Person:Caroline Rowles (1)

Caroline applied for and received a Civil War widow's pension. Very little else is known about her and no stories have survived about her on the Smith side of the family.

___________________________________________________________

Monroe County, Iowa, 1870 census:^S2

Smith, Caroline 39 yrs b. Indiana Keeping House (real estate = $1,600; personal estate = $150)

      Emma R. dau 16 yrs b. Iowa

      Edward A. son 14 yrs b. Iowa

      Mary R. dau 11 yrs b. Iowa

      Wilbur D. son 9 yrs b. Iowa

Monroe County, Iowa, 1880 census:^S3

Smith, Caroline 48 yrs b. Indiana (father, b. Maryland; mother, b. New York) Keeping House

      Edward A. son 24 yrs b. Iowa Operator Tel. [telegraph]

      Wilbur E. son 18 yrs b. Iowa Clerk in Grocery

Monroe County, Iowa, 1885 state census:^S4

Smith, Caroline 48 yrs (wid.) Keeping House b. Indiana

      Edward A. 27 yrs (single) [no occupation] b. Monroe County

      Wilber D. 23 yrs (single) Laborer b. Monroe County

A recent discovery: In the 1900 census, she was living with her daughter, Mary Smith Whisnand in Houston, Texas. (It's not known how long she had been living there, but she evidently returned to Iowa shortly after the census.)

1.   Smith, Caroline. Civil War Widow's Pension File
   No. 16,677, NARA File WC 16-677.

   State of Iowa.
   Monroe County.
   
   On this 6th day of January AD. 1864 personally appeared before me Clerk of the District Court for the County and State aforesaid Caroline Smith aged thirty-two years a resident of the County of Monroe, and State of Iowa, who being duly sworn on oath makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress approved July 14th 1862. That she is the widow of William H. Smith deceased who was a private in Company A, Commanded by Capt. Martin J. Varner in the thirty-sixth Regiment Iowa Infantry Vols. in the war of A.D. 1861, who died in the United States General Hospital in Keokuk, Iowa on the 31st day of August A.D. 1863 with chronic diarohea [sic].
   
   She further states that she was married to the said William H. Smith on the 30th day of June in the year A.D. 1853 in the said County of Monroe & state aforesaid and that there is a record of said Marriage in said County.
   
   That her said Husband died on the day above mentioned and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. She also declares that she has ever been Loyal to the Government of the United States and the names and ages of her children are as follows-- Emma R. Smith was born May 14th 1854, Edward A. Smith born October 7th 1855, Mary R. Smith born April 7th 1859, Wilber [sic] D. Smith born Nov'r 4th 1861. And their place of residence is Albia, Iowa, at which place they were all born.
   
   I hereby appoint Jos. B. Leas[?] of Albia, Monroe County, Iowa, my attorney to prosecute this claim for me and receive the certificate therefore.
   
   [signed] Caroline Smith.
   
   Also personally appeared David Rowles and William W. Kester, residents of Monroe County and State of Iowa, Persons whom I certify to be reputable and entitled to cred[it] and who being duly sworn by me, say they were present sand saw her the said Caroline Smith sign her name to the foregoing declaration, and they further swear that they have every reason to believe from the appearance of the applicant and their acquaintance with her that she is the identical person she represents herself to be, and the statements made by her are correct, and that they reside as aforesaid and have no interest in this claim.
   
   [signed] David Rowles.
   [signed] W. H. Kester.

2.   Monroe, Iowa, United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   p. 430.

   Troy Twp (Albia)

3.   Monroe, Iowa, United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   ED 138, p. 19.

   Troy Twp (Albia)

4.   Monroe County, Iowa. 1885 Iowa State Census
   p. __, house/family 80/81.

   Troy Twp (Albia) Benton St. bet. Grant & Hamilton

5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Monroe, Iowa, United States. Albia Republican. (Albia, Iowa)
   16 Feb 1905.

   Obituary (abstracted):
   Born 8 Jan 1832 near Fayettesville, Fountain County, Indiana. Moved with parents to Monroe County at age 12. Married Wm. H. Smith, 14 April 1853. Died 8 Feb 1905 Mountain View, Missouri. Four children, all living: Emma R. Cory (Mountain View, Missouri), Edward A. (Albia), David W. (Albia), Mary R. Bartling (Houston, Texas). Two brothers: Oliver P. & Anson Rowles, both of Albia. Two sisters: Sarah R. Bonnett & Mary A. Rowles, both of Chariton.

6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Grave marker, Oakview Cemetery, Albia, Monroe County, Iowa.

   Old part north of the road, Lot 230.