Fowler Family


Research Notes
My research based on information from Everett Fowler

Everett: "Papa had two brothers and two sisters.  He and Johnny walked into town.  Sam Eubanks raised Papa [Joe Cecil Fowler] and someone else raised Johnny.  They couldn’t understand [need to obtain clarification] their last names so that’s why Johnny’s is Strother and ours is Fowler.  Maybe ours should have been Strother.  We called him [Sam Eubanks] Uncle Sammy, but he wasn’t kin."  
[Notes taken by me in the past have Joe and Will Farley as the ones who walked into town with the statement that our last name "might should have been Farley."  Everett stated most recently that he didn't know anything about Will until later.  1930 Union Parish, Louisiana Census records show Will had children born in Texas and Oklahoma which lends support to the recent statement that it was Johnny who walked into town with Joe.] 

Although the census images below don't fit the frame, I've chosen to leave them that way for viewing.  Click on any image for a larger view.

 1900 UNION PARISH, LOUISIANA CENSUS*
CEPHUS FOWLER, A BOARDER WITH SAM EUBANKS

In 1900 Joe Cecil's future wife, Maggie Hearn, is was living with her parents in Jackson Parish.
1900 JACKSON PARISH, LOUISIANA
FAMILY OF MAGGIE HEARN

By 1910 Joe is also living in Jackson Parish.
 
1910 JACKSON PARISH, LOUISIANA
SAM EUBANKS WITH JOSEPH E FOWLER

Everett: "Papa's left leg was nothing but bone and turned down.  He had gotten hurt and stagnated water or something got in it.  From the knee down the leg was horrible looking."  [This is partially explained in Joe Fowler's World War I draft registration card.]

In 1917 Joe registered in Winn Parish where he gave his age as 25, and his place of residence as Wheeling, Louisiana where he was born on Dec. 31, 1892.  His occupation was listed as "farming" for W. W. Fowler in Wheeling. [Who was W. W. Fowler?]  Joe was listed as single.  He claimed an exemption because both legs and one knee were broken. 
 

Joe Fowler
World War I Draft Registration*
He was reported to be of medium height and build
with brown eyes and black hair.

The 1920 census shows Joe and Maggie [Hearne], his wife. They were living in Winn Parish. Louisiana with their two daughters, Hazel and Guenelda.  Everet said, "Papa [Joe Cecil Fowler] was in the sawmill business at Joyce Laying Camp.  He was a swamper – cut down trees so wagons could get over.  He was a member of Woodmen of the World."
  
1920 WINN PARISH, LOUISIANA
FAMILY OF JOE AND MAGGIE FOWLER
FAMILY OF EARNEST HEARN

The 1930 shows the Fowler family, Joe, Maggie, Hazel, Nellie, Clois, Everett, and James, living in Jackson Parish.

1930 JACKSON PARISH, LOUISIANA
FAMILY OF JOE AND MAGGIE FOWLER


WILL FARLEY
Everett: "Papa was in the shoe business with Uncle Will and then sold him his part and went in the meat market in Jonesboro.  Uncle Will had a shoe shope in Farmerville, Louisiana before I was born.  Will was red headed."
[ Want to find census records for Will before 1930 and a WWI Draft Registration]

1930 UNION PARISH, LOUISIANA
FAMILY OF W. A. FARLEY, Repairer of Shoes


JOHNNY STROTHER
Everett: "Papa searched until he found Uncle Johnny.  His last name was Strother. [Everett wasn't sure how to spell it.] He had a son, Pat, who was a lawyer [Pat was a civil engineer] and another son who was a highway patrolman. [Ralph was a policeman.]  Papa loaned Uncle Johnny money for Pat to go to school, but we didn't have much."

1900 UNION PARISH, LOUISIANA


Jno Strawther is listed as a servant in the household of M. J. Pearson who has a wife and widowed mother.  John is listed as being born in Dec 1889 in Louisiana.   The image is faded and difficult to read in parts.

[ Need to locate the 1910 Census for John W. Strother]

Everett said, "Uncle Johnny had a farm in Farmerville, Louisiana".

In 1917 John registered for the draft in Union Parish, Louisiana where he gave his age as 30, and his place of residence as Marion, Louisiana.  He was born on February 5, 1887 in Farmerville, Louisiana.  His occupation was listed as "farming" and that he was "working for [him]self."  At this time he was married, and had a wife and two children as dependents.  He was reported to be tall, of medium build with blue eyes and black hair.


1917 WORLD WAR I DRAFT REGISTRATION*
JOHN WILLIAM STROTHER



In 1920 John W. Strawther is still living in Union Parish and is listed as the head of household with his wife, Belle and sons Patterson, Edwin, and Ralph Lee.
 
1920 UNION PARISH, LOUISIANA
JOHN W. STRAWTHER

Everett: "Uncle Johnny's wife died when I was just a little kid, but I remember it because it was a horrible death.  Her skin busted open and fluid was oozing out of it." 

On the 1930 Census, John's wife's name is Myrtle. She was 26 years old when she married and is listed as 27 at the time of the census, so they had been married only about a year.

1930 UNION PARISH, LOUISIANA
JOHN STROTHER


Everett: "Papa found one sister, Annie, and probably never quit looking for the other one, but never found her that I know about. [Everett did not know Annie's maiden or married surname.  Another source, Pat Strother's daughter, Laurine, told me one sister's name was Anna Harvey and the other sister's name was Ella (surname unknown).]

I'm now looking forward to receiving more information from Laurine.

*Images of census records are available on FamilySearch.org or on Ancestry.com
*World War I Draft Registration images are on Ancestry.com