GOWERN BROS. These gentlemen, who conduct an extensive carriage-making establishment, and are also dealers in harness and horse goods, in Canonsburg, are prominently identified with the leading business interests of that place. The family are of Irish descent, the grandfather, William Gowern, having been born and reared in Ireland, where he was married to a Miss Annie Nugent. Soon after marriage the young couple came to America, and located permanently in New York, where three children were born to them: Robert F., Mary and Katie. Robert F. Gowern, eldest son of William Gowern, served an apprenticeship in New York with Brewster, at the wagon-making trade. After completing it he took a tour through the Southern States, working as he traveled. Returning to New York he was married, on July 18, 1852, to Alice Robinson, a native of that city, of Scotch parentage. Two years later Mr. Gowern located in South Egremont, Mass., and not long afterward moved to Lincoln, Ill., thence to Harrodsburg, Ky., and finally came to Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., Penn. In 1875 he organized the firm of R. F. Gowern & Sons, for the manufacture and sale of carriages. The firm commenced business on a modest scale, in a small frame building where they remained until 1886, in which year they erected their present extensive factory. Robert F. Gowern has had four children, namely: William J., Robert F., Lillie (wife of John Boyce), and Annie (deceased). In politics the father is a loyal member of the Democratic party. William J. Gowern was born December 5, 1853, in New York City, and passed his boyhood at home. In early youth he entered a carriage-making establishment at Pittsburgh, Penn., where he remained two years, then completed his apprenticeship with the firm of S. B. & C. Hayes, Washington, Penn. He is familiar with every department of the business, which he conducts with characteristic energy. Like his father before him, he is an active Democrat. He is yet unmarried. Robert F. Gowern, Jr., was born March 8, 1856, in South Egremont, Mass. He learned the carriage making trade of S. B. & C. Hayes, of Washington, Penn., and is an accomplished workman, thoroughly understanding his business. On July 15, 1880, he was married to Miss Nannie A. Simpson, and has three children, all living. In 1887 the brothers bought the entire interest in their father's establishment, and added to the business harness and horse goods, the firm being now known as the Gowern Bros. They make 100 carriages per year, and are constantly busied with filling orders, working to their fullest capacity.

Text taken from page 1308 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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