Matthias Sowers (1805 - 1886)

Born 16 May 1805 in North Carolina, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Rebecca (Spach) Sowers — married about 1828 in North Carolina

Husband of Maria Charlotte (Shore) Sowers — married 5 Jun 1855 in Bartholomew County, Indiana

Descendants

Died 5 Oct 1886 at age 81 in Hope, Bartholomew, Indiana, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Chloe Stevens [send private message]

Biography

Birth: Matthias was born May 16, 1805 in Davidson County, North Carolina, son of Michael Sowers and Barbara Sink. He had six older siblings, Sevela, Catherine, Jacob, Christena, Felix, and Philip, and two younger brothers, Christian and Michael.

Married Rebecca Spach about 1827.

1830 Census: "Mattias Sowers" was listed as head of household living in Davidson County, North Carolina. Included in the household were 1 free white male under 5 (likely son Alfred, 1), 1 free white male 10-14 (unknown), 2 free white males 20-29 (likely Matthias, 25, and 1 unknown), and 1 free white female 20-29 (Rebecca, 23). Total all persons: 5. Living next door were Jacob Sowers (20-30, likely his brother) and Michael Sowers (50-60, likely his father).^[1]

1840 Census: "Matthias Sours" was listed as head of household living in Floyd Township, Putnam County, Indiana. Included in the household were 2 free white males under 5 (Emanuel, 6, and Charles, 4), 1 free white male 10-14 (Alfred, 11), 1 free white male 30-39 (Matthias, 35), 1 free white female under 5 (Sarah, 1), 2 free white females 5-9 (Lavinia, 9, and Elizabeth, 7), 1 free white female 30-39 (Rebecca, 33), 5 persons employed in agriculture, total all persons: 8.^[2] In a funny twist of fate, a few doors down from the Sowers family was one "Thomas Randle" (60-70). 120 years after this census was taken, Matthias' 3rd great granddaughter would marry the 4th great grandson of Thomas Randel.

1850 Census: "Mattheus Sowers," 45, was living in Haw Creek Township, Bartholomew County, Indiana with his children, Alfred, 21, Elizabeth, 16, Emanuel, 15, Charles, 13, Sarah F., 11, Lucy Ann, 8, Nancy E., 6, and Felix F., 4. He was listed working as a farmer, real estate valued at $2,000, born in North Carolina, unable to read or write.^[3]

1870 Census: "Matthew Sowers," 65, was living in Hope, Haw Creek Township, Bartholomew County, Indiana with his second wife, Mary C., 48, and daughter Susan, 11. He was listed with no occupation, real estate valued at $3,500, personal estate at $600, born in North Carolina, unable to write.^[4]

1880 Census: "Mathias Sowers," 75, was living at Hope, Bartholomew County, Indiana with his wife Mary C., 58, mother-in-law, Susan Shore, 82, and a servant Roanna Merideth, 53. He was listed as married, a retired farmer, old age disability, maimed/crippled/disabled, unable to read or write, born in North Carolina, both parents born in North Carolina.^[5]

Death: Matthias died October 5, 1886 in Hope, Bartholomew County, Indiana, age 81.^[6] He is buried in Moravian Cemetery in Hope, Indiana.^[7]

Matthias' Will reads^[8]:

Last Will and Testament of Mathias Sowers In the (?) of the Benevolent Father of All I Mathias Sowers of Bartholomew County, State of Indiana, do hereby make this my last will and testament as follows: I direct that my Executor hereafter named is to sell all my Real Estate, on such time and (?) and at Public or private sale as they may think best; and The (?) in said Real Estate shall (?) in them for that purpose but should my wife refuse to have (?) (?) of said Real Estate sold: When my executor will sell the two (?) of said real estate, and they are seated with same right as if they were selling the whole of said real estate. After the payments of my just debts and funeral expenses, I dispose of my estate and property as follows: I will and desire to my wife Mary C. Sowers (out?) of my Personal estate five hundred Dollars, and (one?) third of the (Balance?) of my personal property and if my wife (?) for all the real estate, to be sold by my executor, then they are directed to pay her the full one third of the proceeds from the sale of said real estate. After the above bequests has been made, I will and desire the balance of my estate to include the proceeds of sale of 2/3 of my real estate, to my children, (?): Alfred Sowers, Mary L. Reed, Lucinda E. Barmes, Emanuel Sowers, Charles L. Sowers, Lucy A. Holder, Nancy E. Holder, and Susan Barroham(?) to share and share alike, I do hereby (?) and appoint Emanuel Sowers and Franklin M. Reed executors of this my last will and testament I hereby (?) all former wills by me made, For testimony hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th day of Sept 1886. Mathias (his x mark) Sowers [seal] Signed and acknowledged by said Mathias Sowers as his last will and testament in our presence and signed by us in his presence Witnesses} Simeon(?) Staff Ephraim A. Norman(?)

Children

1. Alfred Sowers: Alfred was born January 18, 1829 in Stokes/Davidson County, North Carolina and moved to Bartholomew County, Indiana about age 5 or 6. There he became a farmer and married Louisa Henrietta Holder on March 21, 1852. They had five children: Lucinda Elizabeth (1853), Henry Mathias (1856), William Alfred (1859), Caroline L. (1863), and Emanuel Leander (1868). He remained in the county the remainder of his life, dying in Hope on December 29, 1894, age 65.

2. Lavinia Mary Sowers: Lavinia, who went more often by Mary after her marriage, was born June 30, 1831 in Stokes/Davidson County, North Carolina and moved to Bartholomew County, Indiana about age 3. There she married David Samuel Reed on January 10, 1850. The couple had ten children: Franklin Melville (1850), Samuel Christian (1852), Bennet Mathias (1854), Maria Emeline (1855), Martin Charles (1857), Amos Cornelius (1859), John H. (1861), Charity Rebecca (1864), Clara N. (1866), and Emanuel Ulysses (1870). She died in Hope on August 14, 1901, age 70.

3. Elizabeth Lucinda Sowers: Elizabeth was born August 26, 1833 in Stokes/Davidson County, North Carolina and moved to Bartholomew County, Indiana about age 2. She married German immigrant Wilhelm Bermes (Barmes) there on January 12, 1854. They had nine children: Lucinda Margaret (1855), Thomas Edward (1858), Mary Alas (1860), Malinda Caroline (1862), Louise Elizabeth (1866), Louis William (1866), Charles Franklin (1869), Nancy Emma (1872), and Martin Henry (1875). She remained in the county until moving with her son Martin's family to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Ohio County, West Virginia, and Guernsey County, Ohio, where she died on December 8, 1919, age 86. She was buried in Indiana.

4. Emanuel Sowers: Emanuel was born January 1, 1834 (date not 100% consistent with siblings, possibly 1835) in Stokes/Davidson County, North Carolina and moved to Bartholomew County, Indiana as an infant. On August 20, 1862 he enrolled in Co. I 67th Indiana, later transferring to Co K 24th Indiana on December 10, 1864. After his return, he married Mary Catherine Essex on November 11, 1866 in the county. They had at least three children, Julia Ellen (1870), Louis M. (1872), and Lucy Viola (1878). He was a farmer and after his wife's death in 1899 married a second time to Penelope F. Kimerman on October 11, 1900. He died in Hope on September 20, 1924, age 90.

5. Charles S. Sowers: Charles was born December 6, 1836, the first of his siblings to be born in Bartholomew County, Indiana. He was a farmer and married Anna Sophia Reed on April 5, 1866. They had at least five children: Jennetta C. (1867), Joseph A. (1869), Franklin M. (1877), George E. (1878), and Addison. He moved to Marion County, Kansas where he died on May 10, 1911, age 74.

6. Sarah Frances Sowers: Sarah was born March 10, 1839 in Bartholomew County, Indiana and died there September 8, 1854, age 15.

7. Lucy Ann Sowers: Lucy was born April 8, 1842 in Bartholomew County, Indiana. She married William Nathaniel Holder there on March 8, 1859. They had one son, Martin Alex (1860). She lived in the county all her life, dying there on September 17, 1927, age 85.

8. Nancy Emmeline Sowers: Nancy was born February 21, 1843 in Bartholomew County, Indiana and there married Henry Justus Holder on August 18, 1864. They had no children, and she died in the county on January 26, 1915, age 71.

9. Franklin Sowers: Franklin, sometimes Felix, was born February 9, 1846 in Bartholomew County, Indiana. On August 3, 1863 he enrolled (lying about his age) in Company C, 117th Indiana, transferring to the 7th Cavalry about a month later. He died a few months later in Hickman, Kentucky on January 28, 1864. He was 17, and likely died of disease or a wound, as there were no battles with his regiment on that day.

10. Susan Sowers: Susan was born from Matthias' second marriage in 1859. Her fate is not known, but in Matthias' 1886 will she is listed as something like "Susan Burroham," though the last name is hard to read.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPM-4S8 : 18 August 2015), Mattias Sowers, Davidson, North Carolina, United States; citing 225, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 120; FHL microfilm 18,086.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHBX-4F5 : 24 August 2015), Matthias Sours, Floyd Township, Putnam, Indiana, United States; citing p. 423, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 91; FHL microfilm 7,728.
3. ↑ "1850 United States Federal Census," database, Ancestry.com, Matthias Sowers, Haw Creek, Bartholomew County, Indiana, Roll: M432_136; Page: 449B; Image: 322, Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C., accessed 14 Mar 2017
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXXD-J3H : 17 October 2014), Matthew Sowers, Indiana, United States; citing p. 8, family 69, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,798.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHMD-SQG : 11 August 2016), Mathias Sowers, Hope, Bartholomew, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 8, sheet 153C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0266; FHL microfilm 1,254,266.
6. ↑ "Indiana Death Index, 1882-1920," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZ7Y-B7Z : 3 December 2014), Mathew Sowers, 05 Oct 1886, Hope Indiana, Indiana; from "Indiana Deaths, 1882-1920," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2003); citing "The source of this record is the book CSS-2 on page 113 within the series produced by the Indiana Works Progress Administration." County Health Office, Azalia.
7. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=69662461 (#69662461)
8. ↑ "Indiana, Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999," database, Ancestry.com, Mathias Sowers, probate date 20 Sep 1886, Bartholomew County, Wills, Vol C-E, 1885-1901, originally from Indiana County, District and Probate Courts

• "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X82G-BQ9 : 8 December 2014), Mithias Sowers in entry for Elizabeth L Barnes, 08 Dec 1919; citing Cambridge, Guernsey, Ohio, reference fn 68941; FHL microfilm 1,984,985.