Foland, Michael

FOLAND, ZIMMERS, SAUERWINE, SOWERWINE, BRADSHAW, RAMSEY, HOPKINS, EDWARDS, BRAMMER, EMLY, WELDON, BOWLES

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/29/2019 at 18:56:52

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa, (Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 596-97:

"MICHAEL FOLAND, a prominent farmer of Richland Township, resides on section 23 where he owns 403 acres of excellent land, in a good state of cultivation. He was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, January 14, 1820, son of Michael and Catherine (Zimmers) Foland, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Pennsylvania. He was reared in Indiana to the occupation of a farmer, and he has continued to follow farming through life. He came to Decatur County in September, 1859, and settled upon the farm where he now resides. He was married in Delaware County, Indiana, October 16, 1842, to Elizabeth Sauerwine (sic, should be Sowerwine), born November 23, 1823. Following are their children and their families -- Mary married James Bradshaw of Table Rock, New Brunswick, and they have six children -- Minnie, Elizabeth, Henry S., Hugh D., Lena and Grover C.; William married Rachel Ramsey and they have six children -- Annie L., Elsie, Emmet, Michael, Armina and Luster; John married Minerva Hopkins and they have six children -- Rebecca, Alva, Elizabeth, Jane, Ida and Lula; Christian married Lucinda Edwards, and they have two children -- Frank and Laura; Catherine married La Fayette Brammer; Samuel married Sarah B. Emly, and they have two children -- Arthur and Harry; Henrietta married Andrew J. Weldon and they have two children -- Mina T. and Nora C.; Isaac married Elizabeth Bowles, and they have two children -- Charles W. and George W.; Sanford and George are unmarried. Besides his farming interests Mr. Foland carries on a hardware store and harness shop in Westerville where he is doing a good business. He came to Decatur County a poor man, but by his own effort and the assistance of his excellent wife he has become one of the wealthiest men of the county. He is a self-made man. His paternal grandfather served all through the Revolutionary war."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)

Biography ~ Michael & Elizabeth (Sowerwine) Foland
Grand River, Iowa

The Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, July 09, 1903

The Des Moines Register and Leader is running a series of life sketches of Iowa pioneers, and in last Sunday's paper appeared the following sketch of two well known pioneers of this county:

Grand River, Iowa, July 4. (Special)

Grand River and vicinity has a number of early pioneers, two of the best known of whom are MICHAEL FOLAND and WM. ZORNES.

MICHAEL FOLAND was born January l4, l820, in Rockinghouse (sic, should be Rockingham) County, Vt. When he was 14, his father died and a few months later he and his mother moved to Rane County, Indiana. He married ELIZABETH SOWERWINE October 16, 1842. Seven boys and three girls were born to them. All except two are living near him and well-to-do. In 1859, the family came to Decatur County, Iowa, and in the spring of 1861, he moved to where he now resides with his youngest son, his wife having died August 25, 1896. He has always been a farmer and a successful one.

WILLIAM ZORNES was born November 25, 1822, in Fleming County, Ky. When he was seven years old, his parents moved to Shelby County, Ind. He married in 1844. In 1848 he settled in Mahaska County, Iowa, and moved to Shelby County, Indiana and moved to Decatur in 1860. He has been a day laborer all his life but retains perfect health and is as lithe as a youth. He can read without glasses and thinks nothing of a ten or twelve mile walk. His wife died seventeen years ago.

Copied by Nancee (McMurtrey)Seifert "With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter" March 14, 2003

Michael & Elizabeth (Sowerwine) Foland photograph courtesy of Sharon R. Becker, July of 2013