Cowles, Austin

3 May 1792–15 Jan. 1872. Farmer, teacher, minister, millwright, miller, merchant. Born in Brookfield, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Timothy Cowles and Abigail Woodworth. Moved to Unadilla, Otsego Co., New York, by 1810. Married first Phebe Wilbur, 14 Jan. 1813, in Unadilla. Minister of Methodist Episcopal Church. Moved to Friendship, Allegany Co., New York, 1819. Moved to Bolivar, Allegany Co., Feb. 1820. Served as inspector of common schools and town clerk, 1825, at Bolivar. Married second Irene H. Elliott, 21 Oct. 1827, in Amity, Allegany Co. Moved to Franklinville, Cattaraugus Co., New York, by June 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1832, in New York. Received elder's license, 28 Sept. 1836, in Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio. Moved to Kirtland, ca. 1837. Moved to Hancock Co., Illinois, by 1840. Elected supervisor of streets, Feb. 1841, at Nauvoo. Appointed to Nauvoo high council, 6 Feb. 1841. Appointed counselor to Nauvoo stake president William Marks, Mar. 1841. Served mission to New Hampshire and Massachusetts, fall 1842–June 1843. Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge. Excommunicated. Appointed counselor to William Law by Latter-day Saint dissenters, Apr. 1844. Moved to Burlington, Des Moines Co., Iowa Territory, May 1844. Published affidavit against plural marriage in Nauvoo Expositor, June 1844. Moved to Hampton, Rock Island Co., Illinois, by Aug. 1844. Appointed to high priests quorum presidency in Sidney Rigdon’s Church of Christ, Apr. 1845, in Pittsburgh. Returned to Kirtland and affiliated with James Brewster’s Church of Christ; excommunicated, Sept. 1849. Moved to Sycamore, De Kalb Co., Illinois, 1850; to Fulton, Whiteside Co., Illinois, by June 1850; and to Hamilton Township, Decatur Co., Iowa, 1854. Affiliated with Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Hamilton Township. Died in Hamilton Township.