Ephraim Merriot Cowdin

  General Notes:

GEN: Listed as "Ephraim M. Carder" in the 1853 genealogy book "The Nash Family; or Records of the Descendants of Thomas Nash of New GEN: Haven, Connecticut 1640." Believe this is probably a misreading by Rev. Sylvester Nash. GEN: ******** GEN: Roster Iowa Soldiers - War of Rebellion Vol 2 GEN: Cowden, Ephraim M. Age 44. Residence Liberty Township, nativity New GEN: York. Enlisted Sept. 21, 1864. Mustered Sept. 21, 1864. Promoted GEN: Fifer. Mustered out June 2, 1865, Washington, D. C. - Company D, 11th Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry GEN: Excerpt from the "Roster Iowa Soldiers - War of Rebellion Vol 2", Page 282 GEN: "After the fall of Atlanta, the Eleventh Iowa had several weeks of rest in camp. It then joined in the pursuit of Hood's army GEN: into northwestern Alabama. By the middle of November it returned to Atlanta, and, when the great march to the sea began, the GEN: regiment, with its brigade, was in its place in line. Arrived at Savannah, another period of several weeks of rest and GEN: recreation was enjoyed. GEN: Early in 1865, the regiment, with its brigade, embarked for the short voyage on the Atlantic to Beaufort, S. C., and from that GEN: place again took up the line of march for the North. In this closing campaign of the war--noted for the great hardships GEN: endured by the troops upon the long and toilsome march, the skirmishes and conflicts with the retreating rebel army, which was GEN: compelled to surrender when successful resistance was no longer possible--the Eleventh Iowa performed its full share of duty. GEN: After the surrender of Johnston's army at Raleigh, N. C., the Union troops marched on to Washington. Arriving there it went GEN: into camp, and, when the veteran troops of the Army of the Tennessee marched down Pennsylvania Avenue, no State was more GEN: proudly represented in that grand marching column of war worn and battle scarred veterans than Iowa, and among all the Iowa GEN: regiments none presented a more soldierly appearance or received greater honor from the cheering multitude than the Eleventh GEN: Iowa and its associate organizations in the old Iowa Brigade. GEN: From Washington the regiment proceeded by rail and steamboat to Louisville, Ky., where it was mustered out of the service of GEN: the United States on the 15th day of July, 1865. From Louisville, the regiment was sent to Davenport, Iowa. The citizens of GEN: this good city had witnessed the departure of the regiment for the war, had welcomed it upon its return on furlough as a GEN: veteran organization, had again witnessed its departure for the field after the brief visit of its officers and men at their GEN: homes, and they now extended a cordial and enthusiastic welcome to these war worn heroes, in response to which Col. William GEN: Hall, then broken in health and scarcely able to stand, said, "I cannot stand long enough to make a speech, I can only say to GEN: the citizens of Davenport, in response to the warm and generous welcome that they have extended to my comrades of the Eleventh GEN: Iowa, and myself, that the record we have made as good soldiers from the State of Iowa, while fighting in defense of our GEN: common country, will be duplicated by the record we shall make as good citizens, when we shall have returned to our homes and GEN: loved ones." GEN: The regiment was then disbanded, and the veterans were soon on their way to their respective homes, there to receive the glad GEN: welcome of their families, friends and neighbors, and to make good the pledge of their old commander, in the record of good GEN: and faithful citizenship, which they established and maintained. "

Ephraim married Cornelia Ann Dickson, daughter of Forgus Dickson and Harriet Nash, on 10 Oct 1843 in Illinois. (Cornelia Ann Dickson was born on 11 Oct 1824 in Erie County, PA and died in 1860 in Roscoe, Stearns County, Minnesota.)

Ephraim next married Mary Howlett.