Richard J. Fowler
The late Richard J. Fowler, who died at his home, the old Turnbull place, in Cedarville township, March 10, 1917, was a native of South Carolina, born at Chester, that state, but had been a resident of this county since the days of his young manhood. He was born on March 14, 1842. son of Edward and Martha (Lackey) Fowler, both of whom also were born in South Carolina, where they spent all their lives. Deprived of his parents by death in the days of his boyhood, Richard J. Fowler was "bound out" to learn the trade of millwright and remained in his native state until he was twenty-one years of age, when, in 1863, he came to Ohio and became a resident of Cedarville township, this county. Upon coming here he joined the local company of the Ohio state militia and was thus serving at the time of the scare produced by the raid of Morgan's cavalry up from Kentucky. He went with that company to Camp Chase to report for duty but after ten days of service there the company was ordered to return home, the "scare" having subsided by that time. Until 1867 Mr. Fowler was engaged working at various occupations in and about Cedarville and then in that year he rented a small farm in Cedarville township and began farming on his own account. There he bought five acres on the Federal pike. After his marriage in 1870 he established his home on that place and there continued to live until 1874, when he bought seventy-eight acres of the old Turnbull place, including the stone house built there by W. T. Turnbull in 1821. and there spent the remainder of his life. He remodeled the old stone house and it is still doing service as the family residence, having been used as a dwelling place for nearly one hundred years. Mr. Fowler also bouglit the old John B. Squires farm of seventy-six acres on the Columbus pike, but this latter place he sold in 1913 and bought land adjoining the home place, thus bringing the acreage of the latter up to one hundred and forty-eight acres, which is now being operated by Clarence Fowler, who is managing the same for his widowed mother. Richard J. Fowler was a Republican and by religious persuasion was a member of the Reformed Presbyterian church at Cedarville. of which he long served as chairman of the board of trustees and in which he did not miss a communion service for fifty-five years.
Mr. Fowler's widow is still living on the old home place. She was born in this county, Martha Ellen Silva, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Jeffreys) Silva. both long since deceased, the former of whom was a black-smith and farmer in Cedarville township. To Richard J. and Martha Ellen (Silva) Fowler were born ten children, namely: Mary Elizabeth, who is now teaching in a mission school at Selma, Alabama; Robert McMillan Fowler, who married Regina Spencer and now lives in Buffalo, New York, where he is engaged in the railroad service; Laura Ellen, who is at home; Annie M., a graduate nurse, who is now located at St. Louis; Jennie Ethel, a teacher, now engaged in the graded schools at St. Charles, Missouri; William Leonard Fowler, who died in 1902; Clarence Fowler, who is now managing the old home farm; Carrie Helen, also at home; Howard Sprowl Fowler, who died on August 19, 1913. and Edna Irene, a pianist, who is contemplating completing her musical education with a view to becoming a teacher of piano music. Clarence Fowler, who since his father's death has been managing the home farm, was born on the farm on which he is still living. December 14, 1882. Upon leaving school he took up the studv of telegraphy and was for some time thereafter employed as a telegraph operator, in the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, but since the death of his father has been giving his whole attention to the direction of the home farm.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918