Northumberland-Chester-Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Sowers, Joseph E. A. 1842 - living in 1899

************************************************

Copyright.  All rights reserved.

http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm

************************************************



File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:

Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 5, 2005, 1:25 pm



Author: Biographical Publishing Co.



JOSEPH E. A. SOWERS, a substantial and influential citizen of Shamokin, Coal

township, was born August 19, 1842, in Spring City, Chester County, Pa., and is

the son of Abner and Elizabeth (Taney) Sowers. Both his paternal and maternal

ancestors were residents of Chester County; the former being of German and the

latter of French origin.



  Abner Sowers, our subject's father, was born on his father's farm in Chester

County, Pa., and spent the greater portion of his life near Royer's Ford, where

he followed farming, but later in life worked in a mill. He died leaving a widow

and two children: Joseph E. A., our subject, and Annie, now deceased, formerly

wife of Rev. Henry Chapman, an Episcopalian minister. After the death of his

father our subject's mother was again united in marriage, wedding William

Wilcox, now deceased. One son was born to them, and bears his father's name,

William Wilcox, and is now a resident of Bethlehem, Pa. His mother now resides

in Philadelphia.



  Joseph E. A. Sowers received a common school education at Norristown,

Montgomery County, Pa., after which he entered the rolling mills of that place.

He subsequently left Norristown and went to Pottsville and there learned the

molder's trade, which occupation he followed until he entered the Union Army in

the War of the Rebellion. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, 52d Reg., Pa. Vol.

Inf., and served as sergeant for three years and five months. He was with Gen.

McClellan and took an active part in the Peninsular campaign; was on duty in

North Carolina, South Carolina, on James Island in front of Fort Sumter, at

Yorktown, and was finally taken prisoner July 3, 1864, at Fort Johnson, on

Morris Island.



  After his capture at Fort Johnson he was taken to Charleston, S. C., thence to

Andersonville, Sumter County Ga., where he remained three months and shared with

his fellow-comrades prison life in the "hell of all hells" known to mankind on

this earth. The total of Union prisoners received at this notorious prison

during the war was 49,845; of this number 12,926 died. He was transferred from

Andersonville Prison to Florence, S. C., where he was imprisoned for two months

and then paroled. At the close of his military service he returned to

Pottsville, where he employed himself for one year, after which he located at

Port Carton, accepting charge of the foundry for J. R. Boyer. Mr. Sowers

continued working there for several years, operating the foundry with ability

and success, and discontinued the same only to accept the more lucrative

position of foreman of the molding department with John Mullen & Son, at

Shamokin, December 21, 1875.



  Our subject was united in marriage with Ella Lord, October 25, 1866, and their

home was blessed with five children, one being now dead. The living children

are: Harry, who married Katie Miller and has two bright children, Essie and

Frank,—he is a machinist in the employ of John Mullen & Son; Elizabeth; Harvey

B., who married Frances Burner, and is a molder, also in the employ of John

Mullen & Son; and Ella May. The two daughters, Elizabeth and Ella May, are still

at home; both are affable young ladies, and to their presence is greatly due the

sunshine and happiness which gladdens the hearts of their parents.



  Mr. Sowers is a man who has rendered eminent services in various fields of

labor. He has been faithful in all the relations of life and is a most valued

member of society. His interests politically are identified with the Republican

party. Socially he is a member of the following lodges: Shamokin Lodge No. 255,

F. & A. M.; Shamokin Chapter No. 264, R. A. M.;  Shamokin Commandery, K. T.; and

is also a member of Lincoln Post No. 140, G. A. R.





Additional Comments:

Extracted from:



Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District

Published by 

Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)





This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/



File size: 4.4 Kb