Sowers, Albert

SOWERS, WARD, HUGHES, SCOTT, NORRIS, MURRAY, JOHNSON, STYLES, STEWART, UPTON, LAWLER

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 5/20/2009 at 22:15:55

History of Hamilton County Iowa,1912,Vol. II, p.68

ALBERT SOWERS

Albert Sowers is one of the active, enterprising and successful farmers of Ellsworth township and by his able cultivation of his farm of eighty acres on section 34 has placed himself in the front ranks of progressive agriculturists. He was born in Ellsworth township, March 28, 1865, a son of Lindsey and Rebecca E. (Ward) Sowers, who were among the early settlers in Hamilton County and among the most enterprising and public-spirited of its citizens. The father was born in Fountain County, Indiana, December 25, 1833, and settled in Ellsworth township upon a farm in the fall of 1856. Upon this property he carried on general farming until his death, which occurred March 4, 1911. The mother of our subject was born in Crawford County, Ohio, December 12, 1839, and came to Ellsworth township before her marriage. Here her death occurred February 12, 1898. In their family were eight children: Laura, who was born June 4, 1863, and who died March 26, 1865; Albert, of this review; Henry, who was born October 21, 1866, and who died May 26, 1867; Pearley, whose birth occurred May 18, 1868; Mrs. Mary Hughes, who was born February 7, 1871; Guy, a farmer of Ellsworth township; Pliny, born January 29, 1876; and Charles, born May 16, 1878. All of these children were born and reared in Ellsworth township and are still residing there.
Albert Sowers attended the public schools of Ellsworth township and from an early date has been identified with general farming in this section. He owns eighty acres of excellent land and has pursued a constant policy of improvement and development, erecting the necessary buildings and planting in the most suitable grains, being now the proprietor of an excellent modern farm.

On March 20, 1888, Mr. Sowers was united in marriage to Miss Maria E. Scott, who was born in Chickasaw County, Iowa, March 30, 1866, and who taught school prior to her marriage. Her father, John Scott, was born in Ohio, January 13, 1813, and died in Wright County, Iowa, July 27, 1887. He was twice married. By his first union he had four children: Boone, who was born May 21, 1842, and who is residing at Scranton, Iowa; Mrs. Margaret Norris, born in Altaloma, Texas, February 14, 1844; Mrs. Phoebe Murray, who was born November 15, 1846, and who lives in Oklahoma; and La Vega, who was born November 21, 1848, and who is residing in Taylor, North Dakota. John Scott's second marriage was with Sarah A. Johnson, who was born in Virginia, October 26, 1833, and who is now residing in Rutland, Iowa. To this union eight children were born: Jacob, whose birth occurred April 26, 1853; Mrs. Susan Styles, who was born May 6, 1865, and who is residing in Waterloo, Nebraska; Mrs. Hannah Stewart, who was born April 6, 1857, and who lives in Luverne, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Upton, of Yoder, Colorado, who was born March 28, 1859, and who taught school in Hamilton County for a number of years; Mrs. Martha Lawler, who was born April 20, 1862, and who died at Eagle Grove, Wright County, January 11, 1901; Mrs. Sowers, of this review; Martin, who was born September 16, 1868, and who resides in Leeds, South Dakota; and William, who was born March 16, 1873, and who lives at Maple Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Sowers became the parents of eight children: Alma, who was born March 9, 1889, and who died March 22, 1893; Ralph, born March 8, 1891, and who died March 24th of the same year; Alvin J., born July 12, 1893; Grace E., born August 29, 1894; Florence E., born August 1, 1896; Earl Lindsey, born December 1, 1898; Albert Wilber, born August 17, 1900; and Clarence P., born October 4, 1906. All of these children were natives of Ellsworth township and those surviving are attending the district schools.

Albert Sowers gives his allegiance to the democratic party and is serving as school director in his district. However, he has devoted practically all his time since the beginning of his active career to farming and by upright methods and honorable standards has gained that prosperity which results from earnest and well directed effort, being accounted one of the leading agriculturists of his native section.