saloonist, Patriot, born in Boone County, Ky., in 1826, is a son of Francis and Lydia (Brunner) Rowen. His parents married in Boone County (his father's second marriage), his first wife, Nancy Moore. His father came to Cincinnati in a "Joe boat" with his mother and three brothers when a young man, and grounded below Cincinnati four miles, and there purchased his first land. He sold that for 75 cents and bought for 12-1/2 cents an acre, and moved four miles further and bought another tract at 12-1/2 cents per acre. Here he married Nancy Moore, by whom he had eight children. He reared eight by his last wife, all dead but two: William Francis and John Q. But one of his first family is living, Mary, widow of Gus Lansbury, Kansas. He subsequently lived a few years five miles above Madison, but returned in 1838, and in 1848 came to Gallatin County, Ky., where he bought a farm, on which he died in 1857, his wife still surviving, nearly eighty years old. Our subject worked on the farm at home till his marriage in 1853 to Susan Watson, a native of Kentucky and daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Works) Watson. After his marriage Mr. and Mrs. R. moved to Aurora in 1858, to Rising Sun in 1860, and in 1861 to Patriot. He spent one year in Clairbourne County, Miss., and the rest of his time here. In 1864 Mr. R. raised Company E, One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was the company's first lieutenant, and served till the close of the war. He was constable of Aurora one and a half years and in Rising Sun was in the huxter business; in Patriot, the past three years, as saloonist; served as deputy sheriff two years; constable of township, six years; marshal of town at present, also street commissioner. Mr. Rowen is a member of the G.A.R., and an efficient public officer.
Source: History of Switzerland County, Indiana 1885. Chicago, Illinois: Weakley, Harraman & Co., 1885
Transcribed by: Sheila Kell