Born June 19, 1836, in Athens County, Ohio, a son of Williams and Hester (Lentner) Rowell. He entered the Ohio University at Athens, Ohio, in 1853, after having pursed his preliminary education in the public schools. He mastered the scientific course and was graduated in 1856. His early youth had been spent on the home farm as one of a family of thirteen children and his experiences and habits were those of the ordinary country boy. However, in his home training he mastered lessons of life which have left their impress upon his later years in an honorable upright manner. His collegiate course completed, he began preparation for the practice of law as a student in the office of Harris & Galbraith, attorneys at Centerville, Appanoose county, Iowa, and in 1858 was admitted to the bar. In July of the same year he came to Afton and entered upon the practice of law. His father had removed with his large family from Ohio to Iowa and settled in Wapello County, Judge Rowell being at that time a small boy. The journey was made overland in wagons and covered about thirty days. The Judge was therefore reared upon the frontier and was associated with the pioneer development of the community in which the family home was established, while for forty years he was a factor in the progress and improvement of the city. His fellow townsmen recognized his professional worth and his loyal, patriotic citizenship as indicated in his selection for various official honors. He was elected county judge of Union county in 1862. In 1868 he was elected to represent his district in the twelfth general assembly of Iowa and two years later was chosen for a second term. In 1875 he was honored with the mayoralty of Afton and was re-elected for a second term the following year. He served as a member of the board of education from 1865 until 1880 and in all of his public services has been actuated by a devotion to the best interests of the community at large, his fidelity being above question. In his political views he has always been a republican. Judge Rowell was married in Decatur City, Iowa, December 6, 1859, to Miss Anna E. Ownby, who was born in Virginia in 1841. Judge Rowell is a member of Afton Lodge, 151 A. F. & A. M., having joined the order in 1864. He also belongs to Afton Chapter, No. 67, R. A. M., with which he became identified in 1888. He passed all the chairs in the blue lodge and was a member of the Grand Lodge. He likewise belongs to Afton Lodge, No. 130, I. O. O. F. Judge Rowell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Born June 19, 1836, in Athens County, Ohio, a son of Williams and Hester (Lentner) Rowell. He entered the Ohio University at Athens, Ohio, in 1853, after having pursed his preliminary education in the public schools. He mastered the scientific course and was graduated in 1856. His early youth had been spent on the home farm as one of a family of thirteen children and his experiences and habits were those of the ordinary country boy. However, in his home training he mastered lessons of life which have left their impress upon his later years in an honorable upright manner. His collegiate course completed, he began preparation for the practice of law as a student in the office of Harris & Galbraith, attorneys at Centerville, Appanoose county, Iowa, and in 1858 was admitted to the bar. In July of the same year he came to Afton and entered upon the practice of law. His father had removed with his large family from Ohio to Iowa and settled in Wapello County, Judge Rowell being at that time a small boy. The journey was made overland in wagons and covered about thirty days. The Judge was therefore reared upon the frontier and was associated with the pioneer development of the community in which the family home was established, while for forty years he was a factor in the progress and improvement of the city. His fellow townsmen recognized his professional worth and his loyal, patriotic citizenship as indicated in his selection for various official honors. He was elected county judge of Union county in 1862. In 1868 he was elected to represent his district in the twelfth general assembly of Iowa and two years later was chosen for a second term. In 1875 he was honored with the mayoralty of Afton and was re-elected for a second term the following year. He served as a member of the board of education from 1865 until 1880 and in all of his public services has been actuated by a devotion to the best interests of the community at large, his fidelity being above question. In his political views he has always been a republican. Judge Rowell was married in Decatur City, Iowa, December 6, 1859, to Miss Anna E. Ownby, who was born in Virginia in 1841. Judge Rowell is a member of Afton Lodge, 151 A. F. & A. M., having joined the order in 1864. He also belongs to Afton Chapter, No. 67, R. A. M., with which he became identified in 1888. He passed all the chairs in the blue lodge and was a member of the Grand Lodge. He likewise belongs to Afton Lodge, No. 130, I. O. O. F. Judge Rowell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.