Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 403 - 404 

C. H. SOWLE, an extensive grain-dealer of Mt. Hope, in partnership with G. C. Robbins, under the firm name of C. H. Sowle & Co., and also having an interest with his brother in the same trade at Andale, occupies a prominent position in business circles of Sedgwick County.  He is a native of Livingston County, Mich.; the date of his birth was Jan. 8, 1843, and his parents were Eli L. and Mary (Vosburgh) Sowle, natives of New York.  His father was a practical farmer, lived in his native State until after marriage, and then moved with his wife to Livingston County, Mich., where he industriously and profitably engaged in his occupation until his death, which was a loss to the community in which he had made his home, as he was in all essentials a good citizen.  There also his amiable wife departed this life.  To them had been born five children, of whom our subject is the eldest.  The following is their record: Emerson died in California in 1870; Maggie is the wife of Dr. McHatch, of Livingston County, Mich.; Bronson A. lives in Andale, Kan.; Frank lives in San Jose, Cal.; Jennie is the wife of Otis Towne, of Livingston County, Mich.

      Our subject received the foundation of a substantial education in the public schools of his native State, and afterward entered the University at Ann Arbor, but did not remain a student of that institution long enough to complete a full course.  In the year 1859 he left the home of his youth to take up his residence in Sangamon County, Ill., whence he started two years later for Washington Territory, going via the Missouri River to Ft. Benton, and from there to his destination, where he was engaged in freighting for one season.  He subsequently went to Idaho, where he was quite profitably engaged in farming and mining until 1865.  In that year he purchased a herd of cattle in Oregon, drove them to Montana, and was employed in the cattle business in that Territory until 1875.  He then resolved to locate in Kansas, and accordingly purchased land of the Santa Fe Railroad Company, in Sherman Township, buying at first 160 acres, which he improved, and afterward invested in more land.  He continued his agricultural labors until 1884, developing by his industry and shrewd management a highly cultivated and fertile farm from the wild prairie land.  In that year he sold his property at a good advance on the purchase price and removed to Andale, where he turned his attention to dealing in grain, establishing, in connection with his brother Burton, under the style of C. H. Sowle & Bro., the first business of that kind in the place.  They were so very successful in building up a good trade that our subject, with characteristic enterprise and energy, determined to extend the business, and in accordance with that resolution came to Mt. Hope in the fall of 1886, and established himself as a grain-dealer here, admitting G. C. Robbins as a partner in the spring of 1887, under the firm name of C. H. Sowle & Co.  The business in both places is in a very flourishing condition, and our subject and his associates are steadily acquiring wealth.  

     Mr. Sowle was married, April 24, 1887, to Miss M. T. McCormick, a native of Illinois. She is a woman of great energy and business tact, and is successfully conducting an extensive millinery establishment in Mt. Hope.

      Mr. Sowle is prominently identified with the Democrats of Sedgwick County;  he was the candidate of his party for the office of County Treasurer, and although the county is strongly Republican, he so reduced the vote of that party that his opponent was elected by only a small majority of thirty-five votes.  Our subject is connected with various social organizations, being a member of Warwick Lodge No. 44, K. of P., Wichita; of Mt. Hope Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and of the Chapter, R. A. M. at Hutchinson, Kan.  He and his wife occupy a pleasant social position among the people of this community, by whom they are respected for their intelligence, and heartily liked for their frank, open-hearted hospitality, and genial and kindly manners.

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