KAY LASH COLLECTION, CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF STEUBEN 
COUNTY, ANGOLA, INDIANA.

FRANCIS M. SOWLE, 08 Feb 1833 - 24 Jan 1913

                 FRANCIS M. SOWLE
   Son of Able and Luana Nile Sowle, was born Feb. 8, 1833, 
in Jefferson county, New York, and passed into the great 
beyond at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Stallman, Jan. 
24, 1913, aged 79 years, 11 months and 15 days.  With his 
parents he migrated westward, and the family, after residing 
for a few years in Ohio, came to Steuben county, Indiana, and 
finally settled at what is known as Sowle Settlement, north 
of Angola.  The family traveled by ox carts, and endured all 
the hardships of pioneer life.  They reached Indiana in 1837, 
Francis being the eldest of a family of twelve, it 
necessarily fell to his lot to help build and support the new 
home in the wilderness.  July 4th, 1859, he was united in 
marriage to Elizabeth McMahan, also a pioneer of Fremont 
township, Steuben county, Indiana.  To this union were born 
three daughters.  The eldest, Mrs. Jenette Blackman, preceded 
him in death in 1904; Mrs. Julia Stallman and Mrs. Alice 
Moody, with whom he made his home since leaving Angola in 
1910, are both residents of York township, Steuben county.
   Through all the hardships of a pioneer, he lived an 
honest, upright, industrious life.  When a young man, as a 
carpenter, he helped to erect some of the first buildings 
around the public square in Angola.  He has lived in Steuben 
county since he came west, with the exception of a few years 
spent in Michigan and Wisconsin.
   He leaves to mourn their loss his aged widow, with whom he 
had happily lived for more than 53 years, two daughters, 
three sons-in-law, ten grandchildren, two brothers and two 
sisters besides many nieces and nephews.
   Funeral services were conducted at the Powers church by 
Elder E. P. Couch, of Metz, and the body tenderly laid away 
in the cemetery near by.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

   Francis M. Sowle, 08 Feb 1833 - 24 Jan 1913, married 
Elizabeth Clarabelle (McMahan) Sowle, 16 Mar 1834 - 28 Feb 
1922.  She was the daughter of John A. McMahan Sr. and Rachel 
(Beck) McMahan, 30 Nov 1796 - 01 May 1861.  Francis, 
Elizabeth and Rachel are buried at Powers Cemetery, Steuben 
County, Indiana.  No information on John's burial place.  
Francis was the son of Abel Sowle, 14 Nov 1810 - 09 Sep 1882, 
and his 1st wife, Luana (Niles) Sowle, Sep 1811 - 12 Apr 
1859.  They are buried at Old Angola Cemetery, Angola, 
Steuben County, Indiana.  No information of Abel's 2nd wife.

CHILDREN:
   Julia Ann (Sowle) Stallman, 06 Aug 1861 - 1945, married 
John Henry Stallman, 07 Dec 1862 - 1934.  They are buried at 
Powers Cemetery.
   Jenette (Sowle) Blackman, 10 Apr 1860 - 23 Apr 1904. 
   Alice V. (Sowle) Moody, 09 Jul 1869 - 15 Dec 1966, married 
James Alfonso Moody, 12 Nov 1867 - 06 Jan 1937.  They are 
buried at Circle Hill Cemetery, Angola, Steuben County, 
Indiana.

SOME OF FRANCIS' SIBLINGS:
From Abel's 1st marriage:
   Allen Sowle, 07 Jan 1835 - 11 Dec 1857, buried at Old 
Angola Cemetery.
   Alma Sowle, 13 Apr 1856 - 25 Feb 1857, buried at Old 
Angola Cemetery.
   Alva Sowle, 04 Mar 1843 - 23?? Aug 1862, buried at Old 
Angola Cemetery.
   Hester Sowle, 24 Oct 1847 - 03 Apr 1859, buried at Old 
Angola Cemetery.
   Jasper Sowle, 10 Apr 1851?? - 17 Mar 1872, buried at Old 
Angola Cemetery.
   Niles Sowle, 03 Sep 1853 - 26 Nov 1903 (the 9th child per 
a note in the cemetery book), buried at Circle Hill Cemetery.

From Abel's 2nd marriage:  Abel A. Sowle, 02 Sep 1861 - 15 
Oct 1861, buried at Old Angola Cemetery.

"Cemeteries of Steuben County, Indiana, 1990," by Audree 
Seibel Lewis, Vol. 2, pages 1241, 1292, 1293, 1714, 1715, 
1716, 1717, 1718, 1736.
www.familsearch.org
Submitted by Mona Hilden-Beckwith
e-mail:  hilbeck123@att.net