Harmon Cowens.- The gentlemen for whom this sketch is prepared has had an active and varied career, and by reason of his long connection with two important public stations has become widely and favorably known throughout Kent county and various parts of the state of Michigan. His father, John Cowens, was a native of Tennessee, and his mother, Lucy Friley was born in Ohio. They were married in Berrien county, Mich., and there resided on a farm until his father’s death in 1887. Mrs. Cowens still owns the old homestead and is passing her declining years amid its quiet scenes. The children of John and Lucy Cowens were three in number, viz: Egbert, who is looking after his mother’s interest; Harmon and Emeline-the last named being deceased. Harmon Cowens was born November 22, 1851, in the county of Berrien, Mich., and grew to manhood on the farm, attending the common schools at intervals until his twentieth year, and remained under the parental roof until reaching the age of twenty-five. He then went to Valparaiso, Ind., where for two years he pursued his studies in the Northern Indiana Normal school, with the object of preparing himself for the teacher’s profession in view. During several succeeding years he taught school in winter and farmed in summer, and was thus employed until 1881, at which date he came to Grand Rapids to accept the position of deputy United States marshal under James Monroe. He continued under that official four years, and was reappointed by Mr. Monroe’s successor, D. R. Walters, with whom he remained one year, resigning at that time to become deputy sheriff of Kent county, to which place he was appointed by L. K. Bishop. He discharged the duties of the deputyship during the full term of four years, and then retired from the office to engage in the livery business in Grand Rapids, in partnership with George W. Powers a firm which did a fairly remunerative trade for one year, when the subject disposed of his interest and purchased a farm of eighty acres in Paris township and began tilling the soil for a livelihood. He continued this peaceful pursuit, however, but a single year when he again entered the sheriff’s office as deputy under Isaac Lamoreaux, two years later served in like manner under N. Rice, at whose death occurred before the expiration the official term, he was appointed to the same position by the incumbent, Irving Woodworth thus spending nine years in the office. This, with the four years as deputy U.S. Marshal, brought Mr. Cowens in contact with a great (Page 116) people, and afforded him exceptional advantages of becoming familiar with the trend of public sentiment. This long continuance in office is the strongest proof of his popularity, and the manner in which he has discharged the duties incumbent upon him speaks, much louder than words, of his peculiar fitness for the place to which he has given such protracted service. Mr. Cowens is a republican in all the term implies, and while always active in behalf of his party’s interests is not a rabid partisan, and scorns to stoop to questionable methods which so often constitute the stock in trade of ward politicians. He numbers among his warmest friends many whose political faith is diametrically opposed to his own, and all parties have found him not only reliable, but, when occasions warrant, able to rise above party for the common good. He is a member of the Pythian fraternity, belonging to Eureka lodge, and in religion subscribes to the Methodist creed. The marriage of Mr. Cowens was solemnized in Grand Rapids with Miss Clara M. Watt, who was born in Litchfield, Mass., March 5, 1861. To this union have been born the following children: Myrtle and Harvey Monroe (twins), Nellie Catherine and Lucy Charoltte. Mr. Cowens owns two houses and three vacant lots in Grand Rapids, has a good farm, and otherwise comfortably situated in the matter of this world’s goods.