REV. WILLIAM PENNAWELL FOWLER, an honored resident of Hardin, who is well known throughout Calhoun County as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Kent County, Del., two miles south of Smyrna, August 5, 1832. His father, Eben Fowler, was a farmer, and as far as known spent his entire life in Delaware. He married Rachael Pennawell, who died in 1837. Seven of their children were reared to maturity.
He of whom we write was educated in his native county, and at the age of eighteen years was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at Willow Grove, near his home August 11, 1850. In 1853 he went to Philadelphia County, Pa., and was there employed in farming. In 1858 he came to Illinois and for nine months lived in Adams County where he was also engaged in agricultural pursuits. In the month of September, 1859, he went to Pike County and from there came to this county, arriving in Hardin Precinct on the 28th of that month, and from that time to this has been a resident of this county.
The Rev. Mr. Fowler was first married December 25, 1861, to Harriet Smith. She was born in Ozark County, Mo., and was a daughter of Levi and Mary E. Smith. She departed this life October 10, 1873. Of that marriage six children were born of whom these three are living — Levi S., Arthur D. and Mary E. March 24, 1874, our subject contracted a second marriage, taking as his wife Miss Mary J. Grenger, a native of Pennsylvania. Two children have been born to them: Addie M. and Ella J.
Our subject was licensed to preach by the Illinois Conference July 23, 1861, and has since been an active worker in the cause of religion in this county, and has always taken a deep interest in the Sunday-schools.
Extracted 23 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Album of Pike and Calhoun Counties, Illinois, published in 1891, pages 774-775
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