WI BIO - Dodge Co - ROWELL, J. S. & Samuel W. History of Dodge County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1880, p 594 (Portrait of J. S. ROWELL p 613) Biography of J. S. ROWELL (father of Samuel W.) J. S. ROWELL, manufacturer, Beaver Dam [Beaver Dam Township, Dodge County, Wisconsin], was born 01 April 1827 in Springwater, Livingston County, New York, and came to Wisconsin in September 1848, locating in Hartland, Waukesha County. He served his time in New York at the molding and wooding of plows, and then moved to Goshen, Elkhart County, Indiana, and went to work with his brother putting up plows. He [J. S. ROWELL] then moved to Oswego, Kosciusko County, Indiana, when he was eighteen years of age, and on looking about for business was advised by his brother to start the manufacture of plows. He did so, having as his capital a rifle and $40 of borrowed money. This he immediately put into flour, at $3 a barrel, getting three barrels for his rifle. He then swapped the whole for castings, getting $4 per barrel for his flour in the trade. He then borrowed some carpenter's tools and went into the woods, where, with his own hands alone, he cut, hewed, and scored the sills and framework for his manufactory, putting up the same without the aid of a carpenter. He then dug his race [to carry a swiftly coursing channel of water], and in a flume [a channel which carries water down an incline], made and set up a wheel, shaft, pulleys, etc., and also made and erected a fan bellows under the instruction of Mr. AUBERSON of Fort Wayne [Allen County, Indiana]. He ran this foundry two or three years, saving from profits about $1,500. He [J. S. ROWELL] then sold out and returned to Goshen, Indiana, and engaged in mercantile business. Not succeeding very well in that, he moved to Hartland [, Wisconsin [Waukesha County, Wisconsin], where for a while he made steel plows. Shortly afterward he received an offer from his brother in Goshen [Elkhart County], Indiana, of a half interest in his foundry and plow shop, which offer he accepted, and remained there three years, when he moved to Beaver Dam [Dodge County, Wisconsin] and opened a shop for the repairing of thrashers and making plows. He shortly after commenced building the celebrated Tiger Thrasher, upon which he made in after years many improvements. In 1861 he commenced the manufacture of seeders in connection with his other manufactures, and at this writing [text published in 1880] is doing a large and prosperous business. On 01 January 1850 Mr. [J. S.] ROWELL married Mary Martha BALL [a maiden name?] of Virginia. He has [J. S. and Mary Martha ROWELL have] five children living: (1) Theo. B., (2) Samuel W. [whose biography follows], (3) Elizabeth M., (4) Lillian and (5) Florence Belle. Mrs. ROWELL is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Beaver Dam. In 1867 J. S. ROWELL was Mayor of Beaver Dam. He was also Alderman for two terms. Mr. [J. S.] ROWELL is the owner of the celebrated mare, "Badger Girl." [Speed record of horse has been omitted here. See also the Dodge County, Wisconsin, biography of Mr. John S. ROWELL's nephew, Ira ROWELL, also connected with the J. S. Rowell, Sons & Company.] Biography of Samuel W. ROWELL (son of J. S.) Samuel W. ROWELL, manufacturer; was born 28 January 1850 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. [The city of Kenosha was still officially known as Southport until 07 February 1850, and before its creation on 26 January 1850, Kenosha County was part of Racine County.] . He received his early education in Beaver Dam [Beaver Dam Township, Dodge County, Wisconsin]. He commenced his business by learning the trade of a machinist with [from] his father, and afterward learned all the different branches of the trade in the establishment of J. S. Rowell, Sons & Company. On 05 September 1877 he [Samuel W. ROWELL] married Mary MILLARD [a maiden name?] of Horicon [Hubbard Township, Dodge County], Wisconsin. He has [Samuel W. and Mary ROWELL have] one child living, Mary. . Mr. [Samuel W.] ROWELL has general supervision over the vast firm of J. S. Rowell, Sons & Company. Submitted by Cathy Kubly