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Person Page 777

David W Fowler      3rd Great Grand Father of the children of Leslyn and Pomala Black
b. 23 January 1821, d. 19 September 1893, #777
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Birth	23 January 1821	David W Fowler was born on 23 January 1821 at North Cohocton, Steuben, New York. In handwritten notes by in the hand of Laura Fowler Hannold, daughter of David she states that her father was born 23 Jan 1821 and would be 70 years old in 1891. This was most likely written in late 1890. Laura and Friend were living in Whitehall at this time. Other supporting evidence for this birth date are: (1) The handwritten list in the family bible. (2) A typed list done by Edith Morin that might have been done from the list from the bible. (3) Two additional handwritten lists from unknown sources that could have been copied from the list in the family bible, tho' they contain more names and dates than the bible list. (4) 1850 census where he gives his age as 28, born in NY. (5) 1860 census where he gives his age as 39 born in NY. (6) 1870 census where he gives age as 49 born in NY. (7) 1880 census where he gives age as 58 and born in NY. (8) 1900 census of daughter Laura. She states that her father was born in NY. but (9) daughter Mary on the 1900 census says that her father was born in CT. This citation is the only reference that indicates that he was born in any place other than NY. (10) His obit, which was likely written by wife, Jane and daughter Laura states that he was 70 years old when he died in 1893. If he was born in January of 1821 he would have been 72 years 7 months and 27 days old. The newspaper could have been inaccurate or the information that was given to the newspaper might not have been specific. (11) At the request of Laura Fowler Hannold, who was living in Arkansas, Mary Fowler Norman copied all the information from the family Bible and sent it to Laura in 1882. The letter is in existance in the files of PMB in 1997. In this letter she gives 21 July 1821 as the birth date for their father.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12
Birth	21 July 1821	David W Fowler may have been born on 21 July 1821. This is the date that is given in a letter from daughter Mary to daughter Laura in 1882. The date is purported to have been copied from the family bible by Mary. Where that bible is today is not known.13
	1843	Sometime between 1833 when youngest brother Henry was born and 1843 when father married Mary Boone Arbour, David's mother, Laura, died.
Note	1843	About 1843, David's father, William left the NY area to go to Michigan. David was about 21 or 22 at this time and stayed in Steuben county, NY.14
Marriage	bet 1845 & 1846	It appears that David W Fowler married Jane Abigail Havens, daughter of William B[ennet] Havens and Hannah M Hale, between 1845 and 1846 in  New York as David and Laura appear on the 1850 census in Steuben county, NY with a family. Her parents were in the same area, tho' David's father had moved to Cass county MI by this census.15
Cen1850	19 Sept 1850	David W Fowler appears on the 1850 census of Cohocton, Steuben county, New York taken on 19 September 1850. David is 28 years old, with wife, Jane who is 26. They have two daughters Laura 3 and Sarah 1. David owns $350 of real estate and is a carpenter. He was born in NY. There is one residence between David Fowler and his father-in-law, William Havens. Adalaide's name is given as Sarah on this census. Cohocton is in the northern most part of Steuben county, abutting Livingston and Ontario counties.16,15
Politics	1852	In 1852 a plank road was built connecting Corning and Conhocton (sic). David and his family may have still been in Steuben county at this time.17
Moved	bet 1850 & 1853	David and his family moved to Van Buren county Michigan after the 1850 census and before Ira was born in 1853.16,18
	1852	In 1852 Wilkes & Fowler built a house on SW corner of Main & Center in Hartford, Michigan. Could that Fowler be this DAVID?19
	1853	Bernice Norman Sumner tells that they lived in Keeler at first, then to Hartford for one year and then back to Keeler, all in Van Buren county, MI. They may have been living in Silver Creek twp, Cass county, MI with David's father, William at the time that Ira was born. Ira says on his marriage licience that he was born in Silver Creek.20
LandPur	18 August 1857	On 18 August 1857 David W. Fowler purchased land in Van Buren county, Michigan from William B. Havens. This is recorded in Vol Q, p274. William is David's father in law.21
Cen1860	19 July 1860	David W Fowler appears on the 1860 census of Keeler township, Van Buren county, Michigan taken on 19 July 1860. David is 39 years old with wife, Abigail J. is 37. Children are: Laura 13, Sarah A. 11, Ira A. 7 and Benjamin F 3. Ira and Benjamin were born in Michigan. David is a carpenter and joiner with $500 of real estate and $50 of personal property. He says that he was born in NY. The City of Keeler is in Van Buren county close to the Cass county line and N & W of Dowagiac, which is in Cass county.18
		In a letter from Zell Fowler in 1963 Zell indicated that he always felt that all of the Fowler's were "Died in the Wool Methodists".22 If this is so then this was the church that they attended in Keeler.
	28 August 1861	On 28 August 1861 his father was murdered in Pipestone, Berrien county, Michigan.3,4,23
LandPur	7 January 1865	On 7 January 1865 David W Fowler purchased land in Van Buren county, Michigan from Freeman Howard. The purchase consisted of 40 acres in the NW1/4 of SE1/2 of Sec 27, Twp 1, South of R14W and is recorded in Vol 9, p71. He paid $125 for this land. David listed as being 'of Van Buren co MI'. Deed registered 12 Oct 1866, S.W. Duncombe, registrar. This is the son of George W. Duncombe, who was the husband of Dolly Havens, sister of David's wife Jane Abigail.24
QuitClaim	July 1866	In July of 1866 he signed quit claim papers on the property of his father William B. Fowler in Cass county MI as "from Keelersville, Van Buren county, MI."25
LandPur	19 August 1868	On 19 August 1868 David W Fowler purchased land in Van Buren county, Michigan from Thomas and Rebecca Arner. He paid $65 for 1/2 acre in the NE 1/4 of sec 21, T4N, R16W. Measured by metes and bounds. S.W. Duncombe was the registrar.26
Cen1870	July 1870	David W Fowler and Jane Abigail Havens appear on the 1870 census taken in July 1870 in Keeler, Van Buren county, Michigan where David is a 49 year old Stone Mason. He says that he was born in NY as were his wife and two oldest children that are still at home. Younger children born in Michigan. He owns $500 of real estate and $500 of personal property. This personal property could have included his tools for his work, i.e. Stone masonery. Both David and Jane can read and write and all the children are in school. Oldest daughter Laura, is married and lived near by. Post office given as South Haven.27
Politics	1871	In 1871 the Cheasapeake and Ohio Rail Road began service to Whitehall, Michigan.28
	31 January 1871	On 31 January 1871 granddaughter, Effie, was born in either Keeler or Lawrence, Van Buren county, MI.
LandPur	circa 1880	Sometime in 1880 David W Fowler purchased land in Keeler, Van Buren county, Michigan from ARNER. This transaction is recorded in Vol 20, p 6. Purchased ½ acre in NE¼ of Sec 21, T4, R16W of Keeler, Van Buren, MI for $65. David is listed as being "of Keeler." Month and day are not readable.29
research		The Hannold's owned part of SE¼ of Sec 4 T4 R16W in Keeler,MI and now David Fowler owns land in the NE¼ of Sec 21. How close are these two land pieces?
Cen1880	19 June 1880	David W Fowler and Jane Abigail Havens show on the 1880 census for Keeler village of Keeler twp, Van Buren county, Michigan taken 19 June 1880. On this census David says he is 58 years old, a stonemason, born in NY, wife Jane, 57 and daughter Mary 15. Also in the household, as a boarder, is Sarah A. Olds; 33 years old; working as a seamstress; born in NY; both parents born in NY. This would be the daughter of Jane's younger sister, Hannah who is long deceased. David and Jane can both read and write.30
		Whitehall was platted originally in 1859 by Mears and Slocum, and was incorporated as a village in 1867. In 1869 the Whitehall Forum began printing a paper for the new little village. City status did not occur until the mid 1900's.31,32   Whitehall is T12N R17 W Town is about section 28; Mill pond is about Sec 33 and Montague is about sec 29.
LandPur	1881	On 1881 David W Fowler purchased land in Whitehall, Muskegon county, Michigan from the U.S. Government. The NW ¼ sec 7, T12, R15, recorded in Libre 37, p 207 and then sold it to George P Covell in 1883. This could also be the land that was up for tax sale.33
	1881	David and Jane moved to Whitehall from Keeler MI sometime between the 1880 census on which they show in Keeler and 1881 when he purchased land in Whitehall. Jane's obit says that they were in Whitehall for about 15 years. That is not quite correct as he could not have left Keeler until after June of 1880 and David died in 1893 which is a total of about 13 years and it appears that he left Whitehall about 1891 according to Bernice Norman who says that they moved to Paris "just before I was born". She also commented that they came just after the big fire and built a house on Colby street. It would make sense that David would come to an area that would be in need of his skills, masonry and carpentry.20
LandPur	29 Oct 1881	On 29 October 1881 David W Fowler purchased land in Whitehall, Muskegon county, Michigan from Charles C. Thompson This purchase was Lots 3 & 4 of Block 1 of Woods and Halls addition to Whitehall. Purchased with an existing mortgage. He paid $400 and the mortage was for $150. The deed says ' OF WHITEHALL'. Does that mean that he was already a resident of Whitehall???? Bernice Norman says that they lived about where the Admiral Station was in the 1970's on Colby Street. These lots do not appear to be where he lived. The Woods and Halls addition is the NE1/4 of the SW1/4 of Sec 27 and NW1/2 of the SW1/2 of Sec 27 in Whitehall, MI. between Alice on the south, Slocum on North, Peach on East and Warner on West. The deed is dated 29 Oct 1881 and recorded 1 Nov 1881 in Vol 45, p 470 and he paid a total of $550 for these lots.34,35
		Bernice Norman, grand daughter of David and local historian tells us that the first house that he built in Whitehall burned. She does not say where this house was. He then built the Anderson house on Elizabeth Street. This might be the house that was next to Saul Morin and the house where Laura Fowler Hannold lived after the death of Friend. Laura was the daughter of David.20
	April 1882	In April of 1882, David was living in Whitehall. He was working with George Barthlomew building a basement for a Mr. Watkins for $75. It appears that Ira and Frank are still living at home, from information in a letter from daughter Mary to daughter Laura in Arkansas. A boat named the Mary Collins was launched from the docks in Whitehall in April of 1882.13
LandSold	1883	On 1883 David W Fowler sold what appears to be NW 1/4 of Sec 7, T12N R15W of Whitehall, Muskegon, MI. Need to review this deed. It is recorded in Libre 38, p335. To George P. Covell.
Land	21 February 1884	David was on the Delinquent tax list for 1883 for Lots 3 & 4 of Blk 1, Woods and Halls Addition for either $1 or $100. The printing was not clear.36   These were the lots that David purchased in 1881.
LandSold	1886	On 1886 David W Fowler sold an unknown place in Whitehall to Eli M. Ruggles This transaction is recorded in Vol 62, p488.39
research	1886	Find in 1886 at Muskegon co, Michigan, These land transactions are not all that are in the Index Needs a lot of work!!!!!
!AInfoNew	1886	About 1886 their house burned. He then built the house on Elizabeth St., 2 doors from SAUL MORIN's house. (BERNICE says ARLINE's house) This is the house where Arch Anderson lived in 1988. Since Lots 7,8,9,10 of Blk 13 are in the estate of EFFIE, this must be at least the right block. Was there another house on one of these lots that is no longer there.??? Possibly where the garden lot was in the 1940's? Also there could have been a house in front of the barn/garage that sat back on the lot with the garden lot behind between Sauls house and the little house that was the one that David build.20
LandPur	20 April 1886	On 20 April 1886 David W Fowler purchased land in Whitehall, Muskegon county, Michigan from Mark B. Covell. L11,Blk13 in the original plat of Whitehall, Michigan for $150. Recorded in Vol 64, p233, on 4 Oct 1886. Is this the lot that BERNICE says is two doors from SAUL's. See E417 ?? Libre 38, P335.39
LandSold	9 Sept 1886	On 9 September 1886 David W Fowler sold W 1/2 of Lot 10 Greens addition to Whitehall for $50. To Benjamin Franklin Fowler his son. This is recorded in Vol 64, p222 on 4 Oct 1886. Green's addition is on US 31 west of Covell St. No wife is listed for David.40,41
Marriage	20 April 1887	On on 20 April 1887 youngest child, Mary was married to Fred Norman in  Whitehall, Muskegon county, Michigan; Their marriage is recorded as #155, p21 of Book A in Muskegon county. They were married by Wm. Wing, Minister in Whitehall. Witnesses were Henry and Maggie Kennedy. Mary Alice says that she is 22 years old and born in Michigan. It appears that Henry and Maggie Kennedy were the previous owners of the house that Mary and Fred Norman lived on Baldwin Street in Whitehall.42
LandSold	13 Nov 1887	David W Fowler and Jane Abigail Havens SOLD to Eli M. Ruggles for $1.00 all of lots 3 & 4 in Blk 1 of Woods and Halls addition to Whitehall. Recorded 8 Dec 1887 in Vol 62, p 488. Wit by Frank Fowler. This is possibly a tax sale.39
Marriage	25 June 1889	Grandaughter, Effie was married 25 June 1889 in Whitehall. Appears as tho' David and Jane were still living in Whitehall at this time.42
!AInfoNew		At one time there were 33 mills on White Lake, tho' Charles Mears the owner of the first of the big lumber mills said there was only enough pine for TWO. Peter Dalton, was the 2nd lumberman in the area. He was the grandfather of George D. Mason of Montague, a classmate of Edna Fehrenbach. The county guide book states that in 1887 there were 47 mills in the Muskegon county area. Lumbering began in this area about 1837. Muskegon was called the 'Lumber Queen of the World'. By 1895 there were only 3 mills operating in the Muskegon/White Lake area. The very Last of the Mills, tho it was VERY small was owned and operated by George Fehrenbach on the White River above Rothbury. George was the brother of Edith and Edna Fehrenbach.43,44
		According to information from Bernice Norman, David could not stay put. He was quite "dictatorial", a "real he-man". Built houses for himself and others. Had all the tools to split and face stones and built basements, foundations and chimneys etc. He built the Anderson house on Elizabeth St. in Whitehall. This would be the house next to Saul and Effie's. After Friend Hannold died, his widow, the mother of Effie, lived in that house. The first house that he built in Whitehall burned. Did he live there? Where was that house? Was this on the lot that he lost for taxes in about 1890?45,20,46
		Mecosta county had a growth spurt in the 1880's due to the arrival of the railroad. May be a reason for David leaving the Muskegon county area and heading north.
	19 September 1890	On 19 September 1890 Whitehall experienced a second big fire, along Colby Street. The businesses were suffering from the loss of the lumbering so they just moved into the empty buildings along Colby.28
MovedTo	1891	David and Jane Abigail Havens moved to at Paris in Green twp, Mecosta, Michigan, about 1891. Bernice said that they moved to Paris, Michigan just before she was born. This was likely a major event in the life of her mother, a daughter of David and Jane and therefore recounted. The obit for Jane says that they lived in Whitehall for about 15 years.20
		W G Morin says that David was about 6' 3" tall. Since David died before Gordon was born he had to have just been repeating information that he had been told.47
Death	19 Sept 1893	David W Fowler died on 19 September 1893 at Green, Mecosta, Michigan, at age 72. His death is not on Film #1004850 for Mecosta county death records vol A and B thru 1913. Paris is near Reed City and Big Rapids is close to the Muskegon River. The obit in the Big Rapids papers says that he lived close to the Robinson farm, north east of Big Rapids.46,11 He died of Apoplexy, that is "Sudden impairment of neurological function, especially that resulting from a cerebral hemorrhage; a stroke."48
Obituary	21 Sept 1893	The Obituary from Forum of Whitehall, Michigan of Friday, 21 September 1893, is as follows:  "D. W. Fowler died Tuesday at Big Rapids Mi. He was 70 years old. Many years a resident of Whitehall. He was the father of Frank Fowler and Mrs. Fred Norman. Mrs. Norman left Wednesday to attend the funeral." He was also the father of Laura Jane Fowler Hannold, who was still living but was in Muskegon at this point in time, and therefore not of interest to this paper. Ira and Adelaide were still living also, but not in Whitehall.11
Burial	21 September 1893	From the obituary in the Pioneer, the Reed City newspaper we learn that the funeral was "from the House" on Thursday, 21 Sept 1893.49
Obituary		The Obituary for David W of of Big Rapids, at Michigan is as follows: "David D. Fowler, residing near J.D. Robinson's farm, a short distance north-east of town, died last night of apoplexy, aged 73 years. Funeral tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock from the house."49
Mil Info		It does not appear that David served any time in military service.
research		Find Helen Clark was the daughter of Calvin Clark. She married a flour man from Minneapolis named King. They summered in the house the was ultimately purchased by Gordon Morin. The parents of Helen Clark may have lived at one time in the front house, ie. 411 Mill Pond Rd. There was quite a saw mill settlement on the Mill pond in the 1880 and 1890's. Early families in this area were the Laws, Bartholomew's and Clarks. "Mandy" Amanda Movie was somehow related to the Laws.

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Compiler: Pomala Black

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