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Andrew McDonnell Rowell (abt. 1831 - 1912)

Andrew McDonnell Rowell
Born about in Lancaster, South Carolina, United Statesmap [uncertain]
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married about 1852 [location unknown]
Husband of — married 8 Aug 1869 in Clayton, Iowa, USAmap
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 80 in Madison, Dane, Wisconsin, United Statesmap
Problems/Questions Profile manager: Scott Carles private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 5 Jul 2016
This page has been accessed 244 times.

Contents

Biography

Andrew McDonnell Rowell (see Last Name under Additional Notes below) was born in December of 1831[1] in Lancaster, South Carolina,[2] United States to Andrew Rowell and Sarah Plyler. (For more information see Parents' Names under Additional Notes below.) He first married Judith Parker about 1853, most likely in either Iowa (based on the fact that he was in Iowa for both the 1850[3] and 1860[4] censuses) or Iowa (since his wife was in Iowa for the 1850 Census) and together they had six children. His second marriage was to Rebecca Ann Spores on 8 Aug. 1869 in Clayton County, Iowa.[5] Andrew and Rebecca also had six children. Andrew lived in Clayton County, Iowa from about 1860 until sometime after 1880 when he moved to Barron County, Wisconsin. He died in Wisconsin 24 Nov. 1912 and was buried in Barron, Barron, Wisconsin.

Marriage and Family

Andrew McDonnell married Judith Parker about 1853, most likely in Iowa or Illinois. Their children were:
  1. Eliza Jane Rowell (1854-?)
  2. Henry Jackson Rowell (1856–1922)
  3. Martha Ellen Rowell (1858–1929)
  4. John Lester Rowell (1861–1892)
  5. Andrew Belk Rowell (1861–1929)
  6. Sherman Elmer Rowell (1865–1951)
Andrew McDonnell married Rebecca Ann Spore on 8 Aug. 1869 in Clayton County, Iowa. Their children were:
  1. Margaret Ann Rowell (1870–?)
  2. Agnes "Aggie" Rowell (1877–?)​
  3. Francis M Rowell (1879–1955)
  4. David O Rowell (1882–1921)
  5. Julian Rowell (1887–?)
  6. Jesse Rowell (1891–1969)

Residences

Andrew McDonnell lived in the following places:
1831 to about 1849 - Lancaster, South Carolina, United States
1850 - Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa, United States.[3]
1855 - {1855 place}, United States.[6]
1860 - Elk, Clayton, Iowa, United States.[4]
1865 - {1865 place}, United States.[7]
1870 - Elk, Clayton, Iowa, United States.[8]
1880 - Elk, Clayton, Iowa, United States.[2]
1895 - Stanley, Barron, Wisconsin, United States.[9]
1900 - Stanford, Barron, Wisconsin, United States.[1]
1905 - Stanfold, Barron, Wisconsin, United States.[10]
1910 - Barron, Barron, Wisconsin, United States.[11]

Full Source Citations

[5]Source: "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934"

"Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XJ6T-X7M : 25 September 2017), Andrew Mc Rowell and Becky Ann Spo..., 08 Aug 1869, Clayton, Iowa, United States; citing reference , county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,255,483.
Name: Andrew Mc Rowell
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 08 Aug 1869
Event Place: Clayton, Iowa, United States
Gender: Male
Spouse's Name: Becky Ann Spo...
Spouse's Gender: Female

[3]Source: "United States Census, 1850" - Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZ4D-FTG : 12 April 2016), Andrew Row in household of Henry Kephart, Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa, United States; citing family 1214, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
Name: Andrew Row
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1850
Event Place: Dubuque county, Dubuque, Iowa, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 22
Race: White
Birth Year (Estimated): 1828
Birthplace: South Carolina
House Number: 1170

[4]Source: "United States Census, 1860" - Elk, Clayton, Iowa

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M82F-J72 : 28 July 2017), Andrew Mc Rowel, 1860.
Name: Andrew Mc Rowel
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1860
Event Place: Elk, Clayton, Iowa, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 29
Race: White
Birth Year (Estimated): 1831
Birthplace: S. Carolina
Page: 46
Andrew Mc Rowel M 29 S. Carolina
Judith Mc Rowel F 33 England
Jane E Mc Rowel F 6 Iowa
Henry Mc Rowel M 4 Iowa
Martha E Mc Rowel F 2 Iowa
Wm Shaw M 19 England
Ann Shaw F 16 England
Elizabeth Shaw F 14 Illinois
Francis Shaw F 13 Illinois
Thomas Shano M 11 Illinois
James Shano M 8 Illinois

[8]Source: "United States Census, 1870" - Elk, Clayton, Iowa

"United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MDJP-46P : 12 April 2016), Andrew Mcrowel, Iowa, United States; citing p. 13, family 87, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,882.
Name: Andrew Mcrowel
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1870
Event Place: Elk, Clayton, Iowa, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 39
Race: White
Race (Original): W
Birth Year (Estimated): 1830-1831
Birthplace: South Carolina
Page Number: 13
Andrew Mcrowel M 39 South Carolina
Rebecca Mcrowel F 18 Iowa
Eliza Jane Mcrowel F 15 Iowa
Henry Mcrowel M 12 Iowa
Leister J Mcrowel M 9 Iowa
Sherman Mcrowel M 5 Iowa
Margaret Mcrowel F 0 Iowa
Martha E Mcrowel F 9 Iowa

[2]Source: "United States Census, 1880" - Elk, Clayton, Iowa

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MD2S-N8Z : 9 September 2017), Andrew Mcrowell, Elk, Clayton, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district ED 131, sheet 326A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0333; FHL microfilm 1,254,333.
Name: Andrew Mcrowell
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1880
Event Place: Elk, Clayton, Iowa, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 50
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): W
Occupation: Farmer
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Self
Birth Year (Estimated): 1830
Birthplace: South Carolina, United States
Father's Birthplace: South Carolina, United States
Mother's Birthplace: South Carolina, United States
Sheet Letter: A
Sheet Number: 326
Person Number: 0
Volume: 1
Andrew Mcrowell Self M 50 South Carolina, United States
Rebecca Mcrowell Wife F 28 Illinois, United States
Henry Mcrowell Son M 20 Iowa, United States
Andrew Mcrowell Son M 18 Iowa, United States
John Mcrowell Son M 16 Iowa, United States
Elmer Mcrowell Son M 14 Iowa, United States
Margart Mcrowell Daughter F 10 Iowa, United States
Aggie Mcrowell Daughter F 2 Iowa, United States
Francis Mcrowell Son M 0 Iowa, United States
Louis Lee Grandson M 4 Iowa, United States

[9]Source: "Wisconsin State Census, 1895" - Stanley, Barron, Wisconsin

"Wisconsin State Census, 1895," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MM9W-8DG : 14 November 2014), A Mcrowell, Stanley, Barron, Wisconsin; citing reference 13, State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,032,705.
Name: A Mcrowell
Event Place: Stanley, Barron, Wisconsin
Number of White Males: 5
Number of White Females: 2
Birthplace: United States: 7;
Form Type: Inhabitants

[1]Source: "United States Census, 1900" - {1900 place}

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMVB-MFM : accessed 5 October 2017), Andrew Mekral, Rice Lake & Stanfold towns (excl. Rice Lake city), Barron, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 14, sheet 13B, family 229, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,777.
Name: Andrew Mekral
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1900
Event Place: Rice Lake & Stanfold towns (excl. Rice Lake city), Barron, Wisconsin, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 69
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): W
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Years Married: 31
Birth Date: Dec 1831
Birthplace: North Carolina
Marriage Year (Estimated): 1869
Father's Birthplace: North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Andrew Mekral Head M 69 North Carolina
Rojack Mekral Wife F 48 Illinois
Frank Mekral Son M 21 Iowa
David Mekral Son M 18 Iowa
Julian Mekral Son M 13 Wisconsin
Jesia Mekral Son M 10 Wisconsin

[10]Source: "Wisconsin State Census, 1905" - Stanfold, Barron, Wisconsin

"Wisconsin State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMS8-2WY : 2 April 2016), Andrew Mcrowell, Stanfold, Barron, Wisconsin; citing p. 507, line 19, State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,020,439.
Name: Andrew Mcrowell
Residence Place: Stanfold, Barron, Wisconsin
Age (Original): 74y
Birth Year (Estimated): Abt 1831
Birthplace: south Carolina
Relationship to Head of Household (Original Language): Head
Race: White
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Widowed
Parent 1 Birthplace: South Carolina
Parent 2 Birthplace: South Carolina
Page: 507
Andrew Mcrowell Head M 74y south Carolina
Dave Mcrowell Son M 238 Iowa
Julian Mcrowell Son M 18y Wisconsin
Jesse Mcrowell Son M 15y Wisconsin

[11]Source: "United States Census, 1910" - Barron, Barron, Wisconsin

"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MPVG-W16 : accessed 5 October 2017), Andrew M Rowell in household of William A Johnson, Barron, Barron, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 4, sheet 7A, family 120, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1700; FHL microfilm 1,375,713.
Name: Andrew M Rowell
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1910
Event Place: Barron, Barron, Wisconsin, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 70
Marital Status: Widowed
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Relationship to Head of Household: Father-in-law
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Father-in-law
Birth Year (Estimated): 1840
Birthplace: South Carolina
Father's Birthplace: South Carolina
Mother's Birthplace: South Carolina
Sheet Letter: A
Sheet Number: 7
William A Johnson Head M 35 Wisconsin
Agnes Johnson Wife F 32 Iowa
Ramond L Johnson Son M 12 Wisconsin
Francis M Johnson Son M 10 Wisconsin
Merle M Johnson Son M 8 Wisconsin
Glen N Johnson Son M 6 Wisconsin
Hallie A Johnson Son M 5 Wisconsin
Lecila M Johnson Daughter F 2 Wisconsin
Andrew M Rowell Father-in-law M 70 South Carolina

Additional Notes

Last Name

There seems to be confusion on most genealogies concerning Andrew's last, most of which list it as "McRowell".
Three things lead me to believe that Andrew's last name was simply Rowell and not McRowell:
1) Because of Clara May’s statement about "Mack" being his middle name, taken with the 1857 Land Grant Record with "McDonnell" as the middle name, it seems most likely that Andrew's name was Andrew McDonnell Rowell. However, it appears that he often gave his name simply as Andrew Mack Rowell (heard by people as "McRowell") or actually telling them "McRowell".
2) If his last name was McRowell, then his wife would have taken that as her last name, not Rowell. But John L. Rowell’s marriage certificate shows his father’s name as “Mcrowell” and mother’s name as “Rowell” leading one to believe that the "Mc" part of the name wasn't part of his last name.
3) There are no McRowell's to be found in South Carolina, but plenty of Rowells. In fact, Andrew's son, Andrew Belk Rowell, seems to have received his middle name from the Belk family that lived in the same part of South Carolina as the Rowells.
The following are all of the name variations found in different sources:
Andrew Row - 1850 Census.
Andrew McDonnell Rowell - 1857 Land Grant Record - records this exact spelling five times on the document.
Andrew McRowell - 1860, 1880, 1905[10] censuses.
Andrew McRowel - 1870 Elk, Clayton, Iowa Census.
Andrew Mc Rowell - Transcribed from Marriage Record (marriage to Becky Ann Spore).
Andy Mcrowell - Transcribed from wife Rebecca Ann’s death certificate.
Andrew Mcrowell & “Julia” (Judith) Rowell - Transcribed from son John L Rowell’s marriage information. If Andrew’s last name was really “McRowell,” then “Judith’s” last name should also show up as “McRowell” and not Rowell.
Andrew Mack Rowell - Clara May Rowell (Andrew’s granddaughter) told a grandson that “Mack” was Andrew's middle name.
Andrew M. Rowell - 1910 Census - Andrew was living with his daughter Agnes. The name is written like this on the census: Rowell Andrew M. - Others in the household have their name written the same way, indicating that M is a middle name, not part of the last name.
Andrew W. - 1887 marriage certificate for son Andrew Belk Rowell
Andrew Rowell - All of his children went by “Rowell” and none of them by “McRowell” for their census data and their marriage certificates.


Parents' Names

There is no documentary evidence indicating who Andrew's parents were, only circumstantial evidence. The following is my attempt at explaining the circumstantial evidence causing me to link him as a son of Andrew Rowell and Sarah Plyler.
On 14 May 2017, it came to my (Scott Carles) attention that my father (Charles Emerson Carles) has a DNA match on Ancestry.com with a family whose ancestor is Wilson Rowell (1842–1929; KZJ7-W51), the son of Andrew Rowell (1800–1879; LR5X-25H). I had already connected Andrew McDonnell Rowell as a son of Andrew Rowell (1800–1879; LR5X-25H) before learning this and my reasoning for connecting them is outlined below. However, the DNA connection is the closest thing we have to corroboration that Andrew McDonnell Rowell's parents are Andrew Rowell and Sarah Plyler.
The first step I've taken to determine who might be Andrew McDonnell's father is to use two known facts about Andrew McDonnell: 1) he was born in South Carolina in 1831 and 2) in 1862 he named his son Andrew Belk Rowell. This helps locate Andrew McDonnell Rowell because if his son was given the middle name Belk because Andrew McDonnell lived near Belks, or his family married into the Belk family, then we simply need to find someplace where Rowells lived near Belks in South Carolina.
In a FamilySearch search of the 1850 Census (about the time Andrew McDonnell Rowell left SC), 166 Rowells are listed living in South Carolina: 24 of them in Lancaster County and 20 living in neighboring Chester County; the remaining Rowells lived in Marion County (about 90 miles to the east of Lancaster County). This narrows the scope of the research to these two areas (Lancaster/Chester counties and Marion County). That same year 133 Belks are listed as living in South Carolina with 105 of them in Lancaster County; the remaining Belks lived in Sumter County (about 60 miles to the south of Lancaster County) with no Belks living in Marion or Chester counties. This narrows the search to Lancaster County.
Additionally, in several Lancaster County censuses, some of the Belks and Rowells are listed next to, or very near, each other, thus showing they probably lived next to, or near, each other. In fact, information on deeds seem to prove this out:
"In Old Deed Book N, page 240 dated February 1, 1837 Daniel Plyler sold 160 acres of land on Little Lynches Creek on Otter Creek to Martin Plyler. The land was bound on the south by Samuel Rowell, east by Henry Hancock, north by Henry(or Huey) Belk and Andrew Rowell and west by Martin Plyler.
"In Old Deed Book N, page 195 '...Henry Belk for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars...paid by Thos W Huey...do grant...a certain tract or parcel of land whereon I now live lying on the Silver Run on both sides of the Wadesborough road adjoining lands belonging to Andrew Rowell, Henry Hancock, Danl Plyler and others containing three hundred acres more or less...subject nevertheless to the right and equity of redemption by the within named Henry Belk...' The witnesses are John Williams and A. J. Nisbet. The date is 7 August 1837." "Henry Belk and Family of South Carolina, compiled by Doris Belk Barr.
But which of the Lancaster Rowells was Andrew McDonnell the son of?
The oldest Rowell I found living in Lancaster County was William (born about 1765), first appearing on the 1800 Census with two sons from 0-10. No 1810 Census can be found for William, but the 1820 Census indicates William had a total of three sons who were the right age to have fathered Andrew:
1) Augustine (b. ~1795); there is little information about him other than the 1820 Census which is the only place his name appears and on which it lists that he was married and had two sons and a daughter between the ages of 0-9 - the only information this tells us is that he and his wife were producing offspring until at least 1820; no other record of Augustine has been found.
2) Andrew (b. 1800); according to the 1840 Census he had two sons between 1830-1835, neither of whom are accounted for in the 1850 Census which makes for a good contender.
3) Samuel Jonas Sr. (b. 1802); according to the 1840 Census he had one son 10-14 unaccounted for in the 1850 Census, but that's too old for Andrew who would have been 8 or 9 in 1840; Samuel Jonas Sr. had a son named J Mac Rowell born in 1845 (the "Mac" is intriguing: would he give a previous son the same middle name, or would it be more likely that he copied his brother giving his own son the same middle name?); he also had a son, Samuel Jonas, Jr. whose daughter, Martha Jane Rowell, married Eli Belk.
From the above information Samuel Jonas Rowell seems to be ruled out, Augustine has no verifiable data, making Andrew the best candidate.
Final Thoughts:
1) It makes sense for Andrew to give a son he named Andrew a middle name (McDonnell) to differentiate between father and son, and then for that son to subsequently give his son the name Andrew with a different middle name (Belk) to differentiate between those two.
2) What would cause a young man (he would have been under 19 since he seems to have left before the 1850 Census) to leave his family and strike out on his own? Many of the families in Lancaster County, including the Rowells, had slaves. Andrew McDonnell moved to Iowa, which in 1846, just a few years before he moved there, became the 29th state of the Union and was designated as a "free state." Andrew McDonnell later moved even farther into "free" territory when he moved to Wisconsin. Whether there was motivation to move is unclear.
Andrew's 1860 Census shows Judith's children from her marriage to Thomas Shaw. Thomas Parker and Judith Parker were married in Moulton, Lincolnshire, England about 1838. They appear in the Plum River, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 1850 Census. (Thomas died 3 years later in 1853.) 22 miles away, in Elizabeth, Jo Daviess, Illinois lived an Andrew Belk (LRHW-6NF), born in South Carolina. The only Belks in South Carolina came from Lancaster County.
Andrew Belk was about 10 years older than Andrew Rowell. Odds are that Andrew Belk knew Andrew McDonnell Rowell before moving to Illinois and they either traveled together to Illinois, or Andrew Rowell met him there. It is most likely that Andrew McDonnell Rowell named his son after this Andrew Belk.

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMVB-MFM : accessed 1 February 2022), Andrew Mekral, Rice Lake & Stanfold towns (excl. Rice Lake city), Barron, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 14, sheet 13B, family 229, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,777.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD2S-N8Z : 14 January 2022), Andrew McRowell, Elk Township, Clayton, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ4D-FTG : 19 December 2020), Andrew Row in household of Henry Kephart, Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M82F-J72 : 18 February 2021), Andrew Mc Rowel, 1860.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJ6T-X7M : 10 February 2018), Andrew Mc Rowell and Becky Ann Spo..., 08 Aug 1869, Clayton, Iowa, United States; citing reference , county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,255,483.
  6. Source: "New York State Census, 1855."
  7. Source: "New York State Census, 1865."
  8. 8.0 8.1 "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDJP-46P : 28 May 2021), Andrew McRowel, 1870.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Wisconsin State Census, 1895," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM9W-8DG : 19 February 2021), A Mcrowell, Stanley, Barron, Wisconsin; citing reference 13, State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,032,705.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Wisconsin State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMS8-2WY : 8 March 2021), Andrew Mcrowell, Stanfold, Barron, Wisconsin; citing p. 507, line 19, State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,020,439.
  11. 11.0 11.1 United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPVG-W16 : accessed 1 February 2022), Andrew M Rowell in household of William A Johnson, Barron, Barron, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 4, sheet 7A, family 120, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1700; FHL microfilm 1,375,713.

See also:

Acknowledgments

  • Thank you Scott Carles for the tremendous amount of work you have done to create this profile




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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Andrew by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Andrew:

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