Susan Pitman was born in 1811 in Butler County, Ohio. Susan Pitman married Felix D. Fowler on January 24, 1830 in Butler County, Ohio. Susan P. Fowler died in 1877 in Fredonia, Louisa County, Iowa.
Susan Pitman was the second of seven known children born to Calvin Pitman and Hannah Phares. She was raised in Butler County, Ohio, where she wed Felix D. Fowler on January 24, 1830 at the age of 19.
Susan and Felix had the following known children:
Hannah Ann Fowler
John Barr Fowler
Edward Reade Fowler
Rachel H Fowler
James Price Fowler
Mary Susan Fowler
The Fowlers raised their 7 children in Darrtown, Ohio. Following Susan's marriage, her parents moved to Clinton County, Indiana, and when Susan's father passed away in 1843, he left a large amount of land to Susan's mother. After the decease of Susan's mother, a portion of the land was to descend to Susan and her heirs. Susan's siblings who were not already in Indiana, all relocated to Clinton County and in 1848, Susan and Felix moved to Lafayette City, a few miles from Clinton County. Their daughter Hannah married in Clinton County, Indiana in 1852. Sometime later in 1852 or early 1853, the family moved back to Butler County, Ohio, for in 1853 daughter Mary was born in Butler County, Ohio, and in 1854, Elizabeth Jane married Solomon Dill in Butler County, Ohio. In 1855, the family moved again to Louisa County, Iowa, settling in the town of Fredonia.
In 1859, Susan's husband Felix died. Susan was left a widow with 5 children to support, John age 22, Edward age 18, Rachal age 17, James age 13, and Mary age 6. In the 1860 census, Susan's occupation was listed as laundress. John and Edward helped also, John as a carpenter and Edward as a day laborer. In 1861, daughter Rachel married James Waterbury. James had laid out the town of Alameda, Iowa, less than a mile north of where the Fowler's lived in Fredonia. Also in 1861, sons John and Edward enlisted in the Civil War. John, a Sergeant in the 2nd Iowa Infantry, mustered out in May of 1861. Edward, a private, mustered out in July of 1861. Both served their entire enlistment terms, both were promoted, and both returned home in the summer of 1864. Both also married in 1865. In 1869, youngest daughter Mary married and several months later daughter Elizabeth Jane Dill died. In 1871, Susan lost two more children, James in June, and Rachel in July.
Susan Fowler died in Louisa County, Iowa, in 1877 at the age of 66, about 18 years after her husband's death. She was buried in Fredonia Cemetery where her son James, daughters Elizabeth and Rachal, and Rachal's three children all were buried. However, without Felix who had been buried in the Columbus City Cemetery.
Susan's mother died in 1878 and after her death, a lawsuit ensued regarding the estate of Calvin Pitman. It is unknown what happened to Susan's portion of the estate.
Genealogical Research and Life Sketch completed: September 2020
Sources:
"Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958", database, FamilySearch, Susan Pitman in entry for Felix Fowler, 1830.
"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch, Susan Fowley in household of Felix Fowley, Lafayette, Tippecanoe, Indiana, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
F. D. Fowler household, 1856 state census of Iowa, Louisa County, Concord Township, p. 448, line 17-23; microfilm 008984717, FHL, Salt Lake City, Utah.
"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch, Susan Fowler, 1860.
"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch, Susan P Fowler in entry for Jas T Fowler, 1870.
IowaGenWeb Project, Louisa County, Iowa. Cemetery Records. Fredonia Cemetery, Concord Township.
"United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865", database, FamilySearch, 881816, 1861-1865.
"Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch, James Waterbury and Rachel R Fowler, 11 Apr 1861, Louisa Co., Iowa, United States; citing reference 296, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,006,645.
