Rowden

The Rowdens of Marion County came to Arkansas from Harlin County, Tennessee. Hooper J. Rowden was born there in 1824. His death occurred in Arkansas in 1873. His wife was Lydia Ann Messick, who was born in Tennessee in 1833 and died in Arkansas in 1904.

Their son, Joseph B. Rowden, was born at Bellefonte in 1858 and his wife, Alice Carson Rowden, was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Although they would not be considered pioneer citizens, they came to Summit, the Yellville railroad station, and established the first store, which Mr. Rowden owned and operated until his death. A son and the daughters married members of pioneer families. They were: Mabel; Chester, who died in 1918 at the age of 32; Orville; Helen; and Esther.

Mabel married J. T. Richey and they were the parents of Keydron, Juanita and Irene, Keydron married Roy Dardin and they have one son, J. B. Juanita married Arthur Estes and Irene is the wife of Edward Robinson, who grew up at Cotter. His mother was Beulah Parker, a Marion County native.

Orville married Ella Jenkins. Known to everyone as "Miss Ella", she began teaching in Marion County schools while in her teens. Most of her work was done at Flippin and at Yellville-Summit. She retired in 1956 because of her health. Orville was a veteran of WW I.

Helen married Tobe Keeter, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Keeter. They were the parents of Charles, who is married and lives in Missouri; and Mary Alice, who is the wife of Dolph Elam. She is a graduate of Colorado State College at Greeley and has taught many years in Marion and Baxter Counties. She is an accomplished pianist. She and her husband, a war veteran and former government employee, live near Mountain Home.

After the death of her husband, Helen married Bryan Rea. They were the parents of two children. One died; the other, Chester Frank, known as "Tank", married Billie Ruth Phillips, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dee Phillips. They have one daughter, Phyllis who married Bill Burleson. Phyllis and Bill are the parents of two sons, Scotty and Robin. Tank and Billie live in Yellville. He is in the insurance business with offices at Yellville, Mountain Home, Bull Shoals, and Lakeview.

Esther is the only one of the J. B. Rowden children who is living. She and her husband, Bryan Wilson, live at Summit. Bryan is a grandson of Henderson Fee, one of Marion County's pioneers. His parents were William Madison Wilson (1858-1929) and Elizabeth Fee Wilson (1862-1924).