Bio-Rowan, Jonas

Jonas Rowan was born on Feb. 12, 1833 in Somerset County, PA, the son of James and Catherine (Harbaugh) Rowan. He served in the Civil War, as did his father and three of his brothers, and died as an indirect result of his wartime illnesses.

As a boy, Jonas moved with his parents to nearby Stewart Twp., Fayette County. He played with boyhood friends Daniel W. Dull, John Hann, George W. Marietta and Garrett Hall. Abraham Williams called him a "chunk of a boy."

As a young man, he was was strong and able-bodied, weighing 200 lbs., and did farm work for the Marietta and Prinkey families. "He was regarded as one of the stoutest and most healthy men we had in this part of the country," Marietta said.

On Dec. 9, 1858 (or 1859), at age 25, Jonas married 22-year-old Julia Ann Williams (1836-1908). The bride sometimes went by the nickname "Annie." The ceremony was performed by Elijah Harbaugh, a justice of the peace, and a cousin on the Harbaugh side of the family, and took place at the home of Isaac Prinkey.

In the 1947 book, Harbaugh History, by Cora Bell and J.L. Cooprider, Julia is stated to have been the widow of his brother Leonard, who had died in the war. However, this is just not true. Julia herself, and many friends, testified that this was a first marriage for both Jonas and Julia.

They had five children -- Austin Rowan, Rebecca Robbins, George E. Rowan, Martha C. Rowan and Amanda Rowan. Hulda Skinner served as midwife during all of the births. A handwritten record of their births was kept on a piece of paper, said a friend, because "Jonas Rowan was a poor man and had no Bible record of the Births and deaths of their children." Later, to help Jonas' widow obtain a federal pension, the paper record was shown to a notary public as official proof.

The Rowans made their home "on the mountain near Stewart Station" in Fayette County, Julia later said. Their post office was "Elm," later renamed as "Normalville."

When the war broke out, Jonas and his brother David enlisted on Feb. 27, 1864 in Company F of the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Jonas and friend Jacob N. Ritenour "went to Greensburg Pa. together," said Ritenour. "He was examined and accepted."

On Oct. 19, 1864, at Cedar Creek, VA, Jonas was captured by the enemy. Recalled friend John Hann:

I saw him captured. His horse gone out. I saw him taken off his horse. He got away from the Rebels that night. they took his clothing all off him. He had no hat, coat, pants or boots. He laid out all that night. He got back to our camp the following day. He had a bad cold, had a cough. He continued to cough as long as he was in the service.

He was able to get away in the bitter cold, recalled Hann, because the enemy soldiers "lay down and went to sleep at night." Jonas "sprained his knee while running to escape from the Rebels after he had been captured and broke away from them," said family friend Hulda Skinner, who heard the story after the war. He was treated at a field hospital near Winchester, VA.

A rare old photo postcard of the Cedar Creek battlefield, after the war

Jonas eventually was sent to Fort Leavenworth, KS, where he was discharged on Aug. 24, 1865. He returned to his wife and family, a physical wreck. His wife observed that he upon arriving home, he "was 'middlin' thin in flesh - he had a yellow color as clay color."

About a year later, in August 1866, he became bedfast and remained so for about eight months. Treated by Dr. Joseph Rogers, his body weight dropped dramatically to about 125 lbs. After getting a little better, and regaining his strength, Jonas still had severe physical problems. Recalled his wife:

Nothing would lay on his stomach. He would scarcely get through eating until he would go out and throw up -- and especially breakfast. His whole complaint was as to his stomach. He complained of pains in his bones. He complained of pains in his right leg... He had a terrible cough and expectorated freely for 7 months before his death.

Friend George W. Marietta said "He always walked lame after this one leg seemed drawn out of shape as did one shoulder." He occasionally had to use a cane or crutch when walking.

Friend Isaac Prinkey said "He could not stand tramping up and down the hills as he did before [the war]." Friend John Hann said "He used to hold his hands on his sides when he would cough, would say it nearly killed him to cough."

The 1870 census shows Jonas and Julia and their four young children in the home. Joseph was a farmer and Julia as occupied "keeping home." Among their immediate neighbors were his parents, widowed grandmother Martha (Minerd) Harbaugh, uncle and aunt Charles and Adaline (Harbaugh Minerd, and presumed sister in law and her husband, Jane and Joseph Harbaugh.

In the winter of 1872, Jonas contracted a fatal case of typhoid pneumonia. It spread to "all parts of his body," according to his physician, Dr. W.S. Mountain of nearby Confluence, Somerset County. He also was "greatly emaciated, had a severe cough, and lung trouble." After three weeks of fighting the illness, Jonas died on March 10, 1872. Wrote Mountain: "The real cause of death was Typhoid Pneumonia, but he being physically depleted by exposure in the army was the primary cause of his death, he not having the physical force to stand the disease. I was his physician in his last illness and ... lived within five miles of him."

His grave is near his father's and brothers' in the Indian Creek Baptist Church Cemetery near Mill Run, PA. He rests under a standard issue military grave marker.

Julia immediately petitioned the federal government to award Jonas' pension to her as she had young children to raise. She began receiving $8 per month, commencing March 24, 1872.

Further tragedy and heartache struck Julia in 1876. That year, three of their children came down with diphtheria and died within 15 days -- 16-year-old son Austin, seven-year-old daughter Martha and four-year-old daughter Amanda. Julia's grief must have been unspeakable.

On March 30, 1884, after 12 years as a widow, Julia married Isaac Prinkey ( ? -1899). The ceremony was performed in the bride's home by justice of the peace W.M. Kern, with Eli S. Showalter as a witness.

Isaac is believed to have had six children to a previous marriage -- William H. Prinkey, Louisa J. Eicher, Eva J. Leichliter, Mary E. Eicher, Isaac Prinkey and Walter Prinkey.

Julia and Isaac's marriage lasted for 15 years, until he passed away of a stroke of apoplexy on May 15, 1899. George W. Prinkey was present at the time of death. The Connellsville Weekly Courier said that he "leaves a wife and family of grown children. The family have the sympathy of the community." He was laid to rest in the Indian Creek Baptist Church cemetery. Although he wrote no will, the assets in Isaac's estate provided her with an income of $10 per month as his widow, "as the interest on one third of sale of real estate."

Circa 1902, Julia was residing with married daughter Rebecca Robbins in Blue Knob, Blair County, PA. In October of that year, said the Courier, she returned to Connellsville and moved into the home of son George. Yet by 1904, she was residing again with the Robbinses. In official papers of that timeframe, Julia called herself a "helpless invalid."

Julia died in her sleep at age 72 on May 2, 1909 at the home of son George. The Courier reported that while she had "been in poor health for some time, but her death was not expected." She was buried at the Indian Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

Many years later, in 1970, Jonas and Julia were mentioned in the newly published book, A History of Mill Run.

Daughter Rebecca Rowan (1862-1929) married at age 16 to Charles L. Robbins (1861-1933). They resided in Blue Knob, Blair County, circa 1902-1906. Later, they moved to Springhill, near Portage, Cambria County, PA. They had at least three children -- Herbert Robbins, Jessie Hazlett and Isabella A. "Belle" Harbaugh. Charles ran a lumber business in Springhill for a quarter of a century. The Daily Courier said he "was a close student of the Bible and was able to quote many portions of it from memory." Rebecca died on Jan. 3, 1929 in Springhill, and her obituary was carried in the Johnstown Tribune. Charles survived her by five years, and lived alone during that time. He served as sexton of the Portage United Brethren Church. In early November 1933, he was found dead at his home, "in a kneeling posture by the side of his bed, indicating that death had come while he was engaged in prayer," said the Daily Courier. He was laid to rest in the family plot at the Portage U.B. Church. At the time of his death, Charles had 14 grandchildren.

Son George E. Rowan (1868-1944) married Althea Prinkey (1875-1946), the daughter of John A. and Mariah (Murray) Prinkey. According to the Mill Run history, he was nicknamed "One-Armed George" to differentiate him from his cousin George S. Rowan, living nearby in Mill Run.

They resided near the Indian Creek Reservoir and had eight children -- Arthur Rowan, Sylvia Prinkey, Domer Rowan, Clark Rowan, Howard Rowan, Charles L. Rowan, Jenny Anderson and Earl Rowan. Sadly, they lost an infant son in October 1916. They also tragically lost sons Howard and Charles in coal mine accidents in 1928 and 1936, respectively.

George was a farmer. In January 1928, he filed a legal complaint against Fred Bowers, asking for payment of $110 in return for a tractor plow he had sold to Bowers. The case was heard by cousin William Henry "Squire" Miner, a justice of the peace in Mill Run. George won the civil suit and was paid the following month. George signed the paperwork with an "X."

He passed away the day after D-Day -- June 7, 1944, and a little more than one week after the death of his cousin, George S. Rowan.

Althea died at age 71 of bronchial pneumonia on June 15, 1946. At the time of Althea's death, said the Daily Courier, she and George had produced 33 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. They both rest for eternity in the Indian Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Mill Run.

During World War II, the deaths of the two Georges were noted in a hometown newsletter, The Messenger, sent to soldier in the armed forces, and edited by a distant cousin, Ferne (Minerd) Work. One Messenger article in March 1946 reported that: "Since many of you left Mill Run quite a few folks have been laid to rest. To name a few who have passed away during the last year or so George S. Rowan, George E. Rowan, ... and my grandfather Minerd."

The Indian Creek Reservoir, near where the Rowans lived

Tragically, son Howard Rowan (1907-1928) was "killed in the Mather Mine Explosion," said the Mill Run history. The tragedy took the lives of 194 unfortunate coal miners in Mather, Greene County, PA on May 19, 1928. A coroner's jury ruled that "this disaster was caused by an explosion of explosive gas and coal dust in the north side of the mine. The primary cause of which explosion is unknown." The Connellsville Daily Courier stated that it was "one of the most disastrous explosions in the history of Pennsylvania soft coal mining... Edison Tedrow, Howard Rowan and H.A. Wells are believed to have met with death. Their bodies have not been found." As of June 2, two weeks later, the Courier reported that his body still had not been recovered. His remains eventually were found and identified, and were laid to rest in the Rowan plot at the Indian Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. The tragedy is summarized in a rare book, The Mather Mine Disaster, on file today in the rare book room of the Uniontown Public Library.

Son Charles L. Rowan (1899-1936 ) married Grace Bigam ( ? - ? ) and resided in Mill Run. They had no children. At the age of 37, in about May of 1936, Charles began employment as a laborer at the No. 5 mine of the Vesta Coal Company at Vestaburg, a job to which he commuted from his home. Compounding the family tragedy, he was killed at the mine on Aug. 18, 1936, after only having worked there for three months. Said the Daily Courier:

Rowan ... was decapitated and two other workers miraculously escaped a similar fate ... when a large slab of slate let go as they were leaving the Vestaburg workings after completing their day's work. The trio comprised a group of workmen who had left the man trip several minutes before the tragedy. Rowan was struck by the full force of the slate which landed on his head and severed it from his body, according to Deputy Edward Hagerty of Millsboro. The fatality was the first of the year at the Vesta Company mine.

A rare look inside the Vesta coal mines where Charles L. Rowan was killed. Seen here, a 20-ton motor in tandem hauls 70 cars of coal (about 500 tons) along 6.5 miles of track inside the Vesta No. 4 and No. 5 mines.

Charles' funeral drew 600 mourners. It was held at the Mill Run United Brethren Church, led by Rev. Frank S. Wortman, Rev. Paul O. Morris and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. Said the Daily Courier, "A quartet composed of Mr. and Mrs. William Griffiths, Edward Hiltabidel and E.D. Small, with Miss Alice Small at the piano, sang 'Face to Face,' 'Abide with Me' and 'Going Down the Valley.' The Vestaburg Local of the United Mine Workers of America came in a large delegation and led the funeral process from the home to the church and then to the cemetery, holding its ritual at the grave. The pallbearers were George Colborn, E. Sturgis Colborn, Robert Laughery, Dayton Newill, Preston Williams and Foster Bigam." Burial was in the Indian Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

Daughter Jenny Rowan (1894-1976) married James "Nelson" Anderson (1891-1960), a native of New Brighton, Beaver County, PA. They are named in the Mill Run history book and had 10 children -- James Anderson, Calvin Anderson, Lewis Anderson, Mildred Miner, Della Mae Arzberger Cuica, Lauretta Shipley (1922-1999), Bertha Shipley (1915-1999), Richard Anderson (1927-2005), Howard Anderson and Jennie Anderson. Nelson was a coal miner for Rice and Wilkins Coal Company in Mill Run circa 1917, when he registered for the military draft during World War I. Nelson passed away on Feb. 25, 1960, at the age of 69. Jenny died at age 82 on Oct. 30, 1976, and was buried at Indian Creek Baptist Cemetery. At the time of her death, Jenny had 43 grandchildren and 92 great-grandchildren.

Son Earl Rowan ( ? -1988) married Geraldine Bigam (1906-1999), the daughter of David D. and Lucinda (Cole) Bigam. They resided in Mill Run and had five children -- Gladys Basinger, Barbara Bryner, James O. Rowan Sr., Mary Louise Glotfelty and Donna Novak. Earl passed away on Jan. 8, 1988, and Geraldine died on July 9, 1999. They are buried at Indian Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. At the time of Geraldine's passing, she had 17 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.

Daughter Sylvia Rowan ( ? - ? ) married John A. Prinkey (1909-1974). They were lifelong residents of Springfield Township. They had 13 children -- Ronald B. Prinkey, Bernard R. Prinkey, Clark Prinkey, Wayne Prinkey, Gerald Prinkey, Douglas Prinkey, George Prinkey, Raymond Prinkey, Helen Mansberry, Marion Radcliff, Elsie Dial, Nancy Richter and Shirley Prinkey. John died at the age of 64 on Jan. 15, 1974. Burial was in Normalville Cemetery. Their daughter, Nancy Louise Prinkey (1939-2006) resided in Confluence, Somerset County, where she "was a member of the Calvary Community Church of Fort Hill and Somerset Local U.S. Steel Workers," said the Somerset (PA) Daily American. "After her retirement, she worked part-time for the Deer Valley YMCA Camp."

Son Domer Rowan (1902-1974) married Marie Kemp ( ? - ? ). They resided at Breakneck, near Connellsville, for more than three decades. Domer was a longtime mine foreman for the West Penn Power Company. The Rowans had 10 children -- Howard Rowan, Domer E. Rowan, David Rowan, Donald Rowan, Bradley Rowan, Jeffrey Rowan, Marjorie Miller, Janet Young, Sharon Gorman and Debra Hoyman. Domer passed away at the age of 72 on Sept. 8, 1974 "following a lingering illness," said the Daily Courier. He was survived by 21 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Beverly (Murray) Domer has done quite a bit of research on the Rowan and Anderson families.