Born in Virginia, he was the son of Joseph and Rachel Cowing. He acquired a limited education in the ordinary schools, and, when old enough, learned the tailor's trade, in which he became quite proficient. He married Miss Judith Kemper of Clarksburg, Ind., and, soon afterward, with Mr. Jefferson Kemper, purchased the Rushville Republican, which he published for several years. Subsequently he disposed of his interest in the paper and removed to Montezuma, Iowa, where he founded another newspaper, the Montezuma Republican, the oldest newspaper in the county. In 1857 A. M. Cowing bought and published the paper. Mr. Cowing retired from the paper in 1859. He was elected clerk of the Iowa legislature, and afterwards became one of its members, and in 1860 bought his father's farm near Muncie, Ind., to which he at once removed. On August 1, 1862, he enlisted in the Sixty-ninth regiment Indiana volunteers, was made lieutenant in company B, and received his death wound at Richmond, Ky., on the 30th of the same month, while endeavoring to rally his men toward the close of the battle.