Handbook N-P - Fulton County Public Library

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Vachel Joshua Pownall, of Fulton, Indiana, was born in Liberty township, December 4,
1865. His father was Henry C. Pownall a native of Shelby county, Ohio, born March 25, 1838 and
his mother Amelia Conn Pownall, born in Fulton county, Indiana, October 3, 1844. His father was
a soldier in the Civil War from August 3, 1861 to October, 1864 and was wounded during these
three years of service. He was a member of Reed Post, G.A.R., at Fulton. He was a farmer and a
Republican. He died February 26, 1912 and his wife in September, 1919. Both are buried in the
Fulton cemetery where there is a monument to their memory. Vachel Joshua Pownall married
Clara B. Nellans in April, 1887. She was a daughter of Absalom and Mahala (Bowman) Nellans.
They have had three children: Lee M., (married to Lulu D. Cline and they have three children);
Mabel C., who married Earl Rouch, a high school graduate who is now superintendent of schools
at Cayuga, Indiana. He enlisted at Camp Taylor and served in the World War, has an A.B. degree
at the State University and also a diploma from the State Normal School at Terre Haute; Ruth M.,
who married Verner E. Rouch, a mechanic and builder by vocation. He served in the World War
at San Antonio, Texas and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The mother of these children died August 20,
1922 and was buried in the Fulton cemetery. Mr. Pownall is a farmer and stock buyer who resides
within twenty rods of where he was born. He owns a fine farm of two hundred and twenty-nine
acres and eighty acres of timber. He served as trustee of Liberty township.
[Henry A. Barnhart, Fulton County History, pp. 260-261, Dayton Historical Publishing
Co., 1923]
POWNALL, WILLIAM [Fulton County]
WALKS TO ROCHESTER ON HIS NINTIETH BIRTHDAY
William Pownall today celebrated his nintieth birthday by walking to this city from the
home of his daughter, Mrs. J. F. Brubaker, who lives on a farm six miles northwest of Rochester.
Mr. Pownall is a life-long resident of Fulton county and was born on a farm three miles
west of Fulton on February 13, 1847 and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Pownall. He has
always been a farmer like his parents.
Mr. Pownall is remarkably preserved. His health is splendid, he is tall, his shoulders
straight, his walk that of a much younger man, eye sight and hearing excellent. He has iron gray
hair.
10 Cent Glasses
Mr. Pownall purchased a 10-cent pair of glasses in 1902 at the Fulton county fair and
uses them only for newspaper reading. This is the only pair of glasses he has ever owned.
In talking to newspaper men today, Mr. Pownall said he has never smoked, chewed or
drank intoxicating liquors and that he has hunted and fished all of his life and still takes an active
interest in those sports. He also added that he had never worried, letting things happen just as they
came into his life.
Mr. Pownall says he expects to live to be 100 years old or at least as he places it until
another Republican president is elected. He had always been an active G.O.P. worker.
Has Two Daughters
Mr. Pownall has two daughters, Mrs. Brubaker and Mrs. Charles H. Carithers who
resides three miles northeast of Rochester. He lives half of his time with one daughter and her
family and the other half of his time with the other daughter.
Mrs. Brubaker wanted to drive her father to this city in her auto to see his friends after it
started to rain this morning but he spurned the offer saying “that the exercise will do me good.”
[The News-Sentinel, Saturday, February 13, 1937]
PRAIRIE GROVE THRESHING CO. [Kewanna, Indiana]
KEWANNA
The members of the Prairie Grove Threshing Co., gathered at the home of Geo. E.
Finney, Sunday and partook of a big dinner given in honor of W. E. Gaskill and wife. Mr. Gaskill