Floyd Elba Rowland (b. December 28, 1885, d. June 11, 1961)
Floyd Elba Rowland (son of Alva Ellsworth Rowland and Ella Clingman) was born December 28, 1885 in Hartwick, Poweshiek County, Iowa, and died June 11, 1961 in Barnstable County, Mass.. He married (1) Clauda Leola Anderson on June 17, 1909. He married (2) Autillia V. Liska on November 24, 1938 in Seabrook, New Hampshire..
Notes for Floyd Elba Rowland: Separated per Wendell DeHaven's notes. gbc
Moved from Oregon to Dorchester, MA before being married. per Dana Eilers in 5/00. gbc
Notes from Dana Eilers -- 4/00 (Floyd) He bought acreage on Cape Cod, and that is now the site of the Rowland family homestead. I have a few things from my grandfather Floyd's laboratory (he was chemist and taught at several colleges and universities), but nothing handed down from the Clingman's. -- per Dana Eilers -- 4/00.
Notes from Dana Eilers -- 4/00 I have Alva's estate papers from the Benton County Court. When the estate was probated in the fall of 1920, Cecile was noted to be living in Los Angeles, Calif.
Floyd Rowland obtained his Bachelor's Degree from Oregon Agricultural College in 1907. He was an Assistant in Chemistry at OAC from 1911-1912. In 1914, he obtained an A.B. degree from the University of Illinois; and in 1915, he obtained his A.M. degree from the University of Illinois.
He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in in 1918. He was in the Army for a few brief months from September, 1918 until December, 1918, at which time he was discharged. He was a First Lieutenant in the Chemical Warfare Service. Floyd's ss# is 021-03-1697. From 1919 until 1920, he was an Ass't. Prof. at the University of Kansas.
His first wife was Clauda Leola Anderson, and their two sons were Ross Rowland and Jack Rowland. Ross E. Rowland was born on April 20, 1919; Mack Morris Rowland was born March 28, 1922. Both sons are now dead. I do not know their birth dates. Ross married my Aunt Eleanor (maiden name not known to me, and I will have to obtain her birth information, their marriage info, etc.)
Clauda Leola Anderson married Dr. Floyd E. Rowland on June 17, 1909. Their divorce decree nisi was filed in the Probate Court of Suffolk Co., Boston on April 26, 1938. Clauda filed this based on desertion. It was not final until October 26, 1938.
Clauda died on February 13, 1964 at the age of 81 in Kingsville, Ohio, Ashtabula County.
Ross and Eleanor had three children: Guy Rowland, Leslie Rowland, and Eric Rowland. Guy and Leslie are each married with children. I will have to obtain this data for you. Eric Rowland is dead, and I will have to obtain this information for you.
Dr. Floyd Rowland moved to Boston, Mass. with Autillia Veronica Liska (born November 17, 1907 in Shedd, Oregon) at some point before his divorce from his first wife Clauda.
Dr. Rowland began a business in Boston---Rowland Marine Products. He and Audra lived for a time at 31 Lee Steet in Cambridge, Mass., and then at 24 Sawyer Avenue in Dorchester, Mass.
Dr. Rowland and Audra had four children: Major Alva Gene Rowland, United States Air Force (born February 26, 1931); Floy D'Onn Rowland (born October 21, 1933); Franca V. Rowland (born April 2, 1941); and Steven Rowland (born 1943). My Uncle Steven and Uncle Gene were both Vietnam Veterans, and Steven received the Purple Heart. Gene is still alive. Steven was in the United States Marines, and he died in in South America somewhere during the late 1990's. I will have to obtain Steven's information for you.
The marriage of Audra and Floyd was finally solemnized on November 24, 1938 in Seabrook, New Hampshire.
Dr. Rowland died on June 11, 1961 in Barnstable County, Mass.
Audra took up residence in North Chatham, Mass. on Rowland Drive, and lived almost until the time of her death in North Chatham, Mass. (Barnstable County) on June 21, 1998.
The property, when Floyd purchased it, was known as the "old Allen place." There was a rather large house on it. Old Mrs. Allen had that house moved to a choice spot over Stage Harbor, but she left the barn. Floyd and Audra renovated the old barn, and that is the house that Audra lived in almost until the time of her death (we had to move her to Liberty Commons Nursing Home). Mother has had a contractor renovating "the old barn" all this winter. It is really gorgeous now. The address there is No. 14 Rowland Drive, North Chatham, Mass. 02650. per Dana Eilers in 5/00 gbc
**************************** Notes from Dana Eilers in 5/00 - gbc: One of the tall tales told by Floyd E. Rowland (son of Ella Clingman Rowland) to his offspring was that he was born in a sod hut in Iowa. We do know that he was born in Hartwick, IA, in the county of Poweshiek. Whether he was born in a sod hut or not, well . . . .
Floyd also told his family that one of his grandfathers (many times great) traded a team of horses for an Indian wife.
Uh, I am thinking that this is a complete fabrication!
Another family yarn told by Floyd was that he went to the Klondike with his father during the Gold Rush. Well, I have confirmed that at some point, Alva Rowland and his wife Ella Clingman Rowland, went to Skagway with Melvin Rowland (one of Alva's brothers). I think Floyd went with them. They went to mine for gold during the Gold Rush. According to Ross Rowland (Ella's grandson by Floyd's first wife Clauda), the lot of them would have starved to death had Ella not opened up Ma Rowland's Boarding House.
I am still trying to affirm or disaffirm this tale: that Ella opened up a Boarding House in Skagway during the Gold Rush.
How did Floyd Rowland come to leave Oregon and go to Boston?
Well, it turns out that one of his students (and a servant in his house) was a good looking gal named Autillia V. Liska. They had a wild and torrid affair which was the talk of the county and the talk of Oregon Agricultural College, where Floyd taught. According to Ross, Floyd was told to give his young mistress up or suffer the consequences.
This resulted in Floyd and Autillia literally leaving town in the middle of the night. Just vanished. "Whoosh!" They came to Boston and took up residence together, telling everyone that they were married. Their eldest son Gene and my mother were born before Floyd divorced Clauda.
The way my Uncle Ross tells it, Ella and Clauda were good friends, and Clauda came from a land rich family, which is how Floyd and Clauda got their farm. Ella was scandalized at her son's behaviour, and Floyd's two eldest children (Gene and my mother) were never really welcome in her house. My mother remembers Ella as being short, rather round, with jet black hair going steel grey. Floyd was very proud of the fact that his mother was an educated woman. According to Floyd, the Clingmans "always educated their women." Ella spoke several languages, according to my mother.
My mother's mother used to say to my mother: "You are JUST like your grandmother Rowland!" *************************************************
More About Floyd Elba Rowland and Clauda Leola Anderson: Divorce: October 26, 1938 Marriage: June 17, 1909
More About Floyd Elba Rowland and Autillia V. Liska: Marriage: November 24, 1938, Seabrook, New Hampshire..
Children of Floyd Elba Rowland and Clauda Leola Anderson are:
Floyd Elba Rowland (b. December 28, 1885, d. June 11, 1961)
Notes for Floyd Elba Rowland: