Josephine's Sister, Rosa Cowan Denson

     As I've mentioned is previous posts, Josephine Cowan Fleming had four sisters, all of whom married quite well.  She has one brother, James, who was also accomplished and extremely humble. We'll get to more about James in a later post. 

Rosa Elizabeth Cowan Denson, the second youngest daughter to Dr. William L. Cowan and sister to Josephine. She was born in 1847. She was exactly ten years older than the youngest sister, and last child, Willie, to Dr. Cowan and wife Anna.

Like all the Cowan daughters, they were raised to be ladies. All were accomplished in their talents and were educated. Like a lot of women in this time, they meet a gentleman through friends or family, they attend dances, church socials, and society parties. This is courtship 101 back in the 1860's. Nevertheless,  Rosa meets William Henry Denson and the courtship begins. William is a bright, intelligent, and brave young man who is going places. 

When William was just a teen the Civil War broke out. He wasn't even 18 years old when he enlisted to serve in the Confederacy. He served under Major James F. Waddell. Waddell's  Battalion of Artillery was in every battle from Dalton to Atlanta. 1864 he was furloughed on account of his sickness, but later rejoined his command at Macon, Georgia and remained to the close of war.  He also served in the same Battalion as his older brother, John, who lost his life in the battle of Resaca in May of 1864. 

After William Denson's military service ended he returned home in Uchee in Russell County to raise crops. With the proceeds he went to Columbus, Georgia and began the study of law. He was admitted to the Alabama Bar in 1867. Some accounts say that he briefly practiced law in Union Springs, Alabama and other accounts say that he didn't begin practice until he moved to Lafayette, Alabama. However, he had to have spent some time in Union Springs because that is where he married his lovely bride, Rosa E. Cowan. 

It was 1868 when William and Rosa married. He was fresh out of law school and just 22 years old. Rosa, just 21 years old and both ready to set out and make a life together.  Remember, Rosa is the niece of Senator James L. Pugh. I am sure Uncle James was able to offer great advice to the up and coming, energetic and impassioned young lawyer. He must have listened because this guy really made a name for himself. Really.

When the young couple put down roots in Lafayette, Alabama, in 1870, young William put out his shingle and began his law practice. At this time Rosa is setting up the couples new home and getting ready for the arrival of their first child.

William and Rosa had five children and they are:

1. Annie L. Denson (1870 - 1943) Married Robert D. Hudson
2. Hugh C. Denson ( DOB ?)
3. William Augustus Denson (1877 - 1957) Married Ann Love Dowdell
4. John Barney Denson (1879 - 1947)
5. Lola Eloise Denson (1881 - 1967) Married Dr. John Percy Reid

Note the last child named Lola? Named after her sister, Josephine's daughter, Lola, who would have been around 18 years old at the time of her cousins birth. This was a pretty common practice to name children after family members. Also I looked it up and the name Lola was a common name from the 1860's through the 1890's. 

So, now we know what was keeping Rosa busy for several years. Running the household and keeping up with five children is not for the faint of heart. But that was only part of it. While Rosa kept plenty busy, her husband, William contiuned to build is law practice and then was elected and served as Mayor of Lafayette in 1874. He later ran for the House of Representatives in 1876. In 1877 he moved to Gadsden, Alabama, Etowah County and continued his law practice.  Later he was appointed by President Cleveland as United States District Attorney for the Northern and Middle districts of Alabama and served from June 30, 1885 to June 3, 1889. He served as chairman of the Democratic State Convention in 1890. Denson was also elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-third Congress (March 4, 1893 to March 3, 1895) After he lost renomination in 1894 he moved to Birmingham, Alabama and resumed the practice of law.  

See, I told you he made a name for himself. I would be remiss if I didn't mention a few more interesting things about William Denson.
He was a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight of Pythias. He was an active business man and very energetic. He was described as a broad shouldered, heavy-set, rotund sort of man; florid complexion, hair and beard slightly tinged with gray. Before the jury he is a powerful advocate; on the stump he is a forcible, logical and eloquent speaker; in conversation he is pleasing, cordial and entertaining. He was an uncompromising Democrat and served his party with much zeal and distinguished effect. He was a man of faith and integrity. 

There can be no doubt that being the wife of such a larger-than-life character like William had to be a full time job. Being raised the way she was, I have to believe that Rosa had to be content with not being in the limelight and doing the important job of raising the children and running the home.  

I wish I had more on Rosa, but something tells me her life was busy, sometimes hectic, but mostly satisfying and complete. 

Both William and Rosa died in Birmingham, Alabama. They are buried at Elmwood Cemetery.

That's all for this post. Coming up in the next post will be about the only brother of Rosa and Josephine, James G. Cowan.