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J. H. Rowell
Jonathan Harvey Rowell was born at Haverhill, New Hampshire, February 10, 1833. His father was a well-to-do farmer and his ancestors were among the earliest settlers of New England.
The first sixteen years of his life were spent on his father's farm, working in summer and going to district school in winter.
In 1849 his parents moved to McLean county, Illinois, where his father died the following year.
From sixteen to twenty-two he taught school in winters and worked at whatever he could find to do in summers. At the age of twenty-two he united with the Church of Christ at Stout's Grove, and soon after entered Eureka College, where he graduated in 1861.
During the time he was going through college he taught one year at Washington, and also more
than a year at Eureka in the preparatory school, then under the control of the college authorities. In 1860 he was appointed Professor of Mathematics in the college.
In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, 17th Illinois Infantry, a company largely made up of
college students. Was first lieutenant of the company one year and captain two years, succeeding Elder 0. A. Burgess, who was the first captain. He graduated from the Law department of Chicago University, valedictorian of his class, in 1865, and the same year commenced the practice of law in Bloomington, Illinois, where he has since resided. |
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He was married in 1866 to Maria S. Woods of Alton, Illinois, a native of Illinois but of New England parentage. They have five children. His oldest son is a graduate of Michigan University, and now a student in Germany. His oldest daughter also graduated from Michigan University, and is now teaching in California. His second and third sons are in school in Bloomington.
He was State's Attorney of the eighth judicial circuit of Illinois, from 1868 to 1872; Master in Chancery of McLean county two years; member of the Board of Education of Bloomington six years; Garfield elector in 1880, and a member of the 48th, 49th, 50th and 51st Congress. Was chairman of the Committee on Elections in the 51st Congress; was active in securing the passage of the Inter-State Commerce, the monetary and the tariff legislation now upon our statute books, and he also, with the best help he could get, prepared the Federal Election bill, which passed the House, and which has since been miscalled the "Lodge
Bill" and the "Force Bill."
Has taken an active part as a Republican in all political campaigns in this State since 1864, and is still good for several more campaigns.
Source:
A History of Eureka College, St. Louis: Christian Publishing
Company, 1894.
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