The headstone gives a calculated date of birth of 1843; this does not match information from Buell family and government records, and since she married in 1851, 1843 is clearly not her year of birth. Family and census records confirm that Polina Buell was born Jan 23, 1833. In 1847, she went over the Oregon Trail with her parents, Elias and Sarah (Hammond) Buell. She married Daniel C. Rowell in Polk County, OR on Feb. 6, 1851, as recorded on his Donation Land Claim DLC # 2721. The 1860 census of Buena Vista, Richland Co Wisconsin shows Daniel and Polina with three sons, Elias H., 8; Henry C, 7; and Charles M, 2.
In July 1865, Daniel and Polina, with four children, were returning to Oregon on the Brother Jonathan when the boat struck a rock, and only 19 of the 244 souls on board escaped. The Rowell family drowned. Survivor Mary (Tweedale) Garretson later recalled the Rowells, "That sweet family, father, mother, standing on that pitching deck, their little ones clutched about them, the wind and spray lashing at their clothing, and she, that beautiful woman, gazing down at us so wistfully as we pulled away." (Ref Oregon Shipwrecks by Don Marshall, Binford & Mort, 1984.) The bodies of Daniel and Polina were recovered. The bodies of the children were never found.
In July 1865, Daniel and Polina, with four children, were returning to Oregon on the Brother Jonathan when the boat struck a rock, and only 19 of the 244 souls on board escaped. The Rowell family drowned. Survivor Mary (Tweedale) Garretson later recalled the Rowells, "That sweet family, father, mother, standing on that pitching deck, their little ones clutched about them, the wind and spray lashing at their clothing, and she, that beautiful woman, gazing down at us so wistfully as we pulled away." (Ref Oregon Shipwrecks by Don Marshall, Binford & Mort, 1984.) The bodies of Daniel and Polina were recovered. The bodies of the children were never found.
The headstone gives a calculated date of birth of 1843; this does not match information from Buell family and government records, and since she married in 1851, 1843 is clearly not her year of birth. Family and census records confirm that Polina Buell was born Jan 23, 1833. In 1847, she went over the Oregon Trail with her parents, Elias and Sarah (Hammond) Buell. She married Daniel C. Rowell in Polk County, OR on Feb. 6, 1851, as recorded on his Donation Land Claim DLC # 2721. The 1860 census of Buena Vista, Richland Co Wisconsin shows Daniel and Polina with three sons, Elias H., 8; Henry C, 7; and Charles M, 2.
In July 1865, Daniel and Polina, with four children, were returning to Oregon on the Brother Jonathan when the boat struck a rock, and only 19 of the 244 souls on board escaped. The Rowell family drowned. Survivor Mary (Tweedale) Garretson later recalled the Rowells, "That sweet family, father, mother, standing on that pitching deck, their little ones clutched about them, the wind and spray lashing at their clothing, and she, that beautiful woman, gazing down at us so wistfully as we pulled away." (Ref Oregon Shipwrecks by Don Marshall, Binford & Mort, 1984.) The bodies of Daniel and Polina were recovered. The bodies of the children were never found.
In July 1865, Daniel and Polina, with four children, were returning to Oregon on the Brother Jonathan when the boat struck a rock, and only 19 of the 244 souls on board escaped. The Rowell family drowned. Survivor Mary (Tweedale) Garretson later recalled the Rowells, "That sweet family, father, mother, standing on that pitching deck, their little ones clutched about them, the wind and spray lashing at their clothing, and she, that beautiful woman, gazing down at us so wistfully as we pulled away." (Ref Oregon Shipwrecks by Don Marshall, Binford & Mort, 1984.) The bodies of Daniel and Polina were recovered. The bodies of the children were never found.
Inscription
Drowned at the wreck of the Steamer Brother Jonathan, aged 22 years 6 months and 7 days
Family Members
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