SOWERS-George W.
GEORGE W. SOWERS
Source: Descendants of the Solomon Sowers Clan pg. 1
In March 1847, George Sowers, second child of Solomon was married to Malinda Bracken in Fountain County, Indiana. On July 15, 1853 George & Malinda and their two small boys, James W and Thomas J and baby daughter, America, left Indiana for Iowa and landed in Story County October 5, 1853, traveling all the way in a covered wagon drawn with a team of oxen. George crossed the Mississippi River at Dubuque on a ferry and continued west until he reached Story County. He settled at Fairview, now known as Story City, when he first arrived, he stopped with Robert Bracken who had arrived the year before. George entered 3, 80's (24 Acres) and bought 30 acres of timber at $10 an acre. The Story City cemetery and Story City Public school stands on part of the land he entered. The land where the school stands was donated to the city for a public park. The first house George had was made of poles, and he lived there while he was building himself a mansion made from hewed oak logs. This house was a very comfortable home and served the purpose for several years. Early in the spring of 1856 Mrs. Sowers was stricken with pnuemonia and contracted to and passed away a short time later. The baby daughter, America died in 1854.
Source: Biographical & Hist. Memoirs, Story Co Iowa 1890 Goodspeed Publishing
George W. Sowers, farmer, stockraiser & shipper of Milford Twp,S tory Co Iowa is a native of Putnam County, Ind born in 1827 and is the second of six children, the result of the union of Solomon & Rachel (Pickett) Sowers, natives of NC the former born in 1802 the latter in 1805. Solomon was one of 8 ch (Mary, Phoebe, Jefferson, Alex, Alfred, Emaline & Christina) born to George & Eliz Sowers early settlers of NC. Solomon was of German descent & his wife of Irish extraction. Their son, Geo W. Sowers, subject of this sketch, received a common school education, and was married in 1847 to Melinda Bracken, daughter of Thomas Bracken and the eldest of 6 children: Monroe, John, Margaret, Louisa, Thomas J & Martha only 3 of whom are now living. Mrs. Sowers died May 1856 leaving a family of two sons, Thomas & James. Mr. Spwers moved to Story Co Iowa in 1854, located in Lafayette Twp in what was then called Smith's Grove in a house made of poles 12 x 14 ' in which he lived from November until the following March. He then moved into a house which he had built on the prairie, and with a very few neighbors began to improve & cultivate the home in the wilderness. In 1855 more settlers moved in, and in the spring of 1856 27 Scandinavians made their advent in the county & settled in what is now Howard Twp. Mr. Sowers entered 3 80s on the prairie and at the same time bought 30 acres of timber, paying $10 per acre. In the spring of 1856 he unfortunately lost his wife by that dread disease, consumption. The fall of the same year his father & four bros. came & located in the same neighborhood andd there the father died at the ripe old age of 84 years. Two of the brothers, Charles M & Alfred died in Story Co. Mr. Sowers sold his farm in Lafyette Twp in 1863 and bought his present property which now consists of 345 Acres of valuable land. In 1857 he married Miss Margaret Sowers by whom he had 5 children: Sarah A (now Mrs. Wm. Hughes); Minda J, (now Mrs George Young) Charles W, Elmer E and Albert. Charles married Miss Metta McClure, daughter of R McClure of this county. Mr. Sowers is a Republican in his political views and with his wife & daughters. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For the past 22 years he has followed buying and shipping stock quite extensively and is a man exactly suited for that business. When he first came to Iowa he went to mill at Red Rock, where Perry Co untynow stands and went to Iowa City for salt. Mrs. Sowers was born in NC Oct 17, 1832 and is the daughter of Philip Sowers of NC.
File Created: 12 March 2011 - kz