From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Typed by Laurie Birks Dean. 

pp. 526-527
W. J. W. COWDEN, a prominent resident of Wheeling, West Virginia, has 
been continuously engaged in the practice of law in this city since 
1872.  He was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, May 1, 1846. 
	Mr. Cowden was educated at Westminster College, from which 
institution he was graduated June 29, 1871.  Prior to that time he had 
taught the classics and higher mathematics in several academies, and 
when a boy had decided upon entering the legal profession.  September 7, 
1871, he came to Wheeling from Western Pennsylvania, and at once took up 
the study of law in the office of W. P. Hubbard, Esq.  He applied 
himself diligently to the work and was admitted to the bar on October 6, 
1872.  He first entered politics in 1876, when he was chosen secretary 
of the Republican state central and executive committees, and served in 
that capacity until 1884, when he was made chairman of both committees.  
He managed the campaigns of 1884 and 18??, but always refused to run for 
office himself.  He refused to accept the nomination for justice of the 
District Court for the First District of West Virginia when such 
nomination was equivalent to an election.  In 1889, without knowledge or 
consent, Mr. Cowden was appointed postmaster of Wheeling.  He resigned 
his chairmanships and served as postmaster until January 1, 1894, 
although he still kept in touch with his extensive law practice.  Since 
that time he served on the state committee for the campaign of 1896, and 
during that of 19?? he was a member of the state committee having in 
charge the speakers' bureau.  In march 1897, he was appointed paymaster 
general of the staff of Governor Atkinson with the rank of brigadier.  
His acceptance in May, 1898, of the office of paymaster in the volunteer 
service, with the rank of major, shortly after the outbreak of the 
Spanish-American War, was at the suggestion of Adjutant General 
Appleton.  In this capacity he served until March 1899, in the 
Department of the Gulf, with headquarters at Atlanta, Georgia, but 
discharging the functions of his office in different camps in South 
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas.  He has had a 
large practice in law ever since opening an office in Wheeling, in 1872, 
and has always evinced a deep interest in educational matters.  He has 
been a member of the board of directors of the Allegheny United 
Presbyterian Theological Seminary and president of the board of regents 
of West Virginia University.
	Mr. Cowden was united in marriage with ?, a daughter of the late 
Rev. J. T. McClure D. D., who, from March 11, 1850, until his death on 
January 2, 1900, served as the beloved pastor of the First United 
Presbyterian church of Wheeling.  This union resulted in the birth of 
one daughter, Helen McClure, who resides with her parents at No. 1129 
Chapline street.  Religiously, Mr. Cowden was reared a Calvinist, and is 
now a member of the First United Presbyterian church.  He has been one 
of the most active of its members, is an elder, and served as 
superintendent of the Sunday school for many years.