KAY LASH COLLECTION, CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, ANGOLA, INDIANA. PUBLISHED IN THE STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1907 JOSEPH ANDREW JACKSON SOWLE, 13 Aug 1831 - 26 Feb 1907 Double Sorrow - Two Deaths in One Household For the first time in Angola there will be conducted this afternoon in the Congregational Church by Rev. John Humfreys, a double funeral, the services being for Joseph A. J. Sowle who died Tuesday P.M. after a ten days' illness from pneumonia, and for his son-in-law, Walter M. Strayer, who died Wednesday noon from tuberculosis. The double sorrow in the family is a bitter one, and they will receive all the consolation from friends that sympathy and helpfulness can give. Following are their obituaries. (Note that Walter M. Strayer has been input on the website separately) Joseph A. J. Sowle Was born in Genesee county, New York, August 13, 1831; died at his home in Angola, February 26, 1907, aged 75 years, 7 months, 13 days. When a small boy Mr. Sowle came with his parents to Steuben county, and about 1839, they settled north of Angola near the community known as Sowle Settlement. Soon afterward they moved to Angola, where he reserved (received?) the education that the pioneer town afforded, and later learned the blacksmith's trade. In 1852 he went overland to California, where he remained five years, and returned by the way of Panama. October 10, 1858, he married Sophia Holbein, of Branch county, Mich., and to them were born nine children of whom five survive with Mrs. Sowle. They are: Mrs. Josephine Hector, Mrs. F. W. Carver, Mrs. Alice Strayer, Mrs. L. F. Williamson and Mrs. D. V. Ramsay. Mr. Sowle was of old pioneeer stock, whose views of life were gained when this country was young, and they did not change much with the advance of the times. As he lived the most of his life in this community, he had gained a wide acquaintance. He had witnessed the growth of Angola from a village to a prosperous small city. Whatever may be said of him, it cannot be denied that he was a man of honor and integrity, He was a man likewise of high ideals, for he believed that men must stand on their own worth and that they cannot be forced into righteousness. He was also a man of strong convictions, and when once he had determined a principle of course to pursue, no opposition, however bitter, could shake him. He abhorred hypocrisy, and stood open always before all men. To the family, he was kind and indulgent, and his children never received other than good counsel from him. The world's view of a man is often focused through a prejudice which overlooks every good and worthy trait in him. Joseph Sowle never misjudged or spoke ill of any man, nor did he attempt to retaliate when calumny was heaped upon him, though he lived to see the moral downfall of some who criticized him most. It is the fairest summing up of his life to say that those who knew him best, respected him most. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Joseph Andrew Jackson Sowle, 13 Aug 1831 - 26 Feb 1907, on 10 Oct 1858 in Angola, Steuben County, Indiana, married Sophia (Holbein) Sowle, 11 Jul 1838 - 19 Jun 1917. They are buried at Circle Hill Cemetery, Angola, Steuben County, Indiana. Sophia was born in Seneca County, New York, daughter of Peter and Pamela (Phelps) Holbein. Joseph was the son of Francis Tripp Sowle, 21 Oct 1808 - 31 Aug 1901, and his 1st wife, Susan Maria (Vrooman) Sowle, 18 Sep 1808 - 19 Sep 1845, who was born in Castile, Wyoming County, New York. On 30 Nov 1846, Francis married Henrietta A. (Holdridge) Sowle, 1827 - 07 Sep 1848. On 22 Jul 1849, Francis married his 3rd wife, Barbara (McMahan) Sowle, 1823 - 15 Mar 1891, daughter of John McMahan, the first settler in Fremont Township, Steuben County, Indiana. Francis and his wives are buried at Old Angola Cemetery, Angola, Steuben County, Indiana. Joseph's grandparents were Joseph Sowle, 30 Apr 1785 - 01 Apr 1862 and Rachel (Allen) Sowle, 1790 - 15 Feb 1851. They are buried at Sowle Cemetery, Steuben County, Indiana. CHILDREN OF THE MARRIAGE OF JOSEPH AND SOPHIA: Josephine F. (Sowle) Hector, born 1860, no date of death, on 03 Nov 1888, married Frank M. Hector, burial places unknown. Florence C. (Sowle) Carver, born 1862, no date of death, on 08 Sep 1886, married Frank W. Carver, born 1859, no date of death. Burial places unknown. Alice Ann (Sowle) Strayer, 22 Jul 1867 - 16 May 1953, died at Los Angeles, California. On 03 Apr 1889, she married Walter Michael Strayer, 17 Oct 1864 - 27 Feb 1907, who is buried at Circle Hill Cemetery. The double funeral service was held because Walter died one day after his father-in-law. Susan L. (Sowle) Williamson, born in 1872, no date of death, on 12 Jul 1894, married Lewis Fredrick Williamson Sr., no dates listed. Susan is buried at Circle Hill Cemetery, burial place of Lewis is unknown. Bernice (Sowle) Ramsey, born in 1873, no date of death, married David Valentine Ramsey, 1878 - 1929. Bernice's burial place unknown. David is buried at Circle Hill Cemetery. David was the son of Francis Hamilton Ramsey, 22 Mar 1848 - 1925, and Arminella (Hazlett) Ramsey, 1847 - 1916. They are buried at Circle Hill Cemetery. SIBLINGS OF JOSEPH: CHILDREN FROM THE MARRIAGE OF FRANCIS TRIPP SOWLE AND SUSAN MARIA (VROOMAN) SOWLE: Mary Ann Sowle, born 01 Apr 1831. Adam Sowle, born 24 Jun 1837. Helen Sowle, born 11 Feb 1841. CHILDREN FROM THE MARRIAGE OF FRANCIS TRIPP SOWLE AND HENRIETTA (HOLDRIDGE) SOWLE: Henrietta L. Sowle, born 01 Sep 1848. Her mother died 6 days after her birth. CHILDREN FROM THE MARRIAGE OF FRANCIS TRIPP SOWLE AND BARBARA (McMAHAN) SOWLE: Byron L. Sowle, born 28 Aug 1850. Josephine C. Sowle, born 04 Mar 1852 - 1857, buried at Old Angola Cemetery "Marriage Records, Steuben County, Indiana, 1837-1899." "History of Steuben County, Indiana, 1885," pages 691, 692, biography of father, Francis Tripp Sowle; Pages 690, 691, biography of uncle, A. W. A. Sowle; page 654, biography of uncle, Abel Sowle; page 676, biography of uncle, Christian Fast; page 652, biography of uncle, Walter Ingersoll; pages 655, 656, biography of uncle, Loton Wells. "Cemeteries of Steuben County, Indiana, 1990," by Audree Seibel Lewis, Vol. 2, pages 1481, 1714, 1716, 1717, 1718, 1719, 1963. Worldconnect.rootsweb.com: PEPERHISTORY, contact Lyndsay Detro - Lpeper@hotmail.com ID: I3045 www.familysearch.org; IGI Individual Record for Joseph Andrew Jackson Sowle. Individual Records for Joseph Andrew Jackson Sowle, Sophia Holbein, Francis Tripp Sowle. Family Group Record for Frank W. Carver, Francis Tripp Sowle. 1880 United States Census, Joseph A. J. Sowle, Angola, Steuben County, Indiana, Family History Library Film #1254312, NA Film #T9-0312, page #329C. Submitted by Mona Hilden-Beckwith e-mail: hilbeck123@att.net