Rowland C. Moulton

R. C. MOULTON.

The Green Mountain state has furnished many men of prominence and worth to the west, and among the number is included R. C. Moulton, of Champaign county. He was born in Orange county, Vermont, February 5, 1821. His paternal grandfather, Phineas Moulton. was a native of Massachusetts, but early in life settled in Vermont, where he reared a large family of children. His son Phineas became the father of our subject, and he, too, was born in Orange county, Vermont. He followed the tilling of the soil as a life occupation, and during the war of 181 _' he served his country as a brave and loyal soldier, for which he received a land warrant. His life's labors were ended in death when lie had reached the age of sixty-five years, in the county of his nativity he was united in marriage to Maria Cotton, a native of Bethel, Windsor county, Vermont, and a descendant of Sir Robert Bruce Cotton, of England. Her father, Biby Lake Cotton, was also a native of Vermont, and was a soldier during the Revolutionary war. He married Miss Uice ( base, an aunt of Salmon P. Chase, and a sister of Bishop Philander Chase, the founder of the college at Gambier, Knox county, Ohio. Mrs. Moulton was called to her final rest at the age of eighty-four years. She became the mother of twelve children, nine of whom grew to years of maturity, namely: Martha, who became the wife of William Bissel], Bishop of Vermont; Caroline Chase, who served in the treasury department at Washington when Mr. Chase was secretary of the treasury; R. C, of this review: Ellen, who became the wife of Nathan L. Pennock;.Alice Chase, who became the wife of A. M. Could; Sarah P., the wife of William P. Wheeler, a prominent attorney in New Hampshire: R; !' the wife of John Newell, a civil engineer; Mary, who died at the age of eighteen years; Lavinia and Maria, twins, the former the wife i i a Mr. Bates, of Washington, D. C, who formerly served in the patent office there, and the latter the wife of Gemont Grave Episcopal minister of Burlington. Vermont. Their daughter is the wife of Major Andrews, who is serving in the Philippine-.

R. C. Moulton, of tins review, received his elementary education in the district schools of his native locality, and histudies were completed in the high school of ( (range county. Vermont. Desiring to enter die legal profession, he accordingly began the study of law immediately.''der completing his literary education, and was admitted to the bar in his native state in 1845. About two weeks later, in company with Erastus Martin, he came to the Buckeve state, locating: in Rush township. Champaign county, where he made his home for one year. In [846 he continued his westward journey, joining an uncle, Salmon Chase 1 cotton, at Grand De Tour, Illinois, and in the same year he went to Geneva, Wisconsin, spending the following winter at Geneva Lake. Ju 1:847 he continued his northward trip, and in 1848 returned to Champaign county, where he again took up the practice of law and at the same time taught vocal music. On the 6th of June, 1854, Mr. Moulton was united in marriage to Olive Pearl Howard, who was born in Rush township, this county, February 3, [832, a daughter of Anson and Olive ('Pearl) Howard. Her father was born at Hampton. Connecticut, April 3. 1781, and in 1817 came to Champaign county, locating on the farm on which our subject now resides in Rush township. The place was then wild and uncultivated, and he was among the early pioneers of this locality. His death occurred on the 28th of March. [849. Mis father, William Howard, was born on the [8th of January. 17-19, and was of English descent. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Phrebe Fuller, was born at Hampton, Connecticut, December 8, 1759. Mrs. Moulton s mother was born in Windham county, Connecticut, July 1, 1790. and her father. Philip Pear, was a native of the same county Mr. and Mrs. Anson Howard became the parents of four children, three sons and a daughter, but one of the sons died in infancy. Mrs. Moulton was the youngest child and only daughter in the family, and she was born and has spent her entire life upon the farm on which she still resides. She is now the only living representative of her family. Two daughters have blessed the union of our subject and wife. — Olive Pearl, wdio was born June 2j, 1859. and died in September, 1863: and Mary, who was born July 21, 1865. The latter is the wife of Charles B. Whiley, and the\- ''side in Lancaster. Fairfield county, Ohio, where he is a prominent attorney and a leading business man. They have two children. Don tin Bell and Olive Pearl.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Moulton located on the old Howard homestead, where they have ever since resided. Tire place now contains two hundred and fifty acres of rich and productive land. In addition to the raising of the cereals Mr. Moulton is extensively engaged in the sheep business, raising principally the Rambouillet breed, and in this branch of his business has met with a very high degree of success. Politically he has been a Republican since the organization of that party, and prior to that time voted with the Whigs. His life has been well spent, and his integrity in business and his fidelity in all the relations of life have won him the confidence and esteem of many friends.

As printed in A centennial biographical history of Champaign county, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.