A lonesome batchelor

Here is what I have in my story from Grandma Mort; this is what she told me:

"Sarah Elizabeth Cotton, born in Eddyville, Iowa, December 20, 1868, met and married "a lonesome bachelor" by the name of Owen Fowler Ide, born May 7, 1864, in Fairview, Ohio.  His father, a Baptist minister, the Reverend Ebenezer Ide, 70, died when Owen was seven months old.  His mother, Emiline R. S. Ide, died at age 35 on January 28, 1868.  Both died at the residence of Owen Fowler in Fairview, Guernsey County, Ohio.  Left an orphan by age three, Owen was brought by his grandmother to Exira, Iowa, to some Fowler relatives who evidently did not wish to keep him.  A childless couple, Oliver and Emily Jane (Beers) Smith, took him in.  Emily Jane, born 1832, was a teacher from New York, and it was her desire that Owen should be educated.  He went to high school in Exira from the Smith farm near Brayton.  He also attended Ames (Iowa State University) for part of a year."

The farm where the Smith's lived was the farm that the Owen and Sarah Ide, after their marriage, rented and later purchased from the Smiths and where Grandma Mort grew up.  Grandma referred to them as "Grandpa and Grandma Smith."  Owen lived on that farm for 65 years.  The Smith grandparents moved later to California but would come back every year and spend time at the farm.  Grandma said her parents always had to move out of their bedroom so the Smiths could have it.

Love, Aunt Mary

email 20070207

Owen Fowler Ide short flattering Biography 1889

OWEN F. IDE, Postmaster at Brayton, Iowa, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, May 7, 1864. He is the son of Ebenezer and Emeline (McKenna) Ide. His father was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, in 1794, and during the war of 1812 he was the Captain of a Massachusetts company. He emigrated to Ohio and settled in Cam bridge, in which place he was a Baptist minister for many years. He died at Fairview, Ohio, in 1864. His wife survived him four years.

After her death Owen F. made his home with his aunt, Mrs. Harriet Fowler. In October, 1874, he removed with his aunt to Audubon County, Iowa, and then went to live with Oliver Smith, with whom he made his home for fourteen years.

During this time he took a course at the Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, being a member of the class of 1885. On leaving college he re turned to Mr. Smith's, and engaged in farm ing for three years.

In July, 1886, he formed a partnership with J. M. Reynolds in the general dry goods business, under the firm name of Reynolds & Ide. In October of the same year Mr. Ide was appointed postmaster at Brayton under Grover Cleveland's administration.

He is an efficient and faithful officer, and in connection with the office is doing a profitable business. Mr.Ide was married December 24, 1885, to Miss Eliza beth Cotton, the oldest daughter of George and Mary Cotton, of Brayton, Iowa. They have one daughter Bessie.

A nephew of Mr. Ide's was educated at Heidelberg, Ger many, and is now Professor of Languages at Cornell University, New York.

Mr. Ide taught two terms of school after coming to the county. He began his career without means, but a well disciplined mind has done him good service, and today he is one of the reliable and highly respected citizens of the county.


1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

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