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Borchardt Family
April 7, 1978
Mr. Errol Rowley
R.R.1
Fairmont, Minnesota
Dear Mr. Rowley,
In an effort to put my family history together, I was referred to
Fairmont, Minn., and wrote to the County Clerk. I received a nice
letter from him with quite a bit of information. I had asked him if
he knew of a descendant of the Rowleys I was checking on that I might
write to and he gave me your name.
I hope you won't mind my writing to you even though you may not
claim my branch of the Rowley family. I am anxious to get any
information possible on the Rowleys around Fairmont, Minnesota.
Darius Rowley- born 1-29-1827 - Pennsylvania, died - 2-1-1909 Mn.
He was the son of Peter Rowley and Alice Dustin - my
great great grandparents - brother of my great grandmother- lived
in this area.
His children (Darius and Louise Rouse Rowley's)
1. Timothy Rowley - born 12-27-1856 Kewaunee, Wis.
died - 4-2-1948 Fairmont. Mn.
2. Oliver Rowley - born 10-25-1861 Mn. "
died - 1-13-1931 "
I am hoping to learn about Peter Rowley's and Alice Dustin's
parents - where they lived and where they died - and to learn of their
descendants. Peter was born in 1795 and Alice Dustin in 1799.
Peter Rowley was born in New York state, lived in Oswego County
around 1820- moved to Pennsylania (sic) in 1826 - then to Ohio and to
Wisconsin in 1834 - 1st settler of Two Creeks, Wis. in 1842 - I lose
him there - hope to find where he died to check on his parents.
Thank you very much for taking time to read this.
Would appreciate your checking the following page - if you would -
if you do not care to - please just put in enclosed envelope and send
back to me -
Yours truly,
(signed) Janet Richardson (Mrs. R.W.)
May 8, 1978
Dear LaVonne,
Thank you very much for answering the letters I wrote to Errol Rowley
and Mrs. Ed Rowley - you sent me so much interesting information - I
appreciate it very much!
Am enclosing several papers for you - many of the dates and names I
got from your letter - I checked those in pencil.
As to Lemuel: I found him on a deed Feb. 22, 1852 in Wisconsin- from
U.S. land grant - Manitowoc Co. - signed by James Buchanan, Pres. of
U.S.A. Again I found him on a deed where he and wife Betsey Rowley of
Two Rivers, Co. of Manitowoc, State of Wisconsin were selling a piece
of property - 18 Aug., 1859. Then again on a deed where he was buying
property from Darius Rowley and his wife Louisa of Manitowoc Co.,
State of Wisconsin - same date 18 Aug., 1859- then you told me that
Darius moved to Minn.- E.C. Oct 8, 1859 - so that would tie together.
Timothy's death certificate says he was born in Kewaunee / 1860 Census
of Town of Rowley lists Betsey Rowley, 41 and Polly D.- 12, no mention
of Lemuel - wonder if he died? or moved to Kansas as you had heard?
I will check cemetery records in May when I am there - May 22, 23, 24.
Manitowoc Co. did not keep death certificates before 1864. They do not
have a death certificate for Peter Rowley or Alice Dustin Rowley.
1860 Census has no mention of Peter or Alice - and with Darius and Lucy
Ann gone, I wonder if the family moved to E.C. I'll check in Manitowoc
Co.- then if I find nothing- perhaps you would check cemetery and church
records for me - I would appreciate that!
Lucy Ann Curtis' death certificate says she died, widowed, in Fairmont
- probably is buried there, do you think?
You speak of your 3rd cousin coming in June - I'm curious as to
relationship as Mrs. Pfunder of Minneapolis (her husband was a great
grandson of Mariett) said that they had driven to Fairmont (she married
into the family in 1916) to a celebration at which Peter Rowley had
given a paper on the Rowley family history -this Peter would have to
have been the son of Darius - she said that she had had a copy of it.
- do you suppose we can get a copy from Martin Co. Historical Society?
I will write them after I get back from Wisconsin - thank you for
sending me their address.
I am trying to link Alice Dustin with Hannah Dustin, 1697 (World
Book- Haverhill, Mass. where there is a statue to her). Note of my
father's says Alice, a direct descendant of the famous Hannah Dustin.
I have been a dues paying member of the Dustin Family Association since
my father's death in 1964, he was before me, but I never asked him the
relationship - and now I have been working on that angle for a year-
so I am anxious to find out Alice Dustin's parents' names. In the
1850 Census of Wisconsin I find Peter Rowley, Allice and it looks to
be an N.H. after her name as place of birth all this time I thought it
was N.Y. Mariett's death certificate lists mother's place of birth as
York State. but I have no idea who furnished the information. Darius'
d.c. lists mother's place of birth as unknown.
I have written a number of letters to County Clerks. The one I
wrote to Oswego Co. N.Y. was answered by the Historian of the Town of
Volney, Oswego Co. a Mr. Byron Rowlee (said name used to be spelled
Rowley) - he wrote and offered to help me. I have answered his letter
and hope to hear from him.
I am also trying to link Peter Rowley to Henry Rowley of Barnstable,
Mass., 1632- but have a few gaps at present. Mrs. Pfunder referred me
to him and my brother tells me he remembers Dad telling him that our
ancestor shipped on the Speedwell - as far as I can find out the
Speedwell never came, and passengers came on a later Mayflower- will
have to do a bit more checking on descendants of the Plymouth Colony-
My mother told me that I would be eligible for the D.A.R. - but I
wasn't interested - still not thinking of joining, but do wonder what
ancestor makes me eligible- would have to be a Rowley or Dustin who
fought in Revolutionary War.
Do you have any idea where Abby Ann Tower died? Avaline? I do
find a great variety of spelling of names - I find Mariett, Mariette,
Margaret, Mary E. so maybe your Margett is correct??? I see you have
Avaline, perhaps Velina is a nickname -
The Register of Deeds in Manitowoc Co. did send me an interesting
note - for you - the earliest entry in original entry book is dated
1847 and is to Darius Rowley.
Alice Dustin --- Peter Rowley
b. 1799 chr: b. 1795
Mariett b1822 Darius-----etc b. 1827
Martha McMillan (O'Hara)b.1861 Timothy Rowley b1856
Donald McMillan O'Hara b. 1885 Lillian Rowley (Borchardt) b. 1908
Janet O'Hara Richardson b. 1918 LaVonne Borchardt b. 1939
Does this make us 5th cousins? My grandmother and your
grandfather were first cousins. We have lived in Grand Rapids, Mich.
31 years - my husband is a lawyer here - have 3 grown sons and one
grandson.
Thank you, again for writing to me- hope to have more information
after my trip to Wisconsin and will certainly appreciate any you have
for me or any suggestions as to where I might find some.
Sincerely,
(signed) Janet Richardson
August 4, 1978
Dear LaVonne,
Thought you might like this paper I received from the Sturgeon
Bay Museum after my trip to Manitowoc County. I thought it was very
interesting.
I sent for Peter Rowley's service record in Civil War and from
that I learned that he was born in Nassau, New York - think I have his
father's name- Timothy - there was a Timothy in land deeds in
Williamstown, New York in 1811, and Peter enlisted in War of 1812 from
Williamstown, and is listed in New York census 1820 in Williamstown -
that Timothy's wife's name is Lucy and, of course Peter and Alice had
daughter, Lucy - as well as daughter Abby - I now have learned that
Alice Dustin's parents were Moses and Abigail Dustin- have Moses
Dustin's service record from Revolutionary War- and have traced him to
Hannah Dustin. Will send you a copy of the Hanna Dustin story as soon
as I receive some more copies.
I guess I still believe Peter Rowley's wife to be Alice - not Ellis
- I find it in note of my father's- Alice, a direct descendant of the
famous Hannah Dustin (World Book H- Haverhill). I have received it
from many relatives I have now found since I went to Wisconsin. I
found it in the 1850 census of Manitowoc County - Two Rivers - Peter,
Allice - and names of the children who were at home - have also come
upon several sisters of Alice's, I believe.
Darius Rowley had sons - Timothy, Peter and Oliver, right? Was
Oliver named after his wife's father- I found an Oliver Rouse in
Kewaunee.
When Moses Dustin applied for a pension as a citizen of Erie Co.,
Pa., in 1832, one person who was a reference, who had known him 15
years - was Darius Orton (I found Darius Orton and Lemuel Orton in
D.A.R. Books as Revolutionary soldiers.) That accounts for those names
of Peter's sons, I would guess. Darius Orton, Jr. married Mercy
Dustin (Born 1796). (Alice was born in 1799).
The Mormon Church has opened a branch here for Genealogy Research
where we can go out and order micro-films sent here. I will do that -
so far I am in correspondence with a man who is writing a history of
Volney, NY - under the CETA Program, and has been very helpful. I do
make an occasional trip to the State Library at Lansing, Mich.
The relatives I spoke of locating were all through the McMillan
branch - Maryett having married Neil McMillan - I found daughters of
first cousins of my father's I had never heard about-
Was so sorry to learn of your accident - that was a shame- I'll be
glad to send you what information I come upon.
Sincerely,
(signed) Janet Richardson
Notes handwritten on the edges of the letter: "Also find Alice Dustin
on death certificate of Darius, Lucy + Mariett as mothers name. Moses
Dustin - above b. 1765 'On the Merrimac River, N.H.' (Must have been?)
another Moses Dustin in Rev. War"
Sept. 18, 1978
Dear LaVonne,
Would you please give your cousin a great big hug for me!!! The
item you sent me in regard to death of wife of Moses Dustin is the
proof I need!! I have been searching and searching for one thing that
proved the Moses Dustin I have been researching is the correct one. I
had no doubt of it as I have so much circumstantial information, but I
wanted one proof - a birth certificate, a death certificate or a deed.
I have written many letters, will enclose one I got back today along
with letter from you - Please send it back for my records, but thought
you might find it interesting and timely.
Moses Dustin, born in Londonderry, NH 1/26/1765 - left NH, leaving
two married daughters in NH- I believe he must have moved to
Williamstown, NY - as that was where Peter Rowley was and married his
daughter, Alice- my great great grandmother- and yours, right? Then
he lived in Harbour Creek, Erie Co., Pa- 1830 Pa. Census - applied for
pension as citizen of Harbour Creek in 1832, 1840 NY Pensioners finds
him in Ripley, NY as does National Archives letter - daughter living
near there in 1843- Mrs. Lorenzo Phelps- then he moved to Stratford
Coos Co. NH to live with a daughter, his wife being dead 1850 - 1850
NH census finds him living with Sally Curtis (Mrs. Thomas) 86 yrs. old
- died 2/2 1852. Also listed in Harbour Creek 1830- Rachel Dustin
(Mrs. Alvah Rowley- brother of Peter), and she was sister of Alice's
and Mercy (Mrs. Darius Orton, Jr.) and son Moses Dustin, Jr. Each time
I have come up with a location, I have sent for a deed and each time
I have come up with another daughter, I have sent for a death
certificate - tho I was positive I had the right man- but now you send
me proof indeed- Many many thanks! I sent for certificates- but they
never had records of them- (handwritten note:) "So never received one."
I do find some discrepancies from time to time - and the only small
problem was that I had heard from another relative who had given me
Moses' wife's name as Abigail - so we must check that out, but this
article definitely refers to the right Moses - so I believe we'll have
to go with the Mercy until we find out why they said the other - I just
got a card from Dustin Family Association saying they were sorry they
hadn't sent requested booklets, if I would tell them what I had ordered,
they would send them off at once - that's why you didn't get one like I
had promised - did I send you the Dustin genealogy? Don't bother
answering that, I'll check it out - and will send one along if I haven't.
Yes, I have checked in Manitowoc Co. for Peter and Alice Rowley,
that is why I thought they might have moved -had hoped to find a
cemetery in May when I was there - I have written the Archives to see
if he received a pension, and if so where last payment was sent but
haven't received answer to that yet-
Thanks, again. I sent the information to the Dustin Family
Association along with my reorder.
Sincerely,
(signed) Janet Richardson
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