Individual Details
Alva Dessie Cowan
(4 Mar 1902 - 8 May 1990)
On the 1930 Census of Gore, Sequoyah Co., Oklahoma, Alva is with her husband and children.
Notes from phone call of Carol Kirkpatrick with Alva on 10/19/86. Talked for over an hour. Alva says LeEtta Cowan sent a large book on Porter, Cowan and Temple families. Alva (G. Momie) will leave John Kirkpatrick the book. She stated Isaac and Martha Johnston both died from tuberculosis. Martha died when her son Roscoe was 4-5 years old. Roscoe shot at his step dad with a .45. Roscoe did not like him. Roscoe went to live with an uncle. At between 11-12 years old, Roscoe went to Oklahoma to live. Roscoe ended up in Hanford, California visiting Alva's brother, Nolan, who worked in the vineyards there. Nolan's wife had TB and was cured as did one of their daughters. They had son named Calvin. Roscoe's sister named Myrtle died of TB in Utah. Her married name was Baker. She had three children: Roscoe who also died of TB, Ruth had TB, and Mildred. Mildred married a cop named Dugan and lived in Los Angeles.
Roscoe left Alva during a flood. She couldn't cross a makeshift bridge. He left her at the house. When Luther, her son, was almost 18 years old they left Oklahoma with 2 suitcases each; they left Roscoe. The next year the house washed away.
The book-like manuscript Alva talked about was located at David Kirkpatrick's home. He gave the book to his brother John.
Alva was a quilt maker. She had made 10 quilts each for Faye, Luther, Roscoe and herself when they separated.
The Gazette, Colorado Springs, CO, May 9, 1990: Alva D. Martin, 88, of Monument died Tuesday at a Colorado Springs hospital. She was a homemaker. No local visitation is scheduled. Morrison Funeral Chapel, St. Helena, Calif., is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be in Eureka, Calif. Swan-Law Funeral Home, 501 N. Cascade Ave., was in charge of local arrangements. Mrs. Martin was born March 4, 1902, in Arkansas to Robert F. and Norma (Porter) Cowan. She lived in Upper Lake, Calif., for 13 years before moving to Monument in February. Mrs. Martin was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Martin, who died in 1948. Mrs. Martin is survived by two sisters, Millie Jumper of Albuquerque, N.M., and Francis DuPiere of Henrietta, Okla.; four grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, a daughter and two brothers.
Notes from phone call of Carol Kirkpatrick with Alva on 10/19/86. Talked for over an hour. Alva says LeEtta Cowan sent a large book on Porter, Cowan and Temple families. Alva (G. Momie) will leave John Kirkpatrick the book. She stated Isaac and Martha Johnston both died from tuberculosis. Martha died when her son Roscoe was 4-5 years old. Roscoe shot at his step dad with a .45. Roscoe did not like him. Roscoe went to live with an uncle. At between 11-12 years old, Roscoe went to Oklahoma to live. Roscoe ended up in Hanford, California visiting Alva's brother, Nolan, who worked in the vineyards there. Nolan's wife had TB and was cured as did one of their daughters. They had son named Calvin. Roscoe's sister named Myrtle died of TB in Utah. Her married name was Baker. She had three children: Roscoe who also died of TB, Ruth had TB, and Mildred. Mildred married a cop named Dugan and lived in Los Angeles.
Roscoe left Alva during a flood. She couldn't cross a makeshift bridge. He left her at the house. When Luther, her son, was almost 18 years old they left Oklahoma with 2 suitcases each; they left Roscoe. The next year the house washed away.
The book-like manuscript Alva talked about was located at David Kirkpatrick's home. He gave the book to his brother John.
Alva was a quilt maker. She had made 10 quilts each for Faye, Luther, Roscoe and herself when they separated.
The Gazette, Colorado Springs, CO, May 9, 1990: Alva D. Martin, 88, of Monument died Tuesday at a Colorado Springs hospital. She was a homemaker. No local visitation is scheduled. Morrison Funeral Chapel, St. Helena, Calif., is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be in Eureka, Calif. Swan-Law Funeral Home, 501 N. Cascade Ave., was in charge of local arrangements. Mrs. Martin was born March 4, 1902, in Arkansas to Robert F. and Norma (Porter) Cowan. She lived in Upper Lake, Calif., for 13 years before moving to Monument in February. Mrs. Martin was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Martin, who died in 1948. Mrs. Martin is survived by two sisters, Millie Jumper of Albuquerque, N.M., and Francis DuPiere of Henrietta, Okla.; four grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, a daughter and two brothers.
Events
| Birth | 4 Mar 1902 | Checotah, McIntosh Co., Oklahoma |  | ||
| Marriage | 22 Dec 1918 | Sallisaw, Sequoyah Co., Oklahoma - Roscoe Conklin Johnston | | ||
| Divorce | 1943 | Sallisaw, Sequoyah Co., Oklahoma - Roscoe Conklin Johnston | |||
| Marriage | 2 Aug 1944 | Ukiah, Mendocino Co., California - Edwin Milton Martin | | ||
| Death | 8 May 1990 | Colorado Springs, El Paso Co., Colorado | | ||
| Burial | Sunset Memorial Park, Eureka, Humboldt Co., California | |
Families
| Spouse | Edwin Milton Martin (1902 - 1948) |
| Spouse | Roscoe Conklin Johnston (1891 - 1945) |
| Child | Bonnie Faye Johnston (1920 - 1990) |
| Child | Luther Wayne Johnston (1923 - 1983) |
| Father | Robert Franklin Cowan (1872 - 1948) |
| Mother | Norma Temple Porter (1878 - 1968) |
| Sibling | Ira Otis Cowan (1900 - 1900) |
| Sibling | Nolan Temple Cowan (1904 - 1964) |
| Sibling | Mallie Elizabeth Cowan (1905 - 2000) |
| Sibling | Leroy L. Cowan (1908 - 1979) |
| Sibling | Frances Irene Cowan (1911 - 1997) |
Endnotes
1. Birth Record in Cowan Family Bible.
2. Verbal from Alva D. Cowan.
3. Research of LeEtta Cowan.
4. Marriage License of Edwin M. Martin and Alva C. Johnston (n.p: August 2, 1944, n.d).
5. Death Certificate of Alva Dessie Martin, CO90007402.
6. Verbal from David Kirkpatrick.