My Genealogy Hound

IRA D. ROWLEY, the representative of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railway at Silver Creek station, this county, is a son of Abner and Phoebe C. (Hurd) Rowley, and was born in Holland, Erie county, New York, August 23, 1845. The Rowleys are New England Yankees, but came from English ancestors. The paternal grandfather was a native of Vermont and removed to Holland, Erie county, this State, about 1815, where he followed his trade, carpentering, and tilled a farm. Being a man of character and strict integrity he was very influential and at his death, which occurred in 1855, there were general expressions of sorrow. His wife was Mary _____, by whom he had six children. Abner Rowley (father) was born in Holland, Erie county, in 1821, and having reached maturity he went out in the world to look for work. About that time the Erie railroad had built to Buffalo and there was an agent needed for the station called Town Line, in Erie county, which Mr. Rowley took and held for forty years. He passed away in 1884 sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends. He was a member of Alden Lodge, No. 284, F. and A. M., of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Democratic party. In his younger days Mr. Rowley was an enthusiastic military man and attended, with his company, all the gatherings for military trainings. Connected with his railroad agency, he dealt in coal, a business which, as wood grew scarcer, developed to large proportions. In 1841, he married Phoebe C. Hurd, who came from the same town in which he was born and they spent a happy married life until Mrs. Rowley was summoned to cross the broad river whose other bank is enveloped in mist, in 1863, when forty-four years of age. She was a kind, gentle and affectionate mother and passed from earth consoled by her confidence in the teachings of the Baptist church.

Ira D. Rowley as a boy was bright and wide-awake. He was reared in Erie county and lived at home until fourteen years of age, when he secured a place as newsboy on the Erie railway, running from Buffalo to Corning. This life he led for three years and in 1862 joined Co. D, 116th regiment, N. Y. Vols., at Buffalo and served until the close of the war. His regiment saw service along the Gulf, and later with Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley and participated in the engagements, twelve in number, of the armies to which it was attached. Mr. Rowley was wounded but not severely enough to cause permanent disability. He was discharged at Washington and mustered out in Buffalo, having served the entire term as a musician. Then he took a course at Bryant & Stratton’s Business college, in Buffalo, and learned telegraphy and soon after secured a place as operator and station agent on the Erie railway. Remaining there four years he changed to the L. S. & M. S. R. R., and had the Angola office two years and was promoted to the general dispatcher’s office at Buffalo. Six months later he was given the Silver Creek station which he has held to the present time — a continuous service of nineteen years. The American Express company is also represented by him. Mr. Rowley is a stock-holder in the Silver Creek Upholstering factory and has been largely identified with its prosperity.

In 1870, he married Caroline L. Winslow, a daughter of Myron D. Winslow, of Angola, and they have one daughter living: Edna H., born January 15, 1876; and Mabel E., born October 22, 1873 — died in September, 1889.

Ira D. Rowley is a member of the Methodist church; a steward and trustee, and belongs to the following fraternal bodies: Silver Lodge, No. 757, F. and A. M.; Silver Creek Lodge, No. 10, A. O. U. W.; Silver Creek Council, No. 39, Royal Arcanum; and the Knights Templar degree of the Masons. He is a republican, has served as president of the village, president of the school board and is now a member of the last named body. He belongs to the progressive, pushing and wide-awake element upon whom the work of developing a town or city falls, but being public-spirited Mr. Rowley cheerfully gives of his time and means to everything that will advance the interests of the village.