Gowans' Bibliotheca Americana

Front matter

$<watt3'0 fJiMiutheca Americana, Number I. DENTON'S NEW YORK. SKETCH OF WILLIAM GO WANS. BY DE. S. S. PURPLE. William Gowans, the antiquarian bookseller of New York, was the fifth son of James and Marion (Patterson) Gowans, and was born on Hawksland farm, parish of Lismahagow, Scotland, March 29th, 1803. Having a large family of sons, nine in num ber, his parents were desirous that one of them should be educated for the ministry, and the lot falling upon William he was kept closely at school until his fourteenth year. He probably had no predilection for such a profession, as his father took him from school at this time to assist in work on the farm, and in this employment he remained till he left for America. In June, 1821, the family left Scotland for Philadelphia, where they arrived early in July, and soon after started for Fredonia, Crawford county, Indiana, traveling by wagon via Pittsburg.

Soon after his arrival in Indiana he engaged as a hired hand on a flat boat and made a trip to New Orleans down the Mississippi river. Returning, he made a second trip loading a boat with lime on his own account, and meeting with success in the adventure, he made a third trip with a cargo of flour. This last speculation proved unfortunate, and after disposing of his boat and cargo he left New Orleans for New York, where he arrived on the 16th of May, 1825. His money being nearly exhausted he obtained employment as a gardener, but did not long continue in this vocation ; he was successively a stone cutter, a stevedore, folder and carrier of newspapers, and an attache" of the old Bowery Theatre until May, 1827, when he obtained a situation as clerk in a book store. Two months WILLIAM GOWANS. after, he was prostrated by small pox and lost his place in the book store.

The following winter he commenced trade in books on his own account, buying his stock at the evening book sales and selling them to his acquaintances and others, through the streets of the city in the day time. Finding his stock and business increasing, in the spring of 1828 he opened a book stall on the sidewalk in front of No. 121 Chatham street. In the summer of 1830 this number was rebuilt, during which time Mr. Gowans removed his book stall to 26 Arcade. This place in 1830-1 was a passage (long since built up) running from John street through to Maiden Lane, between Broadway and Nassau street. On the first of September, 1830, he returned to 121 Chatham street, having rented the entire premises, and commenced his business on a larger and more substantial scale. In January 1837, he removed to the New York Long Room, 169 Broadway, where he engaged in the auction and commis sion book trade.