North Star Township Biography
ELIAS SOWER
Source: PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF GRATIOT COUNTY, MICHIGAN published by CHAPMAN BROTHERS, Chicago, 1884
Elias Sower, physician, cleargyman and farmer, section 1, North Star Township, is a native of York Co., Pa., where he was born April 5, 1810. He is a son of Henry Sower, deceased, a native of Frederick Co., Md.; the latter was a son of John Sower, who came from Germany many years ago and settled in Maryland. The pather of our subject was soldier in the war of 1812, and moved his family from Maryland to Centee Co., Pa., in 1815. Here the son attended the common schools, assisted on the farm and grew to manhood. In 1835 Mr. Sower moved to Holmes Co., Ohio, where he remained for one year an then went to Seneca Co., same state. He remained here for four years, untill 1840, when he went to Richland Co., and after remaining there ten years engaged in various occupations he returned to Seneca County. He remained there until 1854, when he ame to this county and entered 320 acres of Government land on which he is now residing. His tails were similar to those of Michigan's poineer settlers, and he energetically met them, with all the determination of an individual whose great ambition was to succeed in live and conquered them.
He arrived in this county, after having entered his land at the Land Office on Oct. 6, 1854, in the afternoon of the 9th of December, the same year. Eight inches of snow was on the ground and he and his family slept in their wagon for an entire week before the customary "log cabin" was erected. At last the round log shanty was completed, 14x20, and he and his family moved into their "palace." He began to chop, roll, and burn the logs and cleared a small path on which to raise a crop and successfully continued his labor until want was driven from the door, and plenty entered, and taking her seat by the side of comfort and happiness looked back upon the past with satisfaction and content.
The Doctor read medicine for a number of years before coming to this State, not with the intention of practicing but more for his own edification, yet his knowledge of medicine soon beame known to his neighbors and the indisposed would not accept No for and answer in response to their earnest request to call and administer to their ailments. He therefore entered on the practice through no desire on his part, and yet, after following the same for a few years, he became so infatuated with the profession he has continued it ever since. He had nothing to feed his horses when he first came here and was compelled to sell them, and for four years followed the profession by walking to his patients. He was what might be called "the father of the neighborhood." He administered to their wants cured their disease, made their coffins, preached their funerals and placed the dirt upon their graves.
Mr. Sower was married May 1, 1832, to Margaret Bitner, who died Aug. 1, 1851. They had ten children, eight of whom are living, namely: Susan, Lydia, John H., Catherine, Daniel, Lovina, William, and Samuel. One daughter, Mary J., after reaching womanhood and marrying, died from the effects of a sun-stroke, leaving the children to the care of the husband. Mr. S. was again married, June 8, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John Klingomon, and four children have been born to their union. two of whom, Sarah E. and Almira, are living; one son, David E. twin brother to Sarah, died in his 20th year and another in infancy.
Dr. Sower was licensed as an exhorter in 1840, and July 27, 1843, was licensed to preach the gospel from a Methodist standpoint. Aug. 28, 1853, he was ordained Deacon by Bishop T.A. Morris, of Mt. Vernon, and received the Elder's ordination at the hands of Bishop Scott at Grand Rapids, Oct. 5, 1862. He and his wife are both members of the Church and the Doctor has been and active member for 54 years.
Created on ... October 09, 2001