"Piston Bill" Rowell, Pioneer Settler Dies
One of the Panhandle's most colorful pioneers died early Monday morning at a local hospital.
William H. "Pistol Bill" Rowell, 79, was one of those old gun-toating [sic] six-shooter constables who had been around Memphis and Hall County since he first settled here in 1888.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Baptist church in Newlin with Rev. Luther Crawford of Shamrock, former Newlin Minister, officiating.
Burial was at the Fairview cemetery in Memphis. Funeral directions were handled by Murphy-Spicer.
Survivors include four daughters: Mrs. A.E. Owen of Dallas. Mrs. T.F. Lehman of Dallas, Mrs. A.H. Warren of Montebello, Calif., and Mrs. O.O. Franklin of San Angelo; one son, Tom Rowell of McCamey, Texas, and 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Pistol Bill, known as a "he-man" who used more curse words in an hour than a sailor ever could use, got his handle "Pistol Bill" in the early days when he was fast on the trigger.
Bill was born August 16, 1872 at Era, Texas.
His father and mother came from Tennessee in the early 1870's driving an ox team all the way. In 1881 while helping work cattle on the old Chisholm Trail, Bill claims to have had his first experience with Indians.
They drove cattle from the Trinity River to the old Spanish Fort, then up Red River to Doan's Crossing. Until about 1889 Bill spent most of his time on the old Chisholm Trail. He was reared on a horse, could ride one anywhere, anytime.
Finally in the winter of 1888, Pistol Bill came to Hall County. He got a job on a ranch here in Hall County and later is said to have worked on about all the ranches around here including the Bar 96, the Shoe Nail, the Shoe Bar, the Mill Iron, and the Diamond Tail.
It was not hard for him to get a job since he was soon known to be a hard worker, to own a good horse and was known to be tough as an old shoe, afraid of nothing and a good fighters.
In the spring of 1891, Bill met Miss Sallie McClaran, and in his own words "I soon married her, because she was the best looking woman I ever saw."
They were married 52 years before Mrs. Rowell died in 1943.
During the last few years of his life, Pistol Bill lost some of his heighth [sic], his shoulders became stooped and he lost a lot of his weight he used to have. But he still had the handle bar mustache, which he liked to stroke and curl with his fingers.
He lived with his wife on his two-section farm-ranch near Newlin and still directed the farm hands in the work of the land.
Before his death, a neighbor, friend, acquaintance, or stranger would have found a real West Texas welcome calling at his home.
Many interesting and colorful stories have been told and written about Pistol Bill, and most of them conveyed the idea that he was tough hombre. In fact, Bill rather encourage the idea. Last year, The Memphis Democrat gave that side of his character in a story and recently a reporter ask him questions to get material for another story and asked about the softer side of his life and history.
He growled, "There ain't any other side. I'm meaner than folks think."
As a matter of fact people who knew Rowell and were numbered as his friends knew him to be big-hearted and a friend indeed. He would do anything for them if they were in need of help. His rough exterior hid a tenderness and sympathetic understanding as many found out through close association with him.
Bill and his wife moved to their present farm-ranch home, a few miles Southeast of Memphis, in 1911 and have lived there ever since.
(Published in The Memphis Democrat, Volume LXI, Number 2, Memphis, Hall County, Texas, Thursday Afternoon, June 7, 1951, Page 1,7)
-----
Texas, U.S., Marriage Index, 1824-2017
Name: W. H. Rowell
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 5 Oct 1891
Marriage Place: Hall, Texas, USA
Spouse: Sallie McClaron
Texas, U.S., Death Index, 1903-2000
Name: William Naidew Rowell
Death Date: 4 Jun 1951
Death County: Hall
Certificate: 35254
Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982
Name: William Hayden Rowell
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 78
Birth Date: 16 Aug 1872
Birth Place: Grayson, Texas
Residence: Rural Precinct 4, Childress, Texas, USA
Death Date: 4 Jun 1951
Death Place: Memphis, Hall, Texas, USA
Father: Tom S Rowell
Mother: Nancy Mayes
Name: William Hayden Rowell
Death date: 04 Jun 1951
Death place: Memphis, Hall, Texas
Gender: Male
Race or color (on document): White
Age at death: 78 years 9 months 18 days
Birth date: 16 Aug 1872
Birthplace: Grayson County, Texas
Marital status: Widowed
Father's name: Tom S. Rowell
Father's birthplace: Tenn.
Mother's name: Nancy Mayes
Mother's birthplace: Tenn.
Occupation: Farming
Residence: Rural, Childress, Texas
Cemetery name: Fairview
Burial place: Memphis, Texas
Burial date: 05 Jun 1951
One of the Panhandle's most colorful pioneers died early Monday morning at a local hospital.
William H. "Pistol Bill" Rowell, 79, was one of those old gun-toating [sic] six-shooter constables who had been around Memphis and Hall County since he first settled here in 1888.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Baptist church in Newlin with Rev. Luther Crawford of Shamrock, former Newlin Minister, officiating.
Burial was at the Fairview cemetery in Memphis. Funeral directions were handled by Murphy-Spicer.
Survivors include four daughters: Mrs. A.E. Owen of Dallas. Mrs. T.F. Lehman of Dallas, Mrs. A.H. Warren of Montebello, Calif., and Mrs. O.O. Franklin of San Angelo; one son, Tom Rowell of McCamey, Texas, and 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Pistol Bill, known as a "he-man" who used more curse words in an hour than a sailor ever could use, got his handle "Pistol Bill" in the early days when he was fast on the trigger.
Bill was born August 16, 1872 at Era, Texas.
His father and mother came from Tennessee in the early 1870's driving an ox team all the way. In 1881 while helping work cattle on the old Chisholm Trail, Bill claims to have had his first experience with Indians.
They drove cattle from the Trinity River to the old Spanish Fort, then up Red River to Doan's Crossing. Until about 1889 Bill spent most of his time on the old Chisholm Trail. He was reared on a horse, could ride one anywhere, anytime.
Finally in the winter of 1888, Pistol Bill came to Hall County. He got a job on a ranch here in Hall County and later is said to have worked on about all the ranches around here including the Bar 96, the Shoe Nail, the Shoe Bar, the Mill Iron, and the Diamond Tail.
It was not hard for him to get a job since he was soon known to be a hard worker, to own a good horse and was known to be tough as an old shoe, afraid of nothing and a good fighters.
In the spring of 1891, Bill met Miss Sallie McClaran, and in his own words "I soon married her, because she was the best looking woman I ever saw."
They were married 52 years before Mrs. Rowell died in 1943.
During the last few years of his life, Pistol Bill lost some of his heighth [sic], his shoulders became stooped and he lost a lot of his weight he used to have. But he still had the handle bar mustache, which he liked to stroke and curl with his fingers.
He lived with his wife on his two-section farm-ranch near Newlin and still directed the farm hands in the work of the land.
Before his death, a neighbor, friend, acquaintance, or stranger would have found a real West Texas welcome calling at his home.
Many interesting and colorful stories have been told and written about Pistol Bill, and most of them conveyed the idea that he was tough hombre. In fact, Bill rather encourage the idea. Last year, The Memphis Democrat gave that side of his character in a story and recently a reporter ask him questions to get material for another story and asked about the softer side of his life and history.
He growled, "There ain't any other side. I'm meaner than folks think."
As a matter of fact people who knew Rowell and were numbered as his friends knew him to be big-hearted and a friend indeed. He would do anything for them if they were in need of help. His rough exterior hid a tenderness and sympathetic understanding as many found out through close association with him.
Bill and his wife moved to their present farm-ranch home, a few miles Southeast of Memphis, in 1911 and have lived there ever since.
(Published in The Memphis Democrat, Volume LXI, Number 2, Memphis, Hall County, Texas, Thursday Afternoon, June 7, 1951, Page 1,7)
-----
Texas, U.S., Marriage Index, 1824-2017
Name: W. H. Rowell
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 5 Oct 1891
Marriage Place: Hall, Texas, USA
Spouse: Sallie McClaron
Texas, U.S., Death Index, 1903-2000
Name: William Naidew Rowell
Death Date: 4 Jun 1951
Death County: Hall
Certificate: 35254
Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982
Name: William Hayden Rowell
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 78
Birth Date: 16 Aug 1872
Birth Place: Grayson, Texas
Residence: Rural Precinct 4, Childress, Texas, USA
Death Date: 4 Jun 1951
Death Place: Memphis, Hall, Texas, USA
Father: Tom S Rowell
Mother: Nancy Mayes
Name: William Hayden Rowell
Death date: 04 Jun 1951
Death place: Memphis, Hall, Texas
Gender: Male
Race or color (on document): White
Age at death: 78 years 9 months 18 days
Birth date: 16 Aug 1872
Birthplace: Grayson County, Texas
Marital status: Widowed
Father's name: Tom S. Rowell
Father's birthplace: Tenn.
Mother's name: Nancy Mayes
Mother's birthplace: Tenn.
Occupation: Farming
Residence: Rural, Childress, Texas
Cemetery name: Fairview
Burial place: Memphis, Texas
Burial date: 05 Jun 1951
"Piston Bill" Rowell, Pioneer Settler Dies
One of the Panhandle's most colorful pioneers died early Monday morning at a local hospital.
William H. "Pistol Bill" Rowell, 79, was one of those old gun-toating [sic] six-shooter constables who had been around Memphis and Hall County since he first settled here in 1888.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Baptist church in Newlin with Rev. Luther Crawford of Shamrock, former Newlin Minister, officiating.
Burial was at the Fairview cemetery in Memphis. Funeral directions were handled by Murphy-Spicer.
Survivors include four daughters: Mrs. A.E. Owen of Dallas. Mrs. T.F. Lehman of Dallas, Mrs. A.H. Warren of Montebello, Calif., and Mrs. O.O. Franklin of San Angelo; one son, Tom Rowell of McCamey, Texas, and 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Pistol Bill, known as a "he-man" who used more curse words in an hour than a sailor ever could use, got his handle "Pistol Bill" in the early days when he was fast on the trigger.
Bill was born August 16, 1872 at Era, Texas.
His father and mother came from Tennessee in the early 1870's driving an ox team all the way. In 1881 while helping work cattle on the old Chisholm Trail, Bill claims to have had his first experience with Indians.
They drove cattle from the Trinity River to the old Spanish Fort, then up Red River to Doan's Crossing. Until about 1889 Bill spent most of his time on the old Chisholm Trail. He was reared on a horse, could ride one anywhere, anytime.
Finally in the winter of 1888, Pistol Bill came to Hall County. He got a job on a ranch here in Hall County and later is said to have worked on about all the ranches around here including the Bar 96, the Shoe Nail, the Shoe Bar, the Mill Iron, and the Diamond Tail.
It was not hard for him to get a job since he was soon known to be a hard worker, to own a good horse and was known to be tough as an old shoe, afraid of nothing and a good fighters.
In the spring of 1891, Bill met Miss Sallie McClaran, and in his own words "I soon married her, because she was the best looking woman I ever saw."
They were married 52 years before Mrs. Rowell died in 1943.
During the last few years of his life, Pistol Bill lost some of his heighth [sic], his shoulders became stooped and he lost a lot of his weight he used to have. But he still had the handle bar mustache, which he liked to stroke and curl with his fingers.
He lived with his wife on his two-section farm-ranch near Newlin and still directed the farm hands in the work of the land.
Before his death, a neighbor, friend, acquaintance, or stranger would have found a real West Texas welcome calling at his home.
Many interesting and colorful stories have been told and written about Pistol Bill, and most of them conveyed the idea that he was tough hombre. In fact, Bill rather encourage the idea. Last year, The Memphis Democrat gave that side of his character in a story and recently a reporter ask him questions to get material for another story and asked about the softer side of his life and history.
He growled, "There ain't any other side. I'm meaner than folks think."
As a matter of fact people who knew Rowell and were numbered as his friends knew him to be big-hearted and a friend indeed. He would do anything for them if they were in need of help. His rough exterior hid a tenderness and sympathetic understanding as many found out through close association with him.
Bill and his wife moved to their present farm-ranch home, a few miles Southeast of Memphis, in 1911 and have lived there ever since.
(Published in The Memphis Democrat, Volume LXI, Number 2, Memphis, Hall County, Texas, Thursday Afternoon, June 7, 1951, Page 1,7)
-----
Texas, U.S., Marriage Index, 1824-2017
Name: W. H. Rowell
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 5 Oct 1891
Marriage Place: Hall, Texas, USA
Spouse: Sallie McClaron
Texas, U.S., Death Index, 1903-2000
Name: William Naidew Rowell
Death Date: 4 Jun 1951
Death County: Hall
Certificate: 35254
Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982
Name: William Hayden Rowell
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 78
Birth Date: 16 Aug 1872
Birth Place: Grayson, Texas
Residence: Rural Precinct 4, Childress, Texas, USA
Death Date: 4 Jun 1951
Death Place: Memphis, Hall, Texas, USA
Father: Tom S Rowell
Mother: Nancy Mayes
Name: William Hayden Rowell
Death date: 04 Jun 1951
Death place: Memphis, Hall, Texas
Gender: Male
Race or color (on document): White
Age at death: 78 years 9 months 18 days
Birth date: 16 Aug 1872
Birthplace: Grayson County, Texas
Marital status: Widowed
Father's name: Tom S. Rowell
Father's birthplace: Tenn.
Mother's name: Nancy Mayes
Mother's birthplace: Tenn.
Occupation: Farming
Residence: Rural, Childress, Texas
Cemetery name: Fairview
Burial place: Memphis, Texas
Burial date: 05 Jun 1951
One of the Panhandle's most colorful pioneers died early Monday morning at a local hospital.
William H. "Pistol Bill" Rowell, 79, was one of those old gun-toating [sic] six-shooter constables who had been around Memphis and Hall County since he first settled here in 1888.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Baptist church in Newlin with Rev. Luther Crawford of Shamrock, former Newlin Minister, officiating.
Burial was at the Fairview cemetery in Memphis. Funeral directions were handled by Murphy-Spicer.
Survivors include four daughters: Mrs. A.E. Owen of Dallas. Mrs. T.F. Lehman of Dallas, Mrs. A.H. Warren of Montebello, Calif., and Mrs. O.O. Franklin of San Angelo; one son, Tom Rowell of McCamey, Texas, and 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Pistol Bill, known as a "he-man" who used more curse words in an hour than a sailor ever could use, got his handle "Pistol Bill" in the early days when he was fast on the trigger.
Bill was born August 16, 1872 at Era, Texas.
His father and mother came from Tennessee in the early 1870's driving an ox team all the way. In 1881 while helping work cattle on the old Chisholm Trail, Bill claims to have had his first experience with Indians.
They drove cattle from the Trinity River to the old Spanish Fort, then up Red River to Doan's Crossing. Until about 1889 Bill spent most of his time on the old Chisholm Trail. He was reared on a horse, could ride one anywhere, anytime.
Finally in the winter of 1888, Pistol Bill came to Hall County. He got a job on a ranch here in Hall County and later is said to have worked on about all the ranches around here including the Bar 96, the Shoe Nail, the Shoe Bar, the Mill Iron, and the Diamond Tail.
It was not hard for him to get a job since he was soon known to be a hard worker, to own a good horse and was known to be tough as an old shoe, afraid of nothing and a good fighters.
In the spring of 1891, Bill met Miss Sallie McClaran, and in his own words "I soon married her, because she was the best looking woman I ever saw."
They were married 52 years before Mrs. Rowell died in 1943.
During the last few years of his life, Pistol Bill lost some of his heighth [sic], his shoulders became stooped and he lost a lot of his weight he used to have. But he still had the handle bar mustache, which he liked to stroke and curl with his fingers.
He lived with his wife on his two-section farm-ranch near Newlin and still directed the farm hands in the work of the land.
Before his death, a neighbor, friend, acquaintance, or stranger would have found a real West Texas welcome calling at his home.
Many interesting and colorful stories have been told and written about Pistol Bill, and most of them conveyed the idea that he was tough hombre. In fact, Bill rather encourage the idea. Last year, The Memphis Democrat gave that side of his character in a story and recently a reporter ask him questions to get material for another story and asked about the softer side of his life and history.
He growled, "There ain't any other side. I'm meaner than folks think."
As a matter of fact people who knew Rowell and were numbered as his friends knew him to be big-hearted and a friend indeed. He would do anything for them if they were in need of help. His rough exterior hid a tenderness and sympathetic understanding as many found out through close association with him.
Bill and his wife moved to their present farm-ranch home, a few miles Southeast of Memphis, in 1911 and have lived there ever since.
(Published in The Memphis Democrat, Volume LXI, Number 2, Memphis, Hall County, Texas, Thursday Afternoon, June 7, 1951, Page 1,7)
-----
Texas, U.S., Marriage Index, 1824-2017
Name: W. H. Rowell
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 5 Oct 1891
Marriage Place: Hall, Texas, USA
Spouse: Sallie McClaron
Texas, U.S., Death Index, 1903-2000
Name: William Naidew Rowell
Death Date: 4 Jun 1951
Death County: Hall
Certificate: 35254
Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982
Name: William Hayden Rowell
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 78
Birth Date: 16 Aug 1872
Birth Place: Grayson, Texas
Residence: Rural Precinct 4, Childress, Texas, USA
Death Date: 4 Jun 1951
Death Place: Memphis, Hall, Texas, USA
Father: Tom S Rowell
Mother: Nancy Mayes
Name: William Hayden Rowell
Death date: 04 Jun 1951
Death place: Memphis, Hall, Texas
Gender: Male
Race or color (on document): White
Age at death: 78 years 9 months 18 days
Birth date: 16 Aug 1872
Birthplace: Grayson County, Texas
Marital status: Widowed
Father's name: Tom S. Rowell
Father's birthplace: Tenn.
Mother's name: Nancy Mayes
Mother's birthplace: Tenn.
Occupation: Farming
Residence: Rural, Childress, Texas
Cemetery name: Fairview
Burial place: Memphis, Texas
Burial date: 05 Jun 1951
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