1925 Biography - John McKowen

John McKowen, M. D., is successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in the City of Baton Rouge, with offices in the New Reymond Building, and as a specialist in the surgical branch of his profession he has gained precedence and high reputation. He is an active member of the East Baton Rouge Parish Medical Society, the Louisiana State Medical Society, the Southern Medical Society, the American Medical Association, besides being affiliated with the medical college fraternity known as the Nu Sigma Nu.

Doctor McKowen was born at Lindsay East Parish, Louisiana, February 13, 1889. His grandfather, John McKowen, was born and reared in Ireland and was a young man when he came to the United States and established his residence in East Feliciana Parish. There he became a successful merchant at Jackson, and he also owned and operated a large plantation, the remainder of his life having been passed in that parish. Thomas C. McKowen and his wife, parents of Dr. McKowen, still reside at Lindsay. The father was born at Jackson, East Feliciana Parish, in the year 1850, and the education which he received in the local schools was advanced by his attending a college in Ireland. He is one of the representative citizens of his native parish, where he owns and operates a valuable plantation of 6,000 acres, besides conducting the only mercantile establishment at Lindsay. He and his wife are zealous members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a stalwart supporter of the principles and policies for which the democratic party stands sponsor. His wife, whose maiden name was Maggie Germany, was born at Bayou Poydras, Pointe Coupee County, this state, in 1854, and their children are nine in number: Arabelle is the wife of Judge George Woodside, who is presiding on the bench of the District Court of East and West Feliciana parishes; Mamie is the wife of Thomas L. Mills, M. D., who is engaged in the practice of his profession at Plains, West Baton Rouge Parish; Thomas Shannon is a progressive representative of agricultural industry in his native parish, as is also William S., the next younger of the children; Henry G. is a dentist by profession and is engaged in practice at Baton Rouge; Mabel remains at the parental home; Doctor John. of this review, was the next in order of birth; Margaret is the wife of Albert Mills, a prosperous farmer near Plains, East Baton Rouge Parish; and Alexander C. continues to be actively identified with agricultural enterprise in the old home parish.

In private schools at Jackson Dr. John McKowen continued his studies until he had completed a high school course, and thereafter he was for three years a student in the University of Louisiana. He then entered the medical department of Tulane University, and in this excellent school he was graduated as a member of the class of 1912. After thus receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine he gained valuable clinical experience by two years of service as an interne in the New Orleans Charity Hospital. Since 1914 he has been engaged in practice in Baton Rouge, save for the period of his service in the World war, and his professional ability and personal popularity have combined to gain to him a substantial and representative practice.

When the nation became involved in the World war Doctor McKowen promptly tendered his services as a member of the Medical Corps of the United States Army. In this corps he received commission as first lieutenant, and in May, 1917, he was assigned to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, where he remained one year. He was then placed in charge of Base Hospital No. 76, at Oglethorpe, and proceeded to Camp Devons, Massachusetts, and with this unit, three months later, the rest of the officers were assigned to the hospital and the unit departed for active overseas service. He remained in France eight months, during which he was stationed at Vichy, and in the meanwhile, in May, 1918, he received commission as captain in the Medical Corps. Upon his return to his native land the Doctor received his honorable discharge May 2, 1919, at Camp Dix, New Jersey.

Doctor McKowen is loyally aligned in the ranks of the democratic party, is a member of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce and the Baton Rouge Golf and Country Club, and is affiliated with the Kappa Sigma college fraternity. He is a stockholder in the Capital Building and Loan Association, the Commercial Securities Corporation, and the Bank of Baton Rouge. In the capital city he owns and occupies a fine modern residence at 402 Oleander Street, and he is the owner also of a well improved residence property at 140 East Boulevard.

On the 29th of March, 1920, was solemnized the marriage of Doctor McKowen and Miss Olga C. Engebretsen, who was born at Wellesley, Massachusetts, and who is a graduate nurse. Doctor and Mrs. McKowen have a fine little son, John, Jr., who was born on the 23d of December, 1921.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, pages 79-80.