Katherine Mayo Cowan Explained

Birth Name:Katherine Elizabeth Mayo
Birth Date:10 January 1883
Resting Place:Oakdale Cemetery, Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.
Office:Mayor of Wilmington, North Carolina
Termstart:1924
Termend:1925
Successor:Walter H. Blair
Predecessor:James H. Cowan

Katherine Mayo Cowan (January 10, 1883 – December 5, 1975) was the first woman mayor in North Carolina,[1] and as of 2021, the only woman to serve as mayor of Wilmington, North Carolina.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Early life

Katherine Elizabeth Mayo was born on January 10, 1883, the daughter of William E. Mayo and Mary Agnes Mayo.[2] [8]

Career

In 1921, Cowan's husband James was elected mayor.[9] When he died in office, she was appointed to fill his term.[10] [11] [12] She was a member of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters and was the local representative to the 1925 national convention.[13]

Cowan ran to be mayor for a second term, although spent no money on her campaign, and did not actively campaign for office.[14]  Cowan lost the election.[15] According to an account in 1929, "Mrs. Cowan served during the closing months of 1924 and until June 1925 when she yielded the reins of office….to Mr. Walter H. Blair, elected in May 1925."

By 1930, Cowan lived in Charlotte, and was a saleslady at a dry goods store.[16]

In the 1930s, Cowan was active in Democratic politics in Washington, DC.[17] By the late 1930s, Cowan was a supervisor with the Works Progress Administration.[18]

Personal life

Katherine Cowan married James Hill Cowan in 1904.[19] [20]  They eloped after a brief engagement. At the time, the newspaper reported "The bride is a young woman of striking personality and charming manner."

By 1920, the Cowans lived on 214 Nun Street, James was the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. He and Katherine had five children, aged 14 years old to five months old.[21]

She died on December 5, 1975, at the age of 92, and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Wilmington.

See also

References

  1. Web site: Markovich. Jeremy. 2015-11-04. A Milestone for Women, Mayors, and North Carolina. 2021-07-19. Our State. en-US.
  2. News: 106 women who have made a difference in Wilmington . 5 August 2021 . Wilmington Star-News . March 3, 2021.
  3. News: Ingram . Hunter . March 12, 2020 . Cape Fear Unearthed: Wilmington's Trailblazing Women . Wilmington Star News . dead . 11 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211010040921/https://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20200312/cape-fear-unearthed-wilmingtonrsquos-trailblazing-women . 2021-10-10.
  4. News: 1929-02-12 . The First Woman Mayor . Wilmington Morning Star.
  5. News: 1924-09-23 . Woman Becomes Mayor . Washington Evening Star.
  6. News: 1924-09-24 . Wilmington North Carolina . Miami Herald.
  7. Web site: Photos: 100 for 100th: Women who have shaped Wilmington. 2021-07-19. Wilmington Star News. en.
  8. North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC.
  9. Wilmington Dispatch, May 18, 1921
  10. "Mrs. Cowan Named Mayor to Succeed Her Late Husband" Wilmington Morning Star, September 19, 1924
  11. Mayor K. M, Cowan To Be Sworn Into Office this AM" Wilmington Morning Star, September 22, 1924
  12. News: Wilmington Has Woman Mayor. July 16, 2021. The Mount Airy News. September 25, 1924. 8.
  13. Wilmington News Dispatch, March 12, 1925
  14. News: March 19, 1925 . Mrs. Cowan Will Seek Re-election to Mayoralty . Wilmington Morning Star.
  15. News: June 2, 1925 . Walter Blair is Sworn in Monday as City's Mayor . Wilmington Morning Star.
  16. 1930 census, Charlotte North Carolina
  17. "Women's Democratic Board Will Convene," Washington Evening Star, June 6, 1935
  18. 1938 Washington DC City Directory
  19. News: June 24, 1904. A Romantic Marriage. Wilmington Messenger.
  20. News: June 24, 1904. Wilmington Dispatch. "Mr. James H. Cowan, one of Wilmington’s most popular and polished young men, and Miss. Katherine Elizabeth Mayo, the charming daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Mayo, were the principals in a romantic marriage which was celebrated at 6 o’clock p.m. yesterday at the rectory of St. Thomas’ Catholic Church…".
  21. 1920 Census, Wilmington NC