William Thomas McGowen, born on July 7, 1880. He married to Lula Mabel Linthcomb, born in Douglas Co., MO, on Oct. 23, 1889, on Feb. 26, 1906. William moved his family to near Snowball in Searcy Co., Arkansas. The following story was received from our cousin Dennis Prock of Mountain Grove, Missouri. Lu played the fiddle and Will would do the calling for square dances held in the community, usually in someone's home. Kathryn (Ross) Crunkleton, grandaughter of Will and Lu McGowen, relates "When I was a small child, we would drive to the base of this mountain and then walk to Will & Lu McGowen's place on top. Later they moved down to another small farm, about three miles from the base of the mountain, which was remote (even now). The Mountain Farm was sold in the early 1970's to a group of hippies, who still own it." William died on May 19, 1954. He was buried near Snowball, Searcy Co., Arkansas; Lula survived him by several years. She died Dec. 18, 1978, and is buried at Watsonville, Santa Cruz Co., California.

Their son, Alva Lee McGowen, was born at Mountain Grove, Missouri on June 4, 1908. He never married. He died on Feb. 6, 1979 and is buried at Snowball, Searcy Co., Arkansas.

McGowan Family History