Putnam patriot., 1928-08-02
S STOW ELS OF STATE
ARE BEING SOUGHT
An Old Family Name In Pom
INSTRUMENTATION Has Been
Formed
Many Of Name Have Become Promi-
nent

tSounty. especially LnOHe who nave been
or are now affiliated with the Abing.
ton Congregational church, Abingdon
Conn:
At this time, shortly after the l75th
anniversary Of the founding Of the
Abingdon Congregational church, q
few words from one who is Of the sixth
generation Of one Of the founders OF
that church might not be amiss. My
great-great-great-grandfather on my
maternal side was Nathaniel Stowell
His home was where the Strombergs
reside at the present time, Mrs. Strom.
berg's parents having purchased il
from a descendant Of Nathaniel's. His
son Ephraim had a home west Of town
on what Is known as Stowell Hill--up
near Elisha Sherman's.
The writer Is a young man in his
forties, born and raised in Minnesota
his mother, Ella Thomson Stowell, was
born in New Jersey. and her father,
Luther Thomson Stowell. was born in
Peru, Mass, the highest inhabited spot
In Massachusetts,. We often wonder
how. back in those early days, did Ma
thaniel Stowell, end, son of the Alb
/ ingtan Nathaniel St0well, ever get up
courage to go away from Abingdon.
Conn, overland into such a wild Sec
ton of the then present country Of
achusetts---nearly 20 the New
York State line? Can anyone answer
that question for us?
Nathaniel Of Abingdon
Half OF the Stowells in the country
descended from Nathaniel of Abing-
tor. At present there are known to
be about 3 .750 Stowells in the country
today. How fine IL is TO know, as EN-
phasized on the Sabbath evening Of
July 18th at the celebration at AbinQ-
ton church by Rev. Y. o. VAIN, for
mer pastor of that church, that we
really were in the heart of typical
American colony--present residenters
being descended from that sturdy old
New England stock, which is becom-
ing rarer and rarer every day.
You people Of Abingdon, OK Pomfret
Township, of Windham county, of the
State of Connecticut should be proud
of any members of any family in your
community be they Stowells or who
ever they be, who have left the old
fireside and blazed trail and path
way in many, many sections OF this
great country Of ours, and who have
been leaders in their certain sections
Of the country.
Prominent Stowells
May mention some Of the Stowells
of whom you may be proud? So far in
all our qualifications into the family
history, we fail TO find any "black
sheep"-there may be some, but they
have kept well under cover.
First. Rev. Francis +. Clark, of
Christian Endeavor fame, was de-
scended from a Stowell Cyrus Sto-
well, my great-grandfather, served the
State of Massachusetts in the legisla-
ture some twenty years or better. lie
was also "A member of the Constitu-
tional Convention Of 1920 for the
State of Massachusetts. DR.. Ellery
Corey Stowell, an authority of inter
national law and now connected with
American University of Washington,
ID. c. DIR. Harlow Shaplcy, head of
/ Harvard College Observatory, Cam
bridge. Mass. Azel Dennis Mathews,
I the biggest dry goods merchant in
I Brooklyn, N. Y. in his day, some thirty
years ago. Harley Lord Stowell, asso-
ciated with former Governor Nathan
! w. Miller of the State of New York
I in the legal profession. Hannibal
Hamblin, vice-president of the United
States 1S61-lS65. DIR. Charles Henry
Stowell. Lowell, Mass, noted hight
in the medical world. DIR. William Lee
land Stowell of New York City, anoth.
er noted medical man and deacon II
DIR. Jefferson's Broadway Tabernacle,
New York City, John NJ. Stowell, for
mer mayor Of Milwaukee, Wis. Mxs
Harriet King Headrick, one Of the ten
leading bond saleswomen in the coun-
/ try. Nathan Wilson Stowell of Los
Angeles. Cal. called the Water King
| of California because of his interest
in and influence in promoting the ir-
rigation projects Of the California I'M
perial Valley, even when turned down
/ by cur own government as to the plan
not being feasible; demonstrated 70
the world at large that IL was feasible
and became and still is one OF Los An
geles' leading citizens.
We could go on and on, but enough.
We are proud Of Abingdon and hope
she may be proud OF us.
The Association
The Stowell Family Association,
Inc, organized some four years ago TO
perpetuate the ideals Of the family,
now has a membership Of around 200,
scattered throughout twenty-six states
and two foreign countries. We all
like to come home and so next year We
have invited ourselves to hold our NTH
annual reunion at Abingdon, and the
Congregational church there has kind
ly consented to us the use of their
.k,~.k s.afGna for That narpQgQ We
want 10 learn all about Abingdon and
want YOU 10 learn more about us.
If this article reaches the eyes OF a
Stowell or a descendant of Stoweli,
may we not hear from your
Assuring you that we appreciate the
space this good paper has granted US
for this article, | remain,
Sincerely yours,
LUTHER STowELL CoNGER,
Corresponding Secretary.