more unknown faces from Greene & Monroe Counties, Indiana

These photos were amongst old family photos. No one recognizes these faces. A few had names on the back. Some of the family names were Rowe, Hamm, Raper and Farley.

Unknown faces from Greene & Monroe Co. IN.

Photo of Aunt Harwar's son, Benjamin H. Rice

Benjamin was the oldest child of Harwar Rowe Rice. He was born in 1826. Some records say in Tennessee. This is the year that the Rice family moved from Mercer Co. Ky. to Monroe Co. Indiana. My guess is that little Benjamin was born on the journey. Ben became a doctor. He served for the Union army in the civil war. He died in 1863 of typhoid fever and exhaustion from the war. He was married to Sarah E. Cornwell.

I wonder if he looks anything like his uncle Benjamin? My elusive great great great grandfather.

Digging up Rowe roots / page 1

My interest in genealogy was sparked about 10 years ago when we first got a computer and access to the worldwide web. I typed in my grandfather’s name and the magical journey into the past began. Having been a child who had no real interest in history in school, I soon found myself craving to know what life was like in the past. History suddenly took on a real meaning to me. I saw it in a new light when I could actually see the names of my ancestors on paper. For the first time I understood that history really did apply to me.

The oldest known Rowe that I actually have proof on is Benjamin Rowe. The paper trail started for Ben with the 1850 Indiana Census. Ben was my great great great grandfather. Ben was born in 1800 in Virginia. He had at least two sisters. Elizabeth born about 1802 and Harwar ( that name is a story in itself to self to me) born 1805 in Virgina.

Notes on Harwar Rowe Rice:

My great great great aunt Harwar, also called Harriet, a brother to Benjamin was born Sept 20,1805 in Virginia. She married Robert Rice in 1825 at Mercer Co. KY. In the spring of 1826 she moved to Monroe Co. Indiana. There she lived the rest of her life. She had 11
children, 43 grandchildren, 93 great grand children and 1 great great grandchild which she lived to see. She lived to be almost 94 years old. She died on Jul 25th 1899. Some of the family names that her descendants married into were Cornwell, Vandenurg, Brown, McHaley and Johnson from the Bloomington area. Cousins!!

Thanks to other online genealogists, all these little tidbits plus a picture of Harwar were sent to me. I wonder if Harwar made the quilt in the background?

The name Harwar is so unusual I decided to look for a clue in the origin. All I found were more questions. It seems that Harwar was an old family name from the 1600’s in Virginia. No connection has been made. But it sparks my curiosity.

This photo is the highest one on my Rowe tree.