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Malcolm L. Rowland

A modern, progressive farmer and dairyman is M. L. Rowland, one of the best known citizens of Pleasant Valley township. He was born in Clermont township, this county, where his people were known as leaders in pioneer times in all the walks of life. His birth occurred November 11, 1858, and he is the son of Peter L. and Elvira (Wheeler) Rowland, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Canada. His paternal grand-father was Peter Rowland, born in Pennsylvania, his parents being of German origin. Peter Rowland married and reared a family in Ohio. Peter L. Rowland, father of M. L. Rowland, of this review, came to Iowa in the early forties when this country was sparsely settled. They were compelled to go to Dubuque, quite a distance, to market, and in those early times they had many trying experiences and underwent many hardships. Mr. Rowland carried flour on his back from Auburn, many miles through the woods to his primitive home. He was a hardy pioneer and made a success by his persistent labor. He first farmed on one hundred and sixty acres in Clermont township where he settled on account of the excellent timber and the fine springs. He worked at Auburn for some time burning charcoal, also farmed and engaged a great deal in hunting, the woods hereabout abounding in various wild and fur-bearing animals. He became prosperous, finally owning three hundred and fifty acres of valuable land. He carried on general farming and raised horses, mostly for draft purposes, the Norman breed especially. Some time before his death he retired from active farming.

The maternal grandparents of M. L. Rowland were Royal and Almina Wheeler. They, too, were early settlers in Fayette county, living many years on Turkey river, later moved to Union township, always engaged in farming.

Peter L. Rowland, father of the subject, reared a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters, five of the sons and one of the daughters now living, and all but one reside in Fayette county.

M. L. Rowland received his primary education in Clermont township, attending the district schools during the winter and working on the home farm in summer when he became of proper age. He has always followed farming with the exception of four years when he engaged in the creamery business on Turkey river, operating a private creamery and he made a success of the same; he was assisted by his fathers and brothers. M. L. and David Rowland owned a farm of one hundred and seventy-nine acres in partnership and they farmed together for nine years. In the spring of 1899, M. L. Rowland bought one hundred and eighty acres where he now resides and on which he carries on general farming and stock raising. He has a fine farm, well improved and tastily kept, a substantial and attractive home and numerous outbuildings.

Mr. Rowland was married in August, 1887, to Mary Archer, the daughter of an influential and highly honored old family here, and this union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Clarence Ray; Ethel Blanche died when three years of age; Elsie Gladys, Lorenzo Vern, George David and Clara Almina.

Mr. Rowland is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a liberal supporter of the same; politically, he is a Republican and, while he has taken considerable interest in local political matters, he has never been an office-seeker, being too busy with his business affairs, though he has served as school director. He is a plain, honest, pleasant man to know and he has maintained the excellent record of the elder Rowlands in this county.

~transcribed for the Fayette County Iowa USGenWeb Project by Claudia Meyer