.  A twist to the story....the Jim CHEYNEY that is mentioned in the newspaper article is the brother of Edith Cheyney.  Edith is married to Dwight Cowardin's brother, Lycurgus Chalmers Cowardin.

Taken from the Burlington Gazette November 25, 1932

Farmer Drowned, Hunt Companions Have Close Call

Pacific Junction Ia., Nov 25- (AP) Dwight Cowardin, 32, a farmer near here, drowned, and two hunting companions narrowly escaped similar deaths when their motorboat capsized and sank on the Missouri river here Thursday.

Jim Cheyney, 21 and Harry Kiser, 32, the companions, sought to rescue Cowardin, who, unable to swim, nearly pulled Cheyney under.  Kiser was able to reach shore with Cheyney only after considerable difficulty.

Cowardin's body was found last night.  He is survived by his widow and three children.

Possibly one of the
Cowardin's from Iowa.

Something completely separate but possibly related to the Iowa Cowardin's is this picture of a young boy in a kilt. It's not annotated so we don't know who the boy is.  The only information was the photographer's mark: Monfort and Hill, Burlington Iowa.  A year ago when I first scanned this picture I wrote about it on Victorian Hoarders. At that time we didn't know of any Moran kinfolk that had gone to Iowa.  Today, we do.  It's very possible that boy in the kilt is one of the Cowardin children from Iowa.