"James A. Fowler - Farmer to Land Holder

October 22, 2020

James A. Fowler was born shortly after the end of the Revolutionary War, when settlers began to move west into the Ohio River Valley. James’ father, Benjamin Fowler, made the trek from Maryland to Kentucky, finally settling in Butler County, Ohio. Farming was the occupation of a vast majority of Americans and the Fowler family was no different.

James inherited his father’s farm around 1827 and then sold it to his brother in 1835. James and his wife Elizabeth moved to Marion County, Indiana, for a few years, then returned to Butler County, Ohio, where James purchased a lot in the town of Darrtown. Over the next several years, James acquired so many lots in Darrtown that, at one point, he owned almost 20 percent of the town.

Interestedly, in the US 1850 census, James listed “Farmer” as his occupation although he apparently was no longer farming. James, 62 years of age, lived in Darrtown by the Hotel Keeper, a shoe maker, a tailor, carpenters, coopers, physicians, blacksmiths, a merchant, a wagon maker, saddler and harness maker, and a distiller. James likely leased the lots he owned and was a land holder. Maybe he did not know how to describe his occupation? In the US 1860 census, James left his occupation blank.

When James wrote his will in December of 1860, he owned about 14 percent of Darrtown. He divided his lots among his 5 surviving children. Daughter Hannah and son Francis were the only 2 who lived in Darrtown; the other children moved from Ohio years earlier. By 1870, only 1 lot was left in the possession of a Fowler, lot #28 at the corner of Main Street and Apple Street, owned by Francis Fowler. Francis was a basketmaker and Francis was blind. In 1871 Francis sold his lot and moved to Indiana and the Fowlers faded from the history of Darrtown."

The following was found at the GenealogyTrek website.

Return to the Fowler family page

The GenealogyTrek website provides a more detailed "life sketch" of James A. Fowler.