In 1868, Susan McGowan(#12), eldest child of
John McGowan(#3)
and Mary McCann(#11) was born. On her first birthday, an elm tree was planted by her father in front of the
house. This tree lasted until around 1970 when unfortunately, it caught "Dutch Elm Disease" and died. It
was subsequently removed.
There is little information available about Susan or her brothers and
sisters for their early years. However, the
Holy Rosary Church in St. Stephen was constructed and opened in 1889. 21 year old Susan McGowan is
recorded as having been a pewholder at that time. When she was just two weeks short of her 31st birthday
in 1899, Susan was married to William L. Hannigan. A newspaper article of the time covers the event:
A very pretty wedding took place on Thursday, June 22nd, at St. Patrick's church, Rolling Dam, when Miss Susan McGowan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John McGowan, was united in marriage to William Hannigan of Bay Road. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Father Dollard. They afterwards proceeded to the home of the bride's parents where breakfast was served, a large number of friends being present. The bride was very tastefully attired in a pearl grey poplin with white satin and pearl trimmings. Miss Florence Hannigan acted as bridesmaid and George McGowan as groomsman. They were the recipients of many presents. Their friends wish them every happiness.
![[Susan McGowan]](susanmcg.jpg)
My mother can clearly recall jovial times of discussion involving Aunt Susan's
difficulties in learning to drive an automobile. Considering the time in history automobiles became available
to the ordinary citizen, this learning would have taken place when she was at a somewhat mature age. My
mother recalls stories of Aunt Susan and her sister Edna(#14) driving from St. Andrews to St. Stephen with
one shifting the gears while the other ran the gas and brake controls.
Aunt Susan has been
described as a lady with a stern disposition. She was known by some to be a
person who could relentlessly pursue what she wished until she got it (a well established typical McGowan
trait that I believe has been passed on to future generations). On the other hand, I suspect Susan and her
sister Edna were rather forward thinking, liberal by nature and somewhat radical for their time particularly
when they were in their prime years. Their exploits with the automobile as well as the fact their tombstones
both record their maiden names (unusual for the time and place) would tend to support this theory.
For most of her life, Susan lived in the Charlotte County area. For the last four years, however, she lived
in Florence Mass. with her eldest daughter Mary(#101), where she died in 1943 at the age of 74.
Next born was Robert McGowan(#13). Since he would soon own the farm and
raise his family there, he
will be dealt with later in this document.
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