Biography of James D. Rowley, page 91.  History of Northeast Indiana; 
LaGrange, Steuben, Noble, and DeKalb Counties, Vol. II, under the 
editorial supervision of Ira Ford, Orville Stevens, William H. McEwen, and 
William H. McIntosh.  The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago and New York, 1920.

   James D. Rowley is one of the oldest residents of Butler Township, 
DeKalb County, and for nearly half a century has been identified with its 
farming interests.  His home place is in section 36 of that township.
   Mr. Rowley was born in Henry County, Ohio, March 23, 1845, a son of 
Thomas and Ellen (Davis) Rowley.  His father and mother were born in 
County Antrim, Ireland, and after their marriage came to the United 
States. They made their first home in Henry County, Ohio, where the father 
worked in the construction of the canal between Lake Erie and the Ohio 
River, and his wife boarded other workmen.  Later he followed different 
lines of employment in Illinois and Southwestern Indiana, and eventually 
settled in Jackson Township of DeKalb County, where he and his wife spent 
the rest of their years.  As a farmer he cleared up eighty acres of land.  
He was a democrat, and he and his wife were faithful Catholics. Of their 
eight children three are still living: James D., Catherine, wife of Samuel 
Surface, and John, of Fort Wayne.
   James D. Rowley grew up from early boyhood in Jackson Township, 
attended public schools, and has made industry the keynote of his life and 
by that means has found prosperity sufficient for all his requirements.  
He is still engaged in general farming and stock raising and owns 215 
acres in Jackson and Butler townships.  He and his family are members of 
the Catholic Church.
   Mr. Rowley married Ella Surface on February 23, 1871. They have nine 
children, named; Thomas, Charles, Carl, Elizabeth, Catherine, Mabel, 
Grace, Walter and Ralph.  The son, Carl is a physician at Boston 
Massachusetts; Elizabeth is the wife of Martin Schaaf, of Fort Wayne; 
Catherine is the wife of Thomas Kavanaugh, and Mabel is the wife of Forest 
Sheets.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com