DAVID C. COWLES, one of the early settlers of Decatur County, resides on
section 33, Eden Township. His residence is on the southeast quarter of the
northeast quarter of the section. . He settled upon the place in 1866, though
his house was one half mile west of his present dwelling. He came to the
county as early as 1854.
    David C. Cowles was born in Amity, Allegany County, New York, in 1836. He
came to Decatur County with his parents when nearly eighteen years old. He
assisted his father in building a log cabin on the farm in Hamilton Township.
Being naturally inclined to the use of tools, and having received
considerable instruction in mechanical work, he commenced to work in 1854 for
William Davis, at what is now Davis City, in constructing a saw-mill, which
was started January 10, 1855. He operated this mill for Mr. Davis for some
time, and continued to work for him for nearly three years. He built a house
for his employer, which was the first frame house in Davis City, or in that
part of the county. He was then engaged in milling near Princeton for about
two years, for H. & C. Armstrong.
    About the year 1860 he put a grist-mill on the homestead, and later
attached a saw for the manufacture of lumber. He has been engaged in milling
most of the time since coming to Iowa. He now owns a stationary mill, also a
portable one. Mr. Cowles married Julia A. Smith, a daughter of John M. Smith,
who settled in Mercer County, Missouri, in an early day,and died there in
1859.
    Mr. and Mrs. Cowles have four children -Olive A., wife of Marion S.
Hullinger, of Eden Township; Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Kirk, a resident of Kansas;
Delbert P. who married May F. Hall, and lives at home, and Irene B., wife of
George D. Lillie. Alva A. died November 14, 1862, at the age of one year,
nine months and twenty-seven days. David C. and Henry Austin are all of the
family of Austin Cowles who live in this county. Mr. Cowles owns 260 acres of
land.