My Genealogy Hound

HON. NEAL W. ROWELL.
Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Union county, according to the consensus of public opinion, who occupies a more enviable position in the regard of his fellow citizens than does Hon. Neal W. Rowell, whose life record has been of benefit to those among whom his lot has been cast, not only in his professional service as a member of the bar and as judge on the bench, but also in public office and by reason of his influence, which has always been on the side of that which is progressive and elevating.

He was born June 19, 1836, in Athens county, Ohio, a son of William and Hester (Lentner) Rowell. His father, a farmer by occupation, was born January 1, 1795, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and his mother’s birth occurred in Dover, Delaware, in 1803. The paternal grandfather of Judge Rowell was an Englishman whose parents came from the “Merrie isle” at an early day. His wife was a member of the Neal family and of pure Irish lineage. The maternal grandfather was of Dutch descent, his parents coming from Holland to the new world, and settling at New Amsterdam. He married a Miss Russell, of pure Scotch blood. It will thus be seen that various nationalities find representation in Judge Rowell and with him, as with many others, it will be found that this American composite is one which seems to have taken the best from each race and combined the different salient national characteristics into a strong and harmonious whole.

Judge Rowell entered the Ohio University at Athens, Ohio, in 1853, after having pursued his preliminary education in the public schools. He mastered the scientific course and was graduated in 1856. His early youth had been spent on the home farm as one of a family of thirteen children and his experiences and habits were those of the ordinary country boy. However, in his home training he mastered lessons of life which have left their impress upon his later years in an honorable, upright manhood. His collegiate course completed, he began preparation for the practice of law as a student in the office of Harris & Galbraith, attorneys at Centerville, Appanoose county, Iowa, and in 1858 was admitted to the bar. In July of the same year he came to Afton and entered upon the practice of law, in which he has continued to the present time, or for a period of about forty years.

His father had removed with his large family from Ohio to Iowa in 1847 and settled in Wapello county, Judge Rowell being at that time a small boy. The journey was made overland in wagons and covered about thirty days. The Judge was therefore reared upon the frontier and was associated with the pioneer development of the community in which the family home was established, while for forty years he has been a factor in the progress and improvement of the city in which he now makes his home. His fellow townsmen have recognized his professional worth and his loyal, patriotic citizenship is indicated in his selection for various official honors. He was elected county judge of Union county in 1862 and upon the bench rendered decisions which were strictly fair and impartial, fully sustaining the reputation which he had made as a lawyer and as a man. In 1868 he was elected to represent his district in the twelfth general assembly of Iowa and two years later was chosen for a second term. As a member of the house he gave careful consideration to each question that came up for settlement and the merit of many of the bills which he then supported has been manifest in their execution as state laws. In 1875 he was honored with the mayoralty of Afton and was re-elected for a second term the following year. He served as a member of the board of education from 1865 until 1880 and in all of his public services has been actuated by a devotion to the best interests of the community at large, his fidelity being above question. In his political views he has always been a republican and has delivered more political speeches in Union county than any other person within its borders throughout the entire period of its history. Judge Rowell was married in Decatur City, Iowa, December 6, 1859, to Miss Anna E. Ownby, who was born in Virginia in 1841. Their children are Dr. J. W. Rowell, who married Grace Curry; Helen, who is the widow of J. P. Wharton and with her daughter, Ethel, resides with her parents; Bessie and Neal C., who are at home. Four children of the family died in infancy.

Judge Rowell is a member of Afton Lodge, No. 151, A. F. & A. M., having joined the order in 1864. He also belongs to Afton Chapter, No. 67, R. A. M., with which he became identified in 1888. He has passed all the chairs in the blue lodge and is a member of the Grand Lodge. He likewise belongs to Afton Lodge, No. 130, I. O. O. F., in which he was initiated in 1861. He has filled all of its offices and been a member of the Grand Lodge but holds no official position in either of the organizations at the present time. For forty years he has been an efficient member and active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church and Sunday school. The rules of conduct which have governed his life have been those in harmony with high ideals of manhood, of citizenship and of professional honor. He has been a friend and associate of those most prominent in social circles and enjoys the confidence and good will of all who know him. Early determining that his life should be one of usefulness to his community, and holding to high standards of professional and personal honor, he has so lived that the public acknowledges his worth, giving him uniform respect and regard for the untarnished name that he has won.