Background
Cowan, Frank Irving was born on May 20, 1888 in Palmyra, Maine, United States. Son of Lewville A. and Fannie Evelyn (Woodworth) Cowan.
Cowan, Frank Irving was born on May 20, 1888 in Palmyra, Maine, United States. Son of Lewville A. and Fannie Evelyn (Woodworth) Cowan.
Bachelor of Arts, Bowdoin College, 1913. Bachelor of Laws, University of Maine, 1918.
Teacher, Plymouth (Maine) High School, 1908-1909, Newton (Massachusetts) Technology High School, 1913-1914, Calais (Maine) Academy, 1914-1915. Admitted to Maine bar, 1917, to practice in Federal Courts, 1921, to practice in Supreme Court of the United States Court, April 9, 1942. Practiced in Bangor, Maine, 1917-1918, Portland since February 1918.
Associated with Woodman & Whitehouse, Portland, 1918-1921.
Practiced alone, 1921-1925 and 1929-1940. Associated with brother, Walter A., 1925-1929, with son, Caspar F., since 1940.
Secretary-treasurer Cumberland National Farm Loan Association, 1918-1928. Disclosure commissioner, Cumberland County, 1924-1940.
Director Federal Land Bank of Springfield.
1932-1935. President State Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 1935-1940, and since 1942. Director Aroostock Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Director Aroostock Patrons Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Instructor in property law, Peabody Law School, 1936-1941. Attorney general of Maine, 1941-1945. Founded Cumberland Legal Aid Bureau under auspices Cumberland Bar Association, 1939.
Secretary for State of Maine for New England Legal Aid Council and National Association Legal Aid Orgns.
Chairman legal aid committee Cumberland Bar Association since 1939. Member Baxter State Park Authority, 1941-1945.
Member Portland City Council, 1920-1921, president 1921. Recorder Portland Municipal Court, 1927-1931.
Member Maine State Legislature, 1939-1940.
Conducted investigation and audit of State Trust Funds, 1931 (resulted in restoration of funds).
Member American, Maine State and Cumberland County bar associations, National Association Attorneys General, Grange, Delta Upsilon, Phi Kappa Phi. Mason.; Clubs: Bowdoin, Woodfords, Kiwanis, Penguin Ski, Cumberland Fish and Game Association, Lincoln, Eastern States Mountain. Compiled and donated to the State an index of Private and Special Laws of Maine from 1820 to 1944.
Married Helen Anna Caspar, October 11, 1913. Children: Caspar Frank, Frederick Walter, Douglas Reinhard, Cynthia.