My Genealogy Hound

Lyman Wallace Sowle, a prosperous merchant of Farmington, Oakland County, who has been a resident of this county for the greater part of his life, was born in Saratoga County, New York, May 9, 1836, and is a son of Rev. A. M. and Thankful W. (Allen) Sowle.

Rev. A. M. Sowle was born in Fulton County, New York, May 8, 1810, and was a minister of the Universalist Church for many years. He was located at many places and for a period of eight years had charge of the Universalist Church at Farmington, Oakland County, Michigan. He enlisted as chaplain in the 74th Reg., Indiana Vol. Inf., at Angola, Steuben County, Indiana, in which regiment he served for about two years, taking part in the battles of Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge, and giving great assistance to the hospital corps in aiding the wounded. During the later years of his life he resided on a farm in Farmington township, Oakland County. He was married January 10, 1835, to Thankful W. Allen, who was born in Saratoga County, New York, July 4, 1807, and they had four children, namely: Lyman Wallace, our subject; Susannah Ann, who is the widow of Edward Philbeam, and has two children, — Nellie T., born June 28, 1861, and Sarah E„ born November 10, 1862; Joseph Marsh, born August 5, 1842, who was married to Loretta Reynolds; and Marcus A., born December 15, 1844, and deceased December 18, 1870, who was married March 12, 1867, to Jedida Ballou, who was born January 19, 1851, and died April 10, 1870, — their son, Perry Ballou, was born November 12, 1869, and died August 7, 1870.

Lyman W. Sowle enlisted on November 9, 1863, in Ridgeway township, Lenawee County, Michigan, in the 1st Regiment of Engineers and Mechanics. Their first army work was the construction of a bridge at Bridgeport, Alabama, and for a considerable period they engaged in building block houses, one of the principal ones being the one on Mount Lookout, where they also built a hospital. Mr. Sowle while in the service was taken sick with typhoid-pneumonia, and while convalescing was visited by his father who failed to recognize him because of the great change. Our subject entered the hospital about January 1, 1864, and was unable to leave until April, 1865, when he rejoined his regiment and served until the close of the war. He was mustered out of service at Nashville, Tennessee, then returned to Lenawee County, Michigan, where he remained until 1888, farming and operating a sawmill. In that year he purchased his father’s farm in Farmington township, Oakland County, and there resided until 1891, when he established the dry goods and general store business which he now conducts at Farmington. He rented the farm for some years after establishing the store, and then sold it. He is one of the most substantial business men of the township, and has a wide acquaintance throughout the county.

In 1858, Mr. Sowle was married to Lany A. Kniffen, a daughter of Isaac L. Kniffen, a farmer of Ridgeway township, Lenawee County, Michigan, now deceased. Her mother is living at the age of 82 years, and recently paid an enjoyable visit at the home of Mr. Sowle. Our subject and wife are the parents of nine children, as follows: Mary Elizabeth, who died in 1862, aged three years and six months: Antoinette G., born April 11, 1862, who married Ezra Sink, and has two children, — Lawrence and Perry; Elizabeth M., born June 20, 1864, who married George Graves, a farmer and railroad engineer of Ridgeway township, Lenawee County, and has two children, — Albert and Lucile; Leander L., born in March, 1868, who died on his father’s farm at the age of 24 years; Mark, born June 26, 1871, who was married to Nona Drake, and has three children; Myrtle, born August 15, 1874, who married Walter Overholt and lives in Detroit; Mary, born June 15, 1877, who married Eugene Hines, a painter and decorator of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Lelia M., born December 16, 1880, who married Marshall Vincle, a railroad conductor living at Abbottsford, Wisconsin; and Jessie B., born November 21, 1883, who is living at home and clerking in her father’s store. The family attend the Universalist Church.