By Isabel Morse Maresh
June 22, 1989
Out in Montville, Elden Nathan Rowell was born March 18, 1890, to Charles M. and Ida (Sanborn) Rowell. Elden lived an adventurous life. At an early age, he left Belfast on a sailing vessel and sailed around the world. One of the places that he went to was the South Sea Islands.
Perhaps the reason for the beginning of Rowell's adventurous trip was found in 1908 Republican Journal. After some teenage pranks in South Montville, Rowell was suspected of being the responsible culprit, but he was nowhere to be found. Sometime later, he arrived in Belfast on Captain Fitz Patterson's schooner. He was met at the dock by Sheriff Carleton and immediately arrested. When questioned about the crime, Elden denied his involvement and told the sheriff that "he'd never been in Liberty in his life." He was identified by a Belfast merchant.
Rowell joined the Sparks Brothers Circus in 1924; his first job was to help raise the 'Big Top;. He stayed with the circus seven years, working at patching canvas tents, and in the harness shop.
When Rowell returned to Maine he continued working with leather as a shoemaker on the Montville side of the Liberty town line. He learned the shoemaker trade from his grandfather, Merrill Rowell, and took over the business from his uncle, P. Wheeler Rowell.
Two of Rowell's uncles, including Wheeler, and his father served in the Civil War. Rowell could relate tales of the WAr between the states as well as sea and circus life. In later years, with the sign "E.N. Rowell, successor to P.W. Rowell, Boot and Shoe Maker" hung over his door, he was a master at making and repairing shoes, as well as spinning yarns. His boots and shoes were made with wooden pegs, which look much like short matchsticks. I still have a few of them.
Many years ago, we visited with Rowell at his Montville home. He showed us a series of postcards depicting the Sparks Circus parade, and the drawing which he did from memory of the early Liberty industries. We sat carefully on the front step, for to sit on the grass might leave brown stains from his stream of "tabaccy" juice. Rowell never smoked and gave up drinking in early life. He said that drinking led to more drinking.
Rowell told us of walking from Liberty to Camden over Moody Moutain. He said that often he would sleep in a barn overnight and continue his trip the following morning. He could point out cellar holes and tell of the families who lived in the former homes.
Rowell lived to the ripe old age of eighty-nine. He spent Mondays in his last years at the Liberty Historical Museum, with his Boot and Shoe Maker sign, his cobbler bench, and tools, showing his craft and telling stories of the past.
Elden Nathan Rowell died May 23, 1979.
This is about my Grandfathers Uncle :)