Sowers, Pearly

SOWERS, WARD, HUGHES, TEMPLER, ENNIS

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 4/7/2011 at 17:41:56

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Vol. II, 1912, J.W. Lee, pp. 213-215.

Pearly Sowers is farming eighty acres of land on section 34, Ellsworth township, and is numbered among the successful and representative agriculturists of this district. He is a native son of Iowa, born May 18, 1868, and he has spent his entire life in Hamilton county. His parents, Lindsey and Rebecca E. (Ward) Sowers, were among the earliest settlers in this part of the state, coming to Ellsworth township in the fall of 1856. His father was born in Fountain county, Indiana, December 25, 1833, and died upon his farm in Ellsworth township March 4, 1911. The mother of our subject was a native of Crawford county, Ohio, born December 12, 1839. Her death occurred upon her husband's farm February 12, 1898. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsey Sowers were eight children: Laura, born June 4, 1863, who died March 26, 1865; Albert, who was born March 25, 1865; Henry, born October 21, 1866, who died May 26, 1867; Pearly, the subject of this review; Mrs. Mary Hughes, who was born February 7, 1871 ; Guy, whose birth occurred August 1, 1873; Planey, born January 29, 1876; and Charles, whose natal day was May 16, 1878. They were among the early settlers in this section of the state, coming here when there were no groves upon the prairies and no human dwelling between the place of their settlement and the Boone river. They established a home, reared a large family of sons and daughters and were among the most highly respected of the pioneers in Iowa.

Pearly Sowers attended the district schools of his native section and has always been identified with agricultural interests in Hamilton county. The farm of eighty acres which he is now cultivating is one of the fine properties of this section of the state, equipped with modern improvements and intelligently developed in every department. Upon it Mr. Sowers lives in a comfortable and well furnished home, being numbered among the successful and enterprising general farmers.

In September, 1895, Mr. Sowers married Miss Anna Templer, born October 14, 1870, a daughter of Daniel D. C. and Nancy (Ennis) Templer. Her father was born in Schenectady county. New York, May 2, 1838, and went to Hardin county, Iowa, in 1867. Three years later he settled in Ellsworth township where he cultivated a fine farm of one hundred and seven acres on section 15 and thereon resided until his death which occurred October 17, 1897. Mrs. Sowers' mother was born in Princeton, New York, December 8, 1845, and is residing on the homestead in Ellsworth township. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Templer were six children, five of whom are still living: Anna, the wife of our subject; Jane, who is residing with her mother on the home farm and who is one of the most successful school teachers in Hamilton county; Ettie, who is acting as assistant in a photographer's studio in Des Moines; Maggie, who died October 14, 1910; and Camie and Archie, who are associated in the operation of the homestead. Mrs. Sowers before her marriage taught in the Hamilton county public schools and was well known and successful in this line. She and her husband have three children: Pearly, Jr., born May 15, 1900; Ruby, who was born April 21, 1902; and Walter, whose birth occurred March 15, 1904. All of the children are attending school in the community.

Mr. Sowers gives his allegiance to the democratic party. His wife is a member of the Congregational church at Jewell. He is well known in this district where he has resided all his life and has won universal trust and good will by reason of the straightforward and honorable principles which he advocates and to which he consistently adheres.