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Effie Henry’s Mother’s Family

Effie Josephine Rhining was born October 16, 1893 in Beardstown IL, to Emma Eugenia Cowan and Lewis Rhining. We don’t know much about Mr. Rhining. I’m not aware of any photographs and have only his birth and death years (1851-1910).

According to family lore, Mr. Rhining abandoned his wife and daughter, and maliciously either burned or took all their food from the house. We know he was married several times before and after he married Emma Cowan, and that he was tried for murder in 1887. We will probably never know what happened between Effie’s parents, but I’m classifying this as a mystery because it’s a question I hope to shed light on somehow.

Emma also had an older daughter, Jennie Marie “Elizabeth” Mott, who was about four years old when Effie was born, and who’s father was Sanford Mott. Emma’s obituary does not mention either Sanford Mott or Lewis Rhining, but lists her as Mrs. Emma Rhining. Jennie’s obituary also does not mention her father, Sanford Mott.

The 1900 US Census lists Emma as a carpet weaver.

The 1910 Census lists her as widowed head-of-household, working as a self-employed  seamstress, living with her daughter and son-in-law, Albert and Effie Henry. It also says her father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother in Missouri. They lived at 1015 S Edwards St., W. Beardstown IL.

Emma died with both her daughters by her side on May 21, 1926. Her obituary describes her as a dedicated caretaker:

“All who knew her loved her. She was a good mother, living a life of love and unselfishness and sacrifice for her loved ones. Her concern was first for them and others, and herself last. It could truly be said of her, “She hath done what she could.” She had been in failing health for the last several years and while never well and at times suffering much she never complained.”

William and Nancy Cowan’s home in Monmouth (Effie’s Aunt Effie standing in front)

Emma’s parents were William Cowan and Nancy Campbell Smith Parish.

Nancy was born March 18, 1823 in Marion County, Missouri, daughter of William Ezekiel Parrish and Mildred Smith Parrish. She died February 20, 1908 in Kansas City, Missouri, and is buried in Monmouth Cemetery.

Nancy’s obituary reads:

Mrs. Nancy Cowan, widow of William Cowan, died at the home of relatives in Kansas City February 19, 1908, and her remains were brought back to Monmouth for burial. In 1840 she married Mr. Cowan in Marion County, Missouri and came here at once to make her home. He preceded her in death about ten years. The family was among our most prominent. Mr. Cowan was a Veteran of the Civil War, and ran for some years a blacksmith shop on West Broadway just west of South A Street (which many of us older citizens will remember). He had served two terms as mayor, one as marshal and one as an alderman from the First Ward for five years. The couple made their come at 123 North B Street, and the old house still stands although in very dilapidated condition. It is just north of the Parochial school.

William’s parents were David W. Cowan and Margaret Keyl. William was born February 10, 1815 in Pennsylvania. He died June 20, 1898 in Monmouth, and is buried in Monmouth Cemetery.

William was a Private in the Missouri Mounted Volunteers, and fought with Company L, under Colonel Richard Gentry, in the Second Seminole War in, 1837.

William and Nancy were married in 1840, in Palmyra, Marion County Missouri, on October 14, 1840. Emma was born 16 years later, on September 19, 1856, and had at least 10, and maybe 12 brothers and sisters. (Effie was named after Emma’s younger sister, Effie Josephine Cowan.)

William was a blacksmith, by trade. He had a  shop in a log cabin, on the south side of West Broadway, just west of A Street, in Monmouth. The cabin was the old Garrison Inn. He served as mayor of Monmouth from 1864-1865.

William died of a cold he contracted on township Election Day in April, and had been bedridden for 11 weeks. When he died, he was held in high regard in the community, and a large add in the Monmouth Review entitled “A Pioneer Gone” was taken out. Towards the end of the article it read, “They respected him for his honor and upright ways, and valued him as a friend for his many qualities they could admire.”

For more on William Cowan, read this William Cowan biography, from the Monmouth College website.

Children of William and Nancy Cowan:

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  1. James Howard February 2, 2015

    Mrs. Jennie Marie Switzer

     Mrs. Frank Switzer daughter of the late Mrs. Emma Rhining and a former Beardstown resident, died at 4:20 o'clock yesterday afternoon at St. Vincent hospital in Taylorville, Ill. following an illness of six weeks.
 The body was taken to the Malcomeson Funeral Home in Taylorville and will be brought to this city to the Cline Funeral Home tomarrow.
 Funeral services will be held from the Cline Funeral Home at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon.
 Mrs. Switzer was born in St.Louis on December 5th 1889. She was 47 years and 2 days of age at the time of her death.
 She is survived by her husband and one sister, Mrs. A.L. Henry, of Hammond, In.
 She was a member of the Macabees lodge, the Royal Neighbors and also of the Methodist church.

    Illinois Star, Beardstown Dec. 1936

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