Elias Alford Rowan

Elias Alford Rowan (December 31, 1837 - December 10, 1912) was a longtime Mississippi state legislator from Copiah County in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Early life Elias Alford Rowan was born on December 31, 1837, near Crystal Springs, in Copiah County, Mississippi. His parents were Samuel Rowan, who was born in Robeson County, North Carolina and was of French ancestry, and Jeannette (Alford) Rowan, of Scottish ancestry. However, he was discharged, in Corinth, before his unit left for Virginia due to illness. He was promoted to captain of Company G after the captain of Company G died. Around that time, he built a large, 24-room Victorian house in Wesson, as the home of his wife and children. Rowan planned to also hospitalize patients there, but it was only used as a hospital in April 1883 after a tornado had hit the area. In the 1908-1910 sessions, he was the chairman of the Quarantine committee. Jasper Felix Guynes was elected to fill the vacancy in the Senate left by his death.

Personal life Rowan was a member of the Baptist Church. He was a member of the Odd Fellows and Freemasons. In 1867, Rowan married Mary Augusta Mobley. She died in May 1869, leaving no children. Elias married Julia Lamb in 1874. They had seven children together: Jeannette Alford Rowan, Martha (Rowan) Wright, Dr. Samuel Lamb Rowan, Elias A. Rowan Junior, Lillie (Rowan) Taylor, Julia Franklin Rowan, and John House Rowan. Lillie, Julia, Samuel Lamb, and John survived Elias Senior when he died.