SOWERS-Lewis
Source: Taken from "Golden heritage" of Thomas County, Kansas
Lewis Sours, the youngest of 11 children of Valentine and Eva Marie (Darr) Sowers was b. May 18, 1818 near Lexington NC. He was the grandson of the Sowers' original ancestor, Philip (Sauer) Sowers, and Christina Faust who came to America from Heidelberg Germany in 1749. Lewis married Susan (Sink) Zinche July 5, 1838 and moved to Fountain Co IN in 1839 with their first child. Here he resided for 20 years and most of his children were born here. In 1859, the family moved to Page Co, Iowa. here he acquired quite a large acreage. He cleared the land and built a large barn from Walnut wood that could allow a load of corn to turn completely around in it. He had large corn fields, peach orchards and by raising many hogs he became a prosperous farmer. When their 12th child was born, Lewis' wife died but he soon married a widowed neighbor, Margaret Ingram Whittington who had 4 children of her own. on July 8, 1864, Jacob was born to this union and they took an orphan neighbor, child, Mary Cooper, to rear in this already large household. The family prospered and gave substantially to the build of the first Church in the community. The building of the Rock Island Road, The Homstead Act and the Timber Claim Act the Sowers decided it was a good time to go west and acquire land of their own. So they sold the Iowa farm. Lewis and sons loaded their household goods in wagons and riding in covered wagons, leading and driving their livestock, the family journeyed West and arrived in Thomas County in 1887. Lewis filed a Homestead claim on 1/4 Sec of 22-9-32 which is now owned by Remiqus Renner. Sons Hamilton, Malangton (Lank) , George, Jacob and Eva, Mary Catherine who was widowed and had three small children, and had migrated with them all filed homestead claims nearby. Lewis hope to raise wheat. He purchased machinery, plowed sod and planted wheat. Drought and grasshoppers took the crops 7 out of 10 years. The hard work and financial strain took their toll. After several heart attacks, he died Jan 10, 1897 and is buried in Beulah Cem. at Colby, KS. Lewis widow, Margaret lived with their only son, Jacob after Lewis died. She accompanied Jacob and family by Covered Wagon to Montana. Later she moved to Wyoming where she lived to be 100. Children of Lewis Sowers were: Anna L. married Bryant Barker; Hamilton married Mary "Mollie" Dawes; May Jane married Andrew Ridgley; Emaline married Hiram Speers; William Harris married Rose Ann Phipps; Abner married Elizabeth Calhoun; Mary married Frani Cox; Amanda married Andrew Holmes; Ella died while running through hot ashes when small; George Valentine married Mary Wilson; Jacob married Minnie Hayes.
Source: Iva Lewis Obituary Scrapbook
DESCEDENTS OF VALENTINE AND MARY SOWERS. Mary Dare, wife of Valentine
Sowers. Their parents were of German descent, born and raised in Pennsylvania, in later
years settled in the state of North Carolina, where they lived and prospered for many
years. Eleven children were born to Mary and Valentine Sowers, nine sons and two
daughters, their names being as follows: Michael, David, John, Henry, Philip, Andrew,
Tice, Valentine, Lewis, Rebecca and Catherine, and worshiped the Savior in the Lutheran
faith, and were democrats politically, owning slaves in the days of slavery. They were all
born in the state of North Carolina, finally settling in Indiana. There eleven of the Sowers
named, having lived to an old age, are dead, and there come the descendents, who have the
reunion to-day, Sunday, Sept, 21st, 1902. First, we have Michael Sowers, born and raised in
North Carolina, came to Indiana in 1839, with his family, their names being as follows:
Valentine (dead), Catherine, Obadiah, Elizabeth, Michael (living), Mollie (dead), Chrissey,
wise of Elijah Myers, (living) Sarah, wife of Ton Steward, Tice, Susan, Lewis, Phoeba Ann,
now the wife of Thomas Goodin, (living) Noah, Ablasom (dead) making ten children, four
of whom are dead and six living. Michael Sowers (dead) and buried in the Lutheran
Cemetery. Next, we have David Sowers, born in North Carolina. Came to Indiana in 1834.
His children’s names being Phronie (dead) Catherine, now wife of John Bowers (living),
Sarah (dead), Dilley, wife of Phillip Shoaf (living), Tice (dead), Valentine (living), making
six children, three living and three dead. David Sowers (dead) and buried in the Lutheran
Cemetery. Next comes John Sowers of North Carolina, of whom we know nothing, except
that he is dead and buried in that state. Then comes Henry Bowers, born in North
Carolina. Came to Indiana in 1834. Dead and buried in the Lutheran Cemetery. One
daughter, but her name not known. Then comes Philip Sowers, born in North Carolina.
Came to Indiana in 1839. Is dead and buried in the Lutheran Cemetery. His children being
Elmina, Levi, (dead), Catherine, wife of Steven Brooks (living). Margaret, wife of George
Sowers (living), Sarah, wife of David Simmons (living), Elizabeth, wife of Hiram Bales,
Jane, Andrew (dead), Mary (living), making nine children, five dead and four living. Then
comes Andrew Sowers. Born in North Carolina. Came to Indiana in 1839, now dead and
buried in the Lutheran Cemetery. His children being, Easter, Peggy Ann, Solomon,
Andrew (dead), James living, making four dead and one living. Then comes Tice Sowers.
Born in North Carolina. Came to Indiana in 1828. Now dead and buried in Kansas. His
children being as follows: Catherine, Mary Ann, George, Margaret, William, Samual,
Amanda (dead), Elizabeth, wife of John Watt, and Susana, wife of Samuel Shoaf (living),
making nine children, seven dead and two living. Then comes Valentine Sowers. Born in
North Carolina. Came to Indiana in 1834. Now dead and buried in Kansas. His children
being as follows: Susana, wife of Jacob Bowman, Emsiley, Mary, wife of Harvey McNiece,
Elliott, John (living), George, Lewis, Polk, Sarah (dead), making nine children, five living
and four dead. Then comes Lewis Sowers. Born in North Carolina. Came to Indiana in
1830. Now dead buried in Missouri. His children being as follows: Ann, wife of Bryant
Barker, Jane, Hamilton, Emeline, Harris, Mary, Lanceton, making seven children, all
living as far as known. Then comes Rebecca Sowers, wife of William Yount. Born in North
Carolina. Came to Indiana in 1839. Both dead and buried in the Lutheran Cemetery. Their children being as follows: M. V., Franklin, Obidiah, Allunda, wife of Wash Boyd, Elizabeth, wife of Thos. Glover, Florina, Elwell, Frances (living), Andrew, Mary, Catherine, George, America, Joe, Charlotte (dead), making fourteen children, seven living and seven dead. Then comes Catherine Sowers, wife of David Shoaf. Born in North Carolina. Came to Indiana in 1834. Now dead and buried in Illinois. These being her children: Valentine, Wesley, William, Samuel, Andrew, Margaret and Viola, making seven children, all living as far as known. Total number of Sowers cousins, 75, 32 being dead. DOLLIE YOUNT. Mellott, Ind.
52-week Ancestor Challenge #8 -- by kbz
#8 – JOHAN PHILIP SOWERS – Katzenback is a small village in the Palatinate area of Germany (see photo wikimedia). It is where my first Revolutionary War Soldier (well the first I found anyway) was born in 1734 (tombstone says 1735 so in there I guess - sure wish we had a complete date). Although he was too old to fight during the Revolution, he certainly paid his dues, so to speak.
A very poor, dedicated cousin of mine Ruth Sowers Owen wrote a fabulous Sowers history called A Thousand Doors that told quite a bit of our John Philipus “Philip” Sowers. Katzenback is about 25 miles east of the Rhine, 15 miles northeast of Hiedelberg. No real proof, but Ruth felt the name was originally French and the family from the Alsace-Lorraine section that went back and forth from Germany to France several times. It is obvious what the name means, “one who raises sows” and our Philip was a farmer when he came to the Rowan (Davidson) County North Carolina area as a very young man (age 16 to avoid going into the German service his parents sent him here). He signed an Oath of Allegiance in North Carolina on August 5th in 1778 but he had been here many years prior to that time. Ruth had him entering Philadelphia on the ship, Two Brothers, Sept 14, 1749 which makes sense to the German forced service idea. The name was originally spelled Sauer. During a 50-year-time period (including when Philip came) there were 30,000 young male Germans came to America to avoid the mandated draft.
Philip went from Philadelphia a couple of years later to Rowan County (Davidson) NC where a large Moravian German settlement was.
Strong Pilgrim Congregational Church members, the family was very involved in the church, helping start it in 1753-54 the “Old Pilgrim United Church in the county. While in Rowan, he met and married his wife, Christina Faust who outlived him 36 years after bearing him 14 children. For many years, the Beulah Reformed Church six miles northwest of Lexington was always called the “Sowers Church.” It was about Revolutionary War time that resident ministers came to the area, and older men of the church preached, as Philip Sowers likely did since the church was tagged “Sowers Church.” Lexington City Lake covers part of the property Philip Sowers owned.
During the Revolutionary War, in Old Salsbury, the Americans sent Germans who were taken POW to be held. Philip guarded them, as he could speak to them since using his German frequently in speaking to neighbors. Some of his neighbors were shot as “Tories,” but his patriotism was never questioned, even though he often took a prisoner home to nurse him to health, then return him next time he guarded them. A couple even stayed in America because of his kindness.
Philip passed away 21 August 1784, Christina October 25th, 1825. Their 8th child, 5th son, Valentine Sowers was my ancestor, born in Rowan County NC December 10th, 1768. See findagrave entry below. His wife, Anna Maria Eva Derr passed away in Davidson County NC and Valentine went on to Fountain County with their youngest child, my ancestor, Lewis Sowers. Valentine is buried in the Phanuel Lutheran Church cemetery just outside of Wallace. Lewis went on to Colby, Kansas. I think my ancestors had the wanderlust! https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15669834/philip-sowers
Ancestor Challenge #27 by Karen Bazzani Zach – Lewis Sowers was my wanderluster. Born near Lexington (Rowan County, NC) on May 18 in 1818, he was the son of Valentine and Anna Maria Eva Derr, and joined ten siblings, all males but the two next to him (he was their youngest), Rebecca and Catherine. Michael was the oldest Sowers, then David, John, Andrew, Heinrich, Philip, Matthias, Valentine. Their mother died in North Carolina, their father coming with several of his children, including Michael, David, Andrew, Henry (Heinrich), Matthias, Phillip, Rebecca (married Young), to Jackson Township in Fountain County, while Matthias, Valentine and Catherine briefly were here in our area but went farther west, Catherine just across the Illinois border to Vermillion County and Matthias, Valentine and our Lewis to Kansas. Most are buried in the Phanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery in Wallace. In Davidson County NC July 5, 1838 (also have May 5th of that year but guessing that is when the first bans of marriage were announced which would be about right) to Susanna Sink.
Our Annie Elizabeth Sowers (married John Bryant Barker whom I believe has already been a subject in my 52-week Ancestor Challenge) was the only one of their children to be born in NC (and the only one to stay in Fountain, Indiana), the rest of their family born mainly in Fountain County except for their 11th, 12th and 13th children, Rufus, Sarah E. and George Valentine, who were born in Page County, Iowa, Susanna passing away a few days after her son, George’s birth. Ready for this? Lewis picked up those kids and went on to Nodaway County, Missouri where he married widow, Margaret Permelia Ingram Whittington who had five children of her own. They also raised a next door neighbor’s child (Mary Cooper) after her parents’ death because she was used to being there playing with their children. This was the same year of Susanna’s death in late August. Then on to Beulah in Colby County, Kansas where they stayed for many years until Lewis’ death 10 January 1897. They had one son Jacob Sherman Sowers and all together there were 19 children. She passed away in Sheridan County Wyoming in June of 1924 just after her 100th birthday.
No matter where Lewis planted, he was a large and very productive farmer. In 1843 the Phanuel church (Fountain County, Indiana) was full of Davidson and Rowan County, NC people including all the Sowers (Henry, Lewis, Valentine, David, Matthias, Noah) along with Myers, Grimes, Fines and Livengoods as well as others. Lewis was an amazing go-getter, building the largest barn in Page County, Iowa when he went there. He cleared land, keeping the best of the wood for his home and barn, planting large corn fields and planting, cultivating peach orchards, plus had many hogs. Because of the Homestead and Timber Claim Act (remember he knew his woods) they headed in 1887 to Thomas County, Kansas from Iowa, he and sons and families loading up several wagons of household goods and driving their livestocks, camping in their covered wagons at night.
You all should remember your history about the grasshoppers in this area – well, they took his crops 7 out of 10 years. Stress, hard work and strain caused him to have several heart attacks, finally passing away with one Jan 10, 1897. His youngest son, Jacob, age 32 was executor of his large estate. Although I can’t track down two of the children (they may have passed young) I do know that Lewis and Susanna Sink Sowers had at least 41 grandchildren. Now, that’s a lot of Sower folk
File Created: 13 March 2011 - kz