The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1920-04-29
Il. j. Rowell Returns After an Alb
/ SenCe of 80 Years

About So years ago L. J. Rowell,
together with two of his brothers
and their families and four other
families left Decatur City for the far
made his home in the west and has
never visited in this section. He is
a brother of N. w. R0well, deceased,
who for long time was resident
of this city where he was an honored
citizen and member of the Union
he came to Alton to visit at the home
of Mrs. Anna Rowell,. but she was
away from home and he went up to
| New Hampton where his only sister,
Mrs. Julia Cherry, was visiting:
At present Mr.: RoweiIs home is is in
nearest railroad station is Yreka,
which is sixty miles away. He makes
his home on ranch up there in the
mountains They raise small grain
and fruit, also lots OF cattle. There is
great deal of timber in that section
and lumber is very cheap. Wood is
only>gets little below freezing they
do not need much except to cook
with.
He had rather interesting ex-
perience just before coming back
here. A bank had been robbed in an
ado 3asn county, and yn some eoSr S
with it, Word was sent out over
the telephone lines and a description
of the robber given. He was a des- |
perate criminal and was wanted in
several states. In one state he was
wanted for murder. Soon after word |
was received at the ranch giving a |
alone and stopped at the house. The
owner Of the ranch was shoeing !
horse. The robber sat down and
talked. and while he was there the /
deputy sheriff phoned the ranch and
said they were on his trail and that |!
informed he was there the deputy |
told them to arrest him. 1t was
about five O'Clock in the evening
and they invited him to stay for din !
ner. He was carrying pack and !
rifle. These he sat down and when i
the opportunity offered the owner |
Of the ranch went il in the house and and ;
and ordered him to put his hands up |
and told him he was under arrest: |
While waiting for the deputy sheriff |
to come, Mr.. Rowell guarded him,
but when the owner of the ranch |
passed near him, the robber sprang |
wrestled around a while until the
robber got hold Of his rifle, but he |
was unable to use it. Finally Mr..
Rowell got an opportunity and he
shot him in the leg, breaking it:
This ended the fight The sheriff |
and a doctor were phoned for. but 1t !
was necessary to 2o carry Iyyad him as several ssi
eventually taken to a hospital and
his leg taken off and taken into court
where he pied guilty and was given
an indeterminate sentence. All the
money was 1recOveredI A reward
had been offered for his capture in
ed reward, and up to the present
time but $500 has been paid, one
half of which was paid to Mr.. Rowell. !
Some of the other rewards may be !;
paid later. The robber was a bad
man. and the authorities had been |
trying to capture him for number
Mr.. Rowell is now past 81 years
but does not appear to be that old.
Out Of a family of thirteen children !
there are only two of them left. He
expects to visit round here for some
little time yet, but says he must get
back home by the firs ;s,t OF Jq ny AZ he
Decatur City his old home. He left
there May Z, 1851, travelling west
with oxen and horses, arriving at
Walla Walla. Wash, the last day of
August, being about four months on
the road. The last residence they
saw on the way out, with the ex.
ception of the government forts at
Kearney, Nebr, and Laramie. Wyo..,
was near Nebraska City. He is
somewhat of restless person and
has travelled great deal through the
west He has no desire to make this
country his home. He never lived
in Alton, but visited here in 1859,
about the time his brother first NOV
cd horo A ffon Cfar..Ente rnriSp