Education
Born in Clinton County, Ohio, Cowgill attended the common schools. He studied law in Winchester, Randolph County.
lawyer politician representative
Born in Clinton County, Ohio, Cowgill attended the common schools. He studied law in Winchester, Randolph County.
He moved to Wabash County, Indiana, in 1846. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Wabash. He served as treasurer of Wabash County 1855-1859, and provost marshal of the eleventh district of Indiana 1862-1865.
Cowgill was elected as a Republican to the Forty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1879-March 3, 1881).
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1880 to the Forty-seventh Congress. He resumed the practice of his profession in Wabash, Indiana, where he died February 10, 1903.
He was interred in Falls Cemetery.
He served as member of the Indiana House of Representatives in 1851 and again during the special session of 1865.