Individual Details

The search for possible parents for Louisa has been fruitless. I have discovered that living in Kemper Co, MS, and enumerated two doors from William Higginbotham and family, was the family of Elijah McCoy - and he had two daughters, one age 5-10 [Louisa would have been about 10 based on her age in later censuses] and one age 15-20. I wonder if the surname has been misunderstood - either by the enumerator, or by descendants.

Mississippi State Censuses [Index only] also show Elijah McCoy in Kemper Co, MS in 1841 and in 1845. By 1850, we find that Elijah is 64, b. in SC and is apparent wife is Charlott, age 55. Probably, a married son, William B., age 32, wife Lavinia, and children are living in the same household with Elijah. Unfortunately all the household is "dittoed" as born in South Carolina, which seems unlikely. Other McCoy relatives appear to be on the same page. There is an Elisha, age 55, also b. in SC with wife Sarah - among their children was an Elijah age 10. John McCoy was 27, born SC - wife seems to be Cancace on Candora, age 21. There are no Louisas among the females in any of the McCoy families.

It is also noted that no McGowans or even remotely similar spellings are found either in the 1840 Kemper Co, MS census, or in the State censuses for that time as indexed on Ancestry. Nor are there any remaining in Kemper Co for the 1850 Census. There is one family in 1850 with the surname "McGaw".

I also looked at the 1850 Slave Schedule. Some 5,378 slaves were in Kemper Co in 1850.
Elijah McCoy owned 14; Elisha owned 12 [Elihu?]; John McCoy had a single slave, a 14-year-old female.

However, there was a James McCown who received a number of land patents in Kemper Co, all dated Feb 27, 1841. He was of Sumpter County, AL and would appear to have been speculating. It is interesting that is the same date that Elijah McCoy took out three land patents in Kemper Co and he was also listed as being "of Sumpter Co AL". The tracts registered at Columbus. May have been the first day the office was open.

I did find an interesting connection to the McCowan/McCown surname in Fannin County and it is related to Abraham Fry, father of William Wallace who married Louisa's daughter, Vi Higginbotham. Whether or not this transaction could have led to some sort of meeting between the Frys and Higginbothams is unknown. Francis McCowan was one of the earliest settlers and probably the man for whom Ladonia was originaly called McCowanville - it must be considered that his social standing was likely considerably higher than that of the Higginbothams who appear to have been somewhat down on their luck. There may be no connection at all.
Fannin Co DB H, p. 265 Francis McCowan & Lucetta J. McCowan for $99.50 paid by Abraham K. Fry. 99 and 1/2 acres in Fannin Co. On head of Pecan Creek. Begin stake on N line of survey of 320 acres for Nicholas C. Lawson, Lawson's NW corner, corner of A. J. Erwin's survey, survey of 291 acres in the name of Francis McCowan assignee of Nicholas T. Myers, out of which this 99 and 1/2 acres is taken. Number 69, Vol. 5, dated 27 Jan 1854. 27 Apr 1854. Signed: Francis McCown, Lucetta J. M. Cown. McCowans appeared before W. S. McClure, Notary Public, and ack. 27 Apr 1754

1910 Census, Fannie and Vi, living together, both stated that their mother was born in Georgia. She is not in the 1880 census. Thomas was living with a daughter and son-in-law in Collin Co TX that year and it's likely Louisa was deceased. Most of the children living together in Henderson Co. TX

Birth	1830	Mississippi
Marriage	1845	THOMAS HIGGINBOTHAM
Death	Bet 1870 and 1880

Spouse	THOMAS HIGGINBOTHAM (1820 - 1880)
Child	Frances M. "Fannie" Higginbotham (1846 - )
Child	James Jackson "Jack" Higginbotham (1848 - 1917)
Child	William Leroy Higginbotham (1850 - 1920)
Child	Mary Higginbotham (1853 - 1882)
Child	Martha Elizabeth Higginbotham (1857 - 1931)
Child	Thomas Higginbotham (1859 - )
Child	LOUISA VIOLETTA HIGGINBOTHAM (1863 - 1928)
Child	Willis Gibson Higginbotham (1864 - )