John Fowler

 

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: CRAIG, CROSS, DAMUDE, ELLIS, FAUROT, FOWLER, PERKINS, SHUTTS, VANSCOY

JOHN FOWLER. Among the attractive prairie homes of Compromise Township, none is more pleasant to look upon than that of our subject, which is finely located on section 17, and presents a series of cultivated fields and pasture lands, not excelled by any in this part of Champaign County. In the midst of these, and on a gentle rise of ground, stands the substantial family residence with its shapely and well-kept out-buildings, with here and there groups of shade trees and other adornments, which constitute altogether the home of refinement and prosperity. Mr. Fowler, a native of the wealthy and populous State of Ohio, was born Sept. 6, 1831, on his father's farm among the hills of Marion County. His parents, Willy and Cynthia (PERKINS) FOWLER, began life together as husband and wife in Muskingum County, Ohio, a few years after its first settlement began.

The father of our subject, a native of Lincolnshire, England, was born in 1798, remaining in his native shire until reaching manhood. Then, accompanied by two brothers, Robert and Richard, he crossed the Atlantic, and soon after landing, located in Muskingum County, Ohio. After his marriage he continued to reside in that county a few years, then removed to Sandusky and engaged in agricultural pursuits, and was thus occupied during the remainder of his life, resting from his earthly labors in 1855. The mother is still living, and is now in the eighty-sixth year of her age, having been born in 1801. Of their thirteen children, seven lived to attain their majority. These were, Alvira, now the wife of Ira FAUROT; Willy; Richard, now deceased; John, Asenath, the wife of Ballard SHUTTS; Princess, Mrs. Franklin ELLIS, and Cynthia, the wife of Charles DAMUDE.

The subject of our sketch was reared on the farm, and educated in the common schools. He was married in Hardin County, Ohio, Sept. 4, 1853, to Miss Amelia CROSS. She was born in Parkman, Ohio, Oct. 27, 1835, and is the daughter of Abram and Priscilla (VanSCOY) CROSS, now deceased. After his marriage, Mr. Fowler purchased a tract of land in Marion County, consisting of 220 acres, and which he occupied and cultivated until February, 1865. Selling out, he came to this State, and located in Vermilion County, near the line of Champaign. Some years later he removed to a farm near Homer, known as the Ray farm, comprising 640 acres of land, and which he rented until his removal to near Danville. From there he came to this county, and locating near Penfield, for three years operated 3,000 acres known as the Corbley land.

In 1881 Mr. Fowler took possession of his present property. This comprises 240 acres which would sell readily at $50 per acre, and is chiefly devoted to the raising of grain and stock. Mr. Fowler is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and although not repairing to the field during the late Rebellion, aided by his means and influence in upholding the Union sentiments. He has never been an office-seeker, preferring to give his time and attention to his private interests, although while in his native State he served as Assessor. Mrs. Fowler is a lady highly respected in the community, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The record of the nine children who were given to this household is as follows: Ella, Mrs. CRAIG, is a resident of Vermilion County, Ill.; Arthur, when twenty-four years of age, was accidentally drowned while bathing in the river near Red Oak, Iowa; Finley is superintendent of the large farm of "Long" John Wentworth, near Summit, in Cook County; Clara Belle died at the age of seventeen months; Vannella, John W., Grace, Bertha and Daisy are at home with their parents.