Notes for WILLIAM BARNABUS ROWLAND

Notes for WILLIAM BARNABUS ROWLAND

SOURCES: (Bunnell): Name was Rollenbelor in Germany, evolving in Roland/Rowland in Amercia.

(Lyter): "William Rowland was born in KY in the year 1800, and in 1828 he moved to Illinois and built the first cabin and made the first improvements that was made in Pleasant Twp. He settled on Sec. 8. Riley and James Rowland were the next
to settle in Pleasant Twp. and came in 1829. Louisa C. Rowland was the first child born in the Twp. Robert Rowland taught the second school built. Riley Rowland brought the first team of horses into the township and is now the only one of
the first settlers now living in Pleasant Twp."

(Hevlin): "...The prairie in Pleasant Twp. was named Rowland's Prairie, for William and Riley Rowland the first settlers...."

(Dodge): William Rowland was a Pvt. in the Coquille Guards - mustered 11/6/1855 to 12/28/1855. In Port Orford Minutemen, 2nd Lt. March 1856 to6/25/1856 with John Creighton.

(Dodge, p. 187): "The historical Rowland Prairie is the next place of importance reached after crossing the stream. Wm. Rowland settled here with his Indian woman after the Indian War. The dusky maiden was of the Umpquatribe and there was a
romance in her history with liege lord. The legend relates that Rowland was attacked by a bear in the vicinity of the North Umpqua and severely wounded. That Jane, the Indian girl, saved his life and nursed him through the critical period,
after which Rowland took her to his heart. According to an obituary published herein, her name was Mala or Mary,but she was known as Jane during the last years of their wedded life. Rowland raised a large family, although he left a wife and
family in the east to think of him only with disgust after learning of his downfall. It is asserted that Rowland and his squaw rendered a valuable service to the whites during the long range with his heavy rifle, which he boasted as being a
wonderful fun; but as to his great efforts to bless the white race, the historian has been unable to find wherein to credit the old man for his valor, and he was inclined to conclude that he obtained such a reputation among a few by telling
stories, the half of which were no truer than his fillial affection for his wife and children he left in the eastern states...." "A small fort or blockade was erected at Rowland's Prairie at the time of the Indian War and there are many
stories yet being told of romances and casualties that happened at this place sufficient to fill many pages of this work. Press Caldwell, Harry H. Baldwin, William Rowland and some others figured as prominent prioneers of the prairie..." (p.
188) "...Warner superceded Rowland, who was uncomfortable no doubt when refined and industrious people began to settle around him, and he sought a more wild region with his dusky maiden..." "...William Warner has the 640 acres under the
donation laws by Rowland and it has been improved until it is acknowledged to be one of the best stock farms in Coos County." (p. 97): "Capt. Packwood had been selected as commander, and on November 12th taking less than a third of the little
band he made a scout up the South Coquille. They found that a house had been robbed of a large amount of flour, and Hall sent an express to Port Orford to notify Sub-Indian Agent Ben Wright of the absence of the Indians from their reservation,
and of the robbery and other matters connected therein, asking him to come to the Cquille to settle with the Indians and relieve the men he (Hall) had contracted with to aid him in keeping the peace; the settlers above on Johnson Creek having
in the meantime returned and fortified themselves at the place of William Rowland. Those who had families, however, had left them in Coos Bay. Captain Packwood remained at Fort Rowland to watch the Indians,and became convinced, although they
pretended to be friendly, they were probably in league with the hostile Rogue-River savages, as they became much excited when visited by members of that band...."

NOTE: Marriage to Mary Miller by Adam Shoemaker. Although he lived withand raised a family with Mala Jane (or Malianne Jane), an Umpqua Indian, he never married her, remaining married to Mary Miller Rowland.

(Faye Smith & Lillian Stipe, 1992): William and Mary Rowland lived in a tent in Davis Co., near Floris, IA. Bears would circle around the tent. Mary would throw feathers from the feather beds into the fire to scare off the bears.