The Fowler Family of Wyandot County, Ohio

C. RUSH FOWLER. This prominent citizen was born in Bradford County, Penn., December 31, 1821. His parents, Stephen and Leefe (Stevens) Fowler, were natives of Vermont and Pennsylvania respectively, and of Scotch-Irish lineage. His father was a surgeon in the war of 1812, and for many years a prominent physician in this section of the State, and the only one available, being frequently called to the various seats of the adjoining counties on professional business. He was at one time a member of the State Legislature, and served his term with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. His wife, Leefe, whose mother's name was Lee, was a cousin to Gen. R. E. Lee, of Confederate fame, and is still living, a resident of Upper Sandusky, in the full possession of her faculties, and in excellent health. They came to this county in 1827, and located in this township, where Mr. Fowler purchased 600 acres, adding by subsequent purchases, till he owned 3,100 acres. They were the parents of eight children, and among the most estimable citizens of the county. He died in 1847, aged fifty-seven years. C. R. Fowler, the subject of this notice, was educated in the common schools and by the fireside at home, instructed chiefly by his father. He remained at home and assisted in conducting the farm till twenty-three years of age. He inherited $3,000 and a farm of 125 acres from his father's possessions, and in 1845 purchased a farm in Mifflin Township, consisting of 740 acres. In 1850, he purchased 200 acres near Little Sandusky, and to this he has added at intervals till he now owns, in this and Antrim Townships, 3,000 acres. He has dealt largely in stock, making a specialty of sheep and wool growing, though his success is mainly due to his industry and perseverance. In 1875, he erected his elegant two-story brick mansion at a cost of $17,000, it being, perhaps, as good a rural residence as there is in the county. Mr. Fowler was married, February 20, 1845. to Miss Catharine Nesbit, daughter of Abraham and Catharine (Wallace) Nesbit, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish ancestry, parents of live children — James, Elizabeth, Catharine and two deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler are the parents of seven children, of whom but three are living, viz., Hiram, Dwight, and Myrta, wife of Albert Boyd, of London, Ohio; the deceased are Olive, Sarah, Charles and an infant. Mr. Fowler has always been a Democrat, and strong in the faith. He served as Commissioner six years, and is among the most influential of the citizens of the county.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

STEPHEN PIKE FOWLER.

Stephen Pike Fowler, one of the oldest residents in Wyandot county, being now eighty-six years of age and having spent practically his entire life in this state, has since 1900 been numbered among the retired citizens of Upper Sandusky. Throughout his active business career he was successfully engaged in the pursuits of farming and stock-raising, owning and cultivating a valuable tract of land in Pitt township. His birth occurred in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, on the ist of September, 1826, his parents being Stephen and Leefe (Stevens) Fowler. Dr. Stephen Fowler, the father, was born in Massachusetts in 1789 and his wife in Pennsylvania in 1799. Stephen Fowler was an agriculturist by occupation and also a physician, practicing medicine among the Indians for many years. It was in the year 1827 that he came to Ohio, settling in Marion county. His demise occurred in 1847, while his wife was called to her final rest in 1890. Their children were eight in number, as follows: Finley F., Olive S., Clark R.', Betsy A., Stephen P., Scott M., Leefe and Sarah.

Stephen Pike Fowler began his education in a little log schoolhouse and continued his studies at Little Sandusky until eighteen years of age. Subsequently he assisted in the

work of the home farm in Pitt township until twenty-seven years of age, when the property was divided and he turned his attention to the further cultivation and improvement of the tract which fell to his share, continuing its operation until 1900. In connection with the production of cereals he devoted considerable attention to the raising of stock, winning a gratifying measure of success in both branches of his business. For the past thirteen years he has lived retired in Upper Sandusky, owning a handsome residence on South Main street.

Mr. Fowler was twice married, his first union being with Miss Martha Coon, and of this marriage were born four daughters: Corilla, who died in infancy, and Bertha A., Edna Florine and Emma L. On the 18th of December, 1878, at Springfield, Ohio, Mr. Fowler was united in marriage to Miss Frances Flago, a daughter of Charles and Mary Flago, of Urbana, this state. The father, whose birth occuiTed at Camden, New Jersey, in 1804, was a tailor by trade and passed away in the year 1857. The mother, whose natal year was 1817, died in 1898. Mrs. Stephen P. Fowler is the only surviving member of a family of seven children.

Politically, Mr. Fowler is a stanch democrat, believing firmly in the principles of that party. His religious faith is that of the Universalist church. He is still hale and hearty at the ripe old age of eighty-six years and is one of the most highly esteemed and respected citizens of the community in which practically his entire life has been spent and the growth and development of which he has witnessed and aided.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SCOTT M. FOWLER was born at the old homestead of Dr. Stephen Fowler, in Pitt Township, February 16, 1835, being the youngest son of the same. He resided with his parents on the farm till fourteen years of age, when his father died. He had been chosen by his father as the one son who should succeed him in the medical profession; but the death of the latter during our subject's early years frustrated these plans. At the age of sixteen, he entered the Union School at Upper Sandusky, and in Prof. Thayer, the Superintendent, he found an earnest friend and adviser, who fanned to a flame his ardent desire to enter college and prepare himself for a profession. But his friends who were most influential in their advice under the circumstances deemed it unwise to turn the boy loose upon his own responsibilities to the "demoralizing influences of college life." It was decided, therefore, that he should take charge of his property, the homestead, and at the age of seventeen his dream of professional life and higher education vanished, his disappointment was "pocketed," and he began work upon the farm, where he continued without interruption till 1865. During the summer of 1858, he made the acquaintance of Miss Ada Bryant, of Fredericktown, Knox Co., Ohio, who was spending the summer with the family of her uncle, Rev. E. R. Wood, and this acquaintance resulted in their marriage at her home on the 29th of December of the same year. In 1865, Mr. Fowler removed to Nashville, Tenn., to engage in Government stock speculations, and soon after embarked in the lumber business, in which his fortune was wrecked. He remained five years in Tennessee, when, with health greatly impaired by hard labor, and with a desire to educate his children, he returned to this county and again took up the pursuits of the farm. He subsequently engaged in the dry goods and grocery business for a short time at Upper Sandusky and Morral, but soon returned to the farm, and in 1884 purchased land in Western Kansas, where he now resides. By the aid of his mother his three eldest daughters became graduates of the Upper Sandusky Union Schools, and by their own efforts were enabled to take a course of instruction in the Oberlin College. Mr. Fowler is a man of the strictest integrity of character, and through all the years of his misfortune and self-sacrifice he has worn " the white flower of a blameless life " as a citizen, a husband and a father. His children are Nora A., born October 15, 1859; Cora H, March 27, 1861; Erin Maud, October 9, 1864; Etna Adale, June 2, 1867; Leefe F., February 9, 1870; Stephen Bryant, December 3, 1873; Enid Marie, May 26, 1879.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FINFUN A. FOWLER.

Finfun A. Fowler, a successful farmer and stock-raiser, was born on a portion of the farm he now operates in Pitt township, August 25, 1877, a son of Hiram R. and Alice E. (Hornby) Fowler. The father was born in Little Sandusky in 1852 and spent all of his active life engaged in farming. He owned five hundred and eighty acres of land in Pitt township, which he operated successfully until his death in 1905. The mother was born in Marion county, Ohio, in 1857, and survives her husband, making her home in Little Sandusky with her son, Ralph. In this family were two children: Finfun A., and Ralph N., a farmer in Little Sandusky. He married Miss Prances Monte and they have three children, Nova, Hiram and Max.

Mr. Fowler of this review was reared on the home farm and acquired his education in the district schools. He was trained to the various duties of the agriculturist and has been identified with farming throughout his active business career. Upon the death of the father the homestead was divided between Mr. Fowler and his brother Ralph, our subject receiving as his share three hundred and forty-eight acres, of which he is still the owner. In addition to raising grain Mr. Fowler also breeds high-grade stock and has at present seventy-five head of cattle, eight hundred sheep and two hundred Chester White hogs, of which he makes a specialty. This branch of his business is proving very profitable to him and his work along this line is ably supplemented by that of his wife, who is

,*nogle interested in raising full-breed Rhode Island Red chickens of which she has about three hundred at the present time.

On October 22, 1902, Mr. Fowler was united in marriage to Miss Grace A. Wood, a daughter of Reuben and Leafy (Mc- Lain) Wood, the former a prominent farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler have two children, Charles Rush and Leafy Alice. Mr. Fowler attends the Methodist church, in which his wife holds membership, and politically is identified with the republican party. He is interested in community affairs and particularly in the cause of education, which he has served ably for five years as president of the school board. He has many friends in Wyandot county, among whom he is highly esteemed and respected.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

RALPH N. FOWLER.

Ralph N. Fowler, a prominent representative of agricultural interests of this county, is a native son of Pitt township, born in Little Sandusky, February 22, 1879. His parents were Hiram and Alice (Hornby) Fowler, the former a well known agriculturist in Pitt township, where his birth occurred in 1852. For a number of years he was successful in the operation of five hundred and eighty acres of land and owned this extensive tract at the time of his death in 1905. His wife, who was born in 1857 in Marion county, survives him and makes her home with the subject of this review. In this family were two children: Finfun A., a prominent farmer of Pitt township, who married Miss Grace A. Wood, by whom he has two children, Charles R. and Leafy Alice, and Ralph N., of this review.

Ralph N. Fowler acquired his education in the public schools of Little Sandusky, laying aside his books at the age

>y Google of sixteen. From that time until the death of his father he assisted with the work of the homestead, gaining a practical knowledge of all the details connected with the operation of a modern farm. In 1905 he assumed possession of his share of his father's estate and has since been very successful in the conduct of his agricultural interests. He owns two hundred and fifty acres in Pitt township and upon this property carries on general farming and stock-raising, both branches of his work constituting important sources of his income. He raises hay, corn, wheat and oats, which he sells in the local markets, and in addition keeps fifteen head of cattle, five hundred Jersey Red hogs, of which he makes a specialty, and from eight hundred to one thousand sheep. He is an able, alert and enterprising business man and is well known and highly esteemed as one of the progressive and successful agriculturists of this community.

On March 5, 1904, at Harpster, Ohio, Mr. Fowler was united in marriage to Miss Frances Monte, a daughter of David and Mary (Sheets) Monte, the former a dealer in second-hand metals. Mr. and Mrs. Fowjer have three children, Nova G., Hiram R. and Max N. Mr. Fowler gives his allegiance to the republican party, and is a devout attendant at the Methodist church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.