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Was a native of Delaware, born at Dover, the capital, in the year 1787. When quite young, with the family of his father, he emigrated to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he remained until he had attained his majority. He then went to Frankfort, Kentucky, and shortly after his arrival there was married to Miss Elizabeth Byrne, in after years as well, if not more generally, known through Indiana than any lady in it. Who that ever visited Indianapolis, from its beginning to 1856, had not heard of Mrs. Nowland? In Frankfort he engaged in active business, and was quite successful during his sojourn there, about fourteen years, and until his removal to this place, the "New Purchase," in 1820. He was a quiet, unobtrusive man, content to attend to his own business and let others do the same; was about the only person at the first settlement of this place who was not a candidate for office, although he was appointed by Mr. Bates, the sheriff, judge of the first election in the new county, that took place in 1822, the first and only office he ever held. In February he returned to Kentucky and induced several families to emigrate and help swell the population. In the meantime the two young men he had brought here were busy in clearing the common field, and preparing for a crop the coming season. After his return from Kentucky he engaged in making sugar in an old Indian sugar camp at the southeast end of Virginia avenue. Many of the sugar-trees that he opened are yet standing. He and myself were there mostly alone, especially at night. THat was a very fine season for the manufacture of sugar, the season lasting until April, which was very unusual, in after years. In the short time he attended to this business, he realized over six hundred pounds of beautiful sugar and a considerable quantity of the finest molasses; "Which showed he right understood The art, and in this Western wood He scooped the primal sugar-trough, And presided at the "stirring off," He knew every labor, every joy, When quite alone with his rustic boy, He looked through winter, when March would bring The sugar-making and the spring." The events of the summer of 1821 are already recorded in another chapter. The agent of the State had set apart three outlots, of about three acres each, to sell to such persons as he wished to make brick. One of these, situated at what was the then east end of Washington street, between East and Liberty and Washington and Market, he purchased; and here, in 1822, he made the first kiln of brick that was made in the new purchase, the debris of which may be seen at this time. Working very hard, and taking cold at this brickyard, caused the disese that terminated his life, on the 11th of November, 1822. However much the stroke of death may be expected, it never comes without a violent shock to our feelings. I well remember. "His farewell look, with Christian hope Shone as purely, calmly bright. Alas, when it vanished the night came down, And y poor lone heart no more might own A father's guiding light." Before his death he had selected a warm, sunny knoll for his future resting place, and received the promise that the hand of affection should often render kind offices to his memory, and for thirty-two years was the pledge faithfully kept by the companion of his bosom. He had purchased a number of lots at the sale, and had paid the first and second payments, which had to be forfeited in consequence of his death. The expense incurred in the making of brick, and the loss on the keel-boat and produce speculation, had exhausted his means, which left his family in quite helpless condition. But thanks to the old citizens who so generously aided us in our time of need, among whom were Calvin Fletcher, Jacob Landis, Isaac Wilson Daniel Yandes, James Blake, and many others. Although they, too, were poor, their countenance and advice to a family in our situation and without experience was valuable, and was remembered by my mother so long as she lived. Nowland, John H. B., “Early Reminiscences of Indianapolis, with Short Biographical Sketches of Its Early Citizens, and of a Few of the Prominent Business Men of the Present Day,” 1870, pp. 52-54 |