ROWNTREE, Henry C. - 1912 Bio (1846-1909)

ROWNTREE, WRAY, RIDER, CALLAHAN, MORFORD

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/27/2007 at 17:36:42

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 195-197

Henry C. ROWNTREE was widely known in insurance circles in both Iowa and Nebraska and won recognition as a progressive, enterprising business man whose labors were fruitful of substantial results. Moreover his personal qualities were such as won for him the kindly regard and warm friendship of those with whom he came in contact and therefore the news of his death brought a sense of personal bereavement to all who had known him. He was born in Orange county, New York, April 22, 1846, his parents being Henry and Hannah (WRAY) ROWNTREE, both of whom were natives of England. They were born in Sheffield and were of Quaker descent. The father became a minister of that church and always adhered to that faith. Both he and his wife came to the United States in youthful days and their marriage was celebrated in New York. At one time Henry ROWNTREE was a salesman for the Sheffield Cutlery Company and on the 1st of March, 1856, he came to the middle west, settling on a farm at Sprindale in Cedar county, Iowa. There he resided for twenty years, carefully developing and improving his land, and at the end of that time he removed to Florida Keys, where he engaged in merchandising. There his death occurred in 1873 and his wife, having survived him ten years, passed away in New York city. In their family were seven children. Robert, the eldest, served with distinction in the United States navy during the Civil war, holding a captain's commission at its close. He has now passed away. Joseph and William are also deceased. John, who has likewise departed this life, enlisted from Muscatine, Muscatine county, for service in the Union army but was discharged on account of disability. Henry C. is the youngest of the brothers and the sisters are Elizabeth and Mary, both residents of Chicago.

Henry C. ROWNTREE spent the first ten years of his life in the Empire state and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa. He remained at home until eighteen years of age and during that period attended the district schools while later he went to Iowa City where he learned the tinner's trade. He was married in 1867 and in 1871 came to Fairfield, here establishing his home. In this city he entered the insurance business which he followed in Jefferson county for eighteen years. On the expiration of that period he went to Nebraska as state agent and adjuster of the German Insurance Company of Freeport, Illinois. After the San Francisco disaster he associated himself with the Royal Insurance Company, having Nebraska as his territory with headquarters in Omaha. While connected with the German Insurance Company Mr. ROWNTREE for twenty years made his headquarters at Lincoln. While business interests called him for some time from this state Mr. ROWNTREE ever maintained close relations with many of his old friends here and his last days were spent in Fairfield, where he passed away on the 7th of November, 1909. His widow now resides in an attractive little home on West Washington street.

It was on the 2d of July, 1867, that Mr. ROWNTREE was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. RIDER, a daughter of William C. and Jane (CALLAHAN) RIDER. Her father was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, and made farming his life work. In his native county he married Jane CALLAHAN who was also born there and in 1844 they removed westward to Woodstock, McHenry county, Illinois, where Mr. RIDER soon afterward purchased a farm on which they took up their abode. At the same time he opened and conducted a store in Woodstock. The wife and mother was not long permitted to enjoy her new home, her death occurring in 1847. Mr. RIDER continued his residence in Woodstock until the '50s when he removed to Iowa, making his home with his son Henry in Muscatine for some time. His last days, however, were spent at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William MORFORD of Griswold, Iowa, where he passed away in 1878. In the RIDER family were five children: Martha, Mary and Susan, all now deceased; W. H., a retired farmer living in Muscatine; and Mrs. ROWNTREE. To Mr. and Mrs. ROWNTREE was born an only child, Helen Jospehine, and it was the greatest blow to the parents when death took this daughter, on the 26th of April, 1889, at a time when she was just entering young womanhood, being twenty years of age.

In political views Mr. ROWNTREE was a republican and always kept informed on the questions and issues of the day so that he was able to support his position by intelligent argument. He belonged to the Quaker church of Pleasant Plain, Iowa, and Mrs. ROWNTREE is a member of the Presbyterian church of Fairfield. He was widely and favorably known in fraternal circles, holding membership in the Odd Fellows lodge at Lincoln, Nebraska, the United Workmen lodge of Fairfield, the Legion of Honor at Fairfield and the Royal Highlanders of Lincoln. His wife is a prominent member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Rebekahs and the Royal Neighbors, all of Fairfield, and occupies a prominent position in the social circles of the city where her influence is strongly felt as a progressive element. Mr. ROWNTREE had attractive social qualities which won him many friends and his business reliability and enterprise gained for him an honored name in business circles. Wherever he was known he was held in high regard and most of all where he was best known. He was loyal in friendship, equally faithful in citizenship and at all times was true to every trust that was reposed in him.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.