John A Rowland
The family of this name were early identified with Fayette county, their connection with this section going back as far as 1850 or before and the first of the name was among the very earliest of the settlers. In or about the year mentioned P[eter] L[ane] Rowland made his appearance in the precincts of Fayette county, which at that time was wild and uncultivated. Shortly afterward his brother, John M[iller], assisted in building a mill at Auburn. P.L. Rowland also worked on the Clermont mill. Besides this he turned his hand to various jobs, including farming. He was also an evangelical minister off and on, until the last years of his life, but most of his time was given to farming. He started a creamery on the farm now occupied by his son, conducted it for four or five years, then rented and finally sold it. He married Alvina (family records say Elvira) Wheeler, of Canada, and from this union was born the subject of this sketch.
John A. Rowland was born in Dover township, Fayette county, Iowa in 1871, on the homestead that bears his family name. He remained on the farm with his father until about 1892, when he embarked in business for himself. John A. and Albert R. (brother) operated the two-hundred-ten-acre farm where the forner now resides, keeping up thier partnership for about four years. John A. the purchased his brother's interest and has since farmed with success on his own account. Mr. Rowland is one of the progressive young farmers whose combined work has made Iowa one of the finest agricultural states in the world. Besides the usual crops, which he has raised with success, he has achieved distinction as a livestock breeder. Many specimens of the fine thoroughbreds of different varieties and breeds which have made Iowa noted may be seen on Mr. Rowland's place. The celebrated Shorthorn family has no finer specimens than those found here. The peerlees Norman horses, with their graceful limbs and sleek, black coats, enliven the meadows and glades of the Rowland homestead. Duroc-Jersey and Poland-China hogs in the best of condition and of mommoth sizes give promise of rich revenues when they reach the swine market. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Rowland has followed dairying extensively and figured creditably in an industry for which Iowa is famous. Mr. Rowland inherited his love of fine stock, as his father believed in it and always kept a good stallion. He was a man of notable qualities and far above the average. He was founder of the Evangelical church in Fayette county and for many years practically stood the expenses of the same. He donated the land for the buildings which were erected in 1895 or 1896. One of the achievements of which he was justly pround was the passage of what was called the "herd law," for which he worked indefatigably.
In 1898 Mr. Rowland married Clara E., daughter of Henry Smith, and has three children: Merritt, Gladys and Myrtle.The family are members of the Evangelical church. Mr. Rowland is a Republican, but never sought office, though he has consented to act as president of the school board for some years. Like his honored father, he has always been a supporter of all moral causes and active in church work.
Peter Rowland, paternal grandfather of John A., was born December 31, 1791, at Hagerstown, Maryland, and died at the age of eighty-five years. He married a Miss Hoffner, who died in Ohio, and by her had six children, five sons and one daughter. They first moved to Pennsylvania, from there to Ohio, and in the early fifties came to Iowa and settled in Fayette county on land located in Clermont township. He was a pioneer of that section and ended his days peacefully after a strenous life chiefly devoted to agricultural labor.
* From Past and Present of Fayette County Iowa Vol 1, B. F. Bowen & Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1910.
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April 19, 2009
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