COWLES, Charles Holden, (nephew of William Henry Harrison Cowles), a Representative from North Carolina; born in Charlotte, N.C., July 16, 1875; moved with his parents to Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, December 26, 1885; attended Charlotte graded school, private schools, Wilkesboro Academy, and completed a commercial college course; member of the board of aldermen of Wilkesboro in 1897 and again in 1914; deputy clerk of the United States Court at Statesville and Charlotte 1899-1901; private secretary to Representative Edmond S. Blackburn 1901-1903; member of the State house of representatives 1904-1908, 1920-1924, 1928-1930, and 1932-1934; delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1904, 1908, 1912, and 1916; elected as a Republican to the Sixty-first Congress (March 4, 1909-March 3, 1911); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1910 to the Sixty-second Congress; nominated in 1916 by the Progressive Republicans for the United States Senate but declined the nomination; established and published the Wilkes Patriot, Wilkesboro, N.C., 1906-1919; during the First World War served as a member of the Wilkes County council of defense; was a member of the State senate 1938-1940; served as chairman of War Price and Rationing Board No. 1 for Wilkes County from January 7, 1942, to September 15, 1945; appointed deputy clerk of the United States Court in Wilkesboro on April 1, 1941, and served until his retirement in October 1956; died in Mocksville, N.C., October 2, 1957; interment in Episcopal Church Cemetery, Wilkesboro, N.C.
(Source: Biographical Directory of the United States 1774-present.)

HONORABLE W. H. H. COWLES of Wilkesboro was born at Hamptonville, N. C. April 22nd 1840. His youth was spent partly on the farm and in his father's store. He attended the common schools and academies of his county. He was fond of outdoor exercise; delighted in hunting, which developed and hardened his constitution.
In 1861 be volunteered as a private in a cavalry company then being formed by T. N. Crumpler, but upon the organization of the company he, was elected First Lieutenant. The company was selected with great care; every member was strong and soldierly.
Col. Cowles was then not quite six feet in height, slender, erect and athletic. In the latter part of 1801 he marched with his regiment to Centerville, then the seat of war, at which point the First N. C. Cavalry became a part of the First Cavalry Brigade organized in the Confederate States, and was connected with the army of Northern Virginia until the surrender. Col. Cowles served with his regiment during the war filling the grades of First Lieutenant of Company A, Major and then Colonel. His active and faithful discharge of duty and his dash and courage won the confidence of his superior officers and as early as the First, Maryland raid he was placed in command of the extreme advance guard of the Cavalry by Stewart. On return he was placed in command of the extreme rear guard.
In all the raids, marches and battles that followed, he bore his part bravely. His men were devoted to him and in the critical periods of battle the sound of his clarion voice never failed to rally them. At Auburn where the lamented Col. Thomas Ruffin fell, it was Cowles who rallied the men and continued the charge. At Brandy Station it was Col. Cowles who led the charge that drove the 10th N. Y. Cavalry out of line and to the rear. Cowles followed them up for several miles towards Kelly's Ford, capturing Maj. Forbes, Maj. Gregg's commissary and W. M. Buckly, private correspondent of the New York Herald and others, whom he successfully brought out, though at the terminus of the charge ho was completely in the enemy's lines. In the beginning of the charge, Preston Hampton, the son of Wade Hampton, joined Cowles for a short distance but his horse was killed under him and when he had obtained another horse, ho found that his squadron had passed ahead and that Gregg's entire column was moving down the road in the direction that Cowles had just gone. As Hampton could not rejoin his squadron, he returned to the Confederate lines and reported that Cowles was surely captured.
When Cowles attempted to retrace his steps he was met by a Confederate coming at full speed with the news that a large body of Federal Cavalry were in the road a short distance off, coming in that direction ordering the fences to be torn down. Cowles passed with his men and prisoners through the field and across a deep stream where there was no ford; but he crossed successfully and just in time to witness the advance of the head of General Gregg's column at the point in the road which Cowles had left. At the beginning of the battle of Mine Run General Ewell was in need of a competent officer to take command of the skirmish line in his front and requested General Stewart to suggest the man. General Stewart detailed Capt. Cowles for the duty and directed him to take in addition to the Cavalry he would find with General Ewell, one hundred picked men, which he did, quickly joining General Early.
He went to the front and established his skirmish line and next morning met the enemy's advance gallantly checking its movements every inch of the way to the Confederate's main lines. In this engagement he received his first wound by a minnie ball through the body. His wound was thought to be fatal, but the following spring he rejoined his command in time to take part in the first of that memorable campaign of 1864 and was in command of the right wing of General Gordon's forces at Brook church near Richmond where Gordon fell. He continued in active service until the 31st of March, 1865, when in leading a desperate assault on the right of the enemy near Petersburg, and after his horse was shot leaving him on foot and knee deep in water, he was shot in the head. Those who saw him thought he was killed and he was left unconscious to fall into the hands of the enemy. He was taken to the hospital where he heard the news of the surrender of Lee. It happened that he met there his namesake, Maj. Cowles, of the Federal army, who promised him the best treatment and who allowed Col. Cowles and a number of his friends to go home on parole. Col. Cowles took the boat for Norfolk under guard. At Norfolk he was imprisoned for a day then left for New Berne. He was badly treated on the vessel and he came near being thrown overboard. At New Berne by the aid of a friend he managed to get across the Federal lines.
He went to Raleigh, thence to Salisbury with Thad Coleman. They reached Third Creek in a private conveyance and attempted to walk the rest of the way to Statesville, but it was too much for men who apparently were nearer their graves than their homes. When within three miles of Statesville, Col. Cowles offered a farmer §3.00 in greenback and $20.00 in Confederate money to take them to Statesville, and after much persuasion prevailed upon the farmer to comply. Cowles finally reached Wilkesboro.
In 1866 he began the study of law under Judge Pearson and obtained license to practice in the county court in 1867, in the Superior Court in 1868. He located at Wilkesboro where he has since practiced his profession. He has been a strong Democrat since the war. He was Reading Clerk of the Senate from 1872 to 1874. In 1874 he was elected Solicitor of the 10th Judicial District, in which position he won the reputation of a vigorous prosecutor. He was for many years chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee of his district and did much service for his party.
In 1884 he was elected to Congress from the 8th District by a large majority. He was re elected in 1886 after a brilliant canvass in which he drove his opponent from the field.
[Source: Sketches of prominent living North Carolinians; By Jerome Dowd; Publ. 1888; Pgs. 44-47; Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by Andrea Stawski Pack.]