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