My Genealogy Hound

JAMES MOWATT. The city of Springfield has been built up like all other towns of note by a class of energetic and progressive men and among them may be properly mentioned Mr. Mowatt, who owns and occupies a fine home pleasantly located on North Limestone Street. His financial and social standing are second to none in the community and he may be properly termed a self-made man — one who thrown at an early age upon his own resources, has made for himself a good record both as a business man and a citizen. By birth, parentage and ancestry, he is a genuine Scotchman and first opened his eyes to the light June 17, 1820, in the town of Crossmichael, Kirkcudbrightshire, of which his father, George Mowatt, was also a native. His paternal grandfather, Alexander Mowatt, was born and reared in the same shire where he spent his entire life in agricultural pursuits. The maiden name of Grandmother Mowatt was Agnes Black, and both she and her husband were devout members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Their remains were laid side by side in the old churchyard at Crossmichael.

George Mowatt, the father of our subject, was reared to farming pursuits and remained a resident of his native Scotland until 1850. Then emigrating to America with his family he located in Springfield, this State, where he resided some years. Thence he removed to Xenia where he spent the closing years of his life. He was buried in Ferncliff Cemetery, at Springfield. His wife, the mother of our subject, bore the maiden name of Janet Miller. She was a native of the same shire as her husband and was a daughter of James and Mary (Clark) Miller; she died in 1856, in Springfield, Ohio. Her father and mother were buried in the churchyard at Lochrulton, near Dumfries, in their native county. She reared five sons, viz: James, our subject; Alexander, who died in Springfield in 1887; Matthew, who was one of the passengers lost with the steamer “Cambria” off the coast of Ireland; George, who continues a resident of his native Scotland, and William, of Springfield.

Mr. Mowatt, of whom we write, spent his early years in his native village acquiring a practical education in the common schools. When a youth of nineteen he left home, going to London, England, where he was employed as a clerk in the warehouse of Bowman & Mays two years. He then went to Ipswich where he had charge of a warehouse four years. Afterward he for sometime traveled quite extensively over England and finally accepted a situation as a fireman on the Cunard line of steamers, plying along the European coast. In 1855, he came to America and located in Springfield, this State, occupying himself as a stonecutter with his brothers, Alexander and William, for six months. He then embarked in business as a contractor and lime-burner and soon bought a stone quarry on North Street which he operated and where he burned lime a number of years. He still operates quite extensively as a contractor.

Mr. Mowatt was married in Springfield, October 23, 1855, to Miss Janet Gibson. There were born to them two daughters, one of whom, Janet, died in the twenty-third year of her age; Martha E. is the wife of John H. Wilson, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. Mrs. Mowatt, like her husband, is a native of Scotland and was born near Cumnock, Ayrshire. Her father, Alexander Gibson, was born at Burnside, in the same shire of which her paternal grandfather, James Gibson, was also a native and a life-long resident. Alexander Gibson, during his earlier years occupied himself as a shepherd. He spent his entire life in his native county and was buried in Sanquhar Churchyard in Dumfries-shire. His wife whose maiden name was Janet Thompson, who was born in Sanquhar and was the daughter of Robert and Janet (Johnson) Thompson, who were born and spent their entire life in Dumfries-shire.

Mrs. Mowatt had two brothers, James and George. James died in youth when about sixteen or seventeen years old. George joined the English Army in London in 1857, and shortly afterward was ordered to India where he did service as an officer during the Indian mutiny, and was thus employed for twenty years, at that time he was retired on a pension and returned home; but the climate not being suitable to him after so many years in India he went to Australia and there died in 1887. He was man of very fine appearance and through bravery and other meritorious deeds had been presented with numerous costly medals.

Mrs. Mowatt was but a child at the time of her father’s death and went with her mother to the home of her maternal grandparents in Dumfries-shire, where her mother spent her last years. Mr. and Mrs. Mowatt are members of the First Presbyterian Church at Springfield and Mr. Mowatt, politically, supports the Republican party.