Maj. John Sharpe Rowland

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Born in Rutherfordton, North Carolina to Thomas and Mildred Lewis Rowland. His father served in the Revolutionary War. In 1810 his family moved to Greenville, South Carolina and at age 17 John Sharpe Rowland "began teaching an English school with the permission of his parents." At age 19 he was appointed deputy collector of the revenue for the Pendleton District, South Carolina. He volunteered during the War of 1812 and served in Captain William Turner's Company under Lieutenant Colonel John Ashe Alston's 3rd Regiment, South Carolina Militia. There he served with rank as private, adjutant, and mustered out as a corporal.

In November 1816, he married Miss Frances Machen Lewis of Spartanburg, S.C. They had eleven children, four of whom died in infancy. In 1832, he was a member of the Committee of South Carolina during the epoch of Nullification, he being a strong Union man. He purchased land in Cass County (now Bartow), Georgia in 1839 and built a sizeable plantation of over 2,500 acres which was called "Etowah Valley". In 1843, he purchased over 2,500 acres in Cass County (Bartow) and, in addition to his already successful plantation, built the most exclusive resort in the state of Georgia - Rowland Springs. In the mid 19th century Rowland Springs was considered the most exclusive resort in the state of Georgia and Governor and Mrs. Joseph E. Brown were frequent guests there. Among other notable friends of Major and Mrs. Rowland was Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois.

From June 1 - 5, 1852, Major Rowland was a Georgia delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Baltimore, Md. He was a Unionist in a Georgia delegation that was evenly divided between Unionist and State's Rights delegates. After 49 ballots, Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire was nominated as the Democratic Candidate for President with William King of Alabama as Vice-President.

Major Rowland was accorded the title of "Major" during his middle years to honor the high esteem and many accomplishments and contributions that he made to the Confederacy during the Civil War and the state of Georgia during his lifetime. He was said to stand 5'10" weighing approximately 210 pounds with dark hair and eyes and a swarthy complexion.

In August 1861, Major Rowland was appointed Superintendent of the Western & Atlantic Railroad which ran between Atlanta, Georgia and Chattanooga, Tennessee a distance of 138 miles. He held this position until his death on Sept. 18, 1863. It was during his tenure as Superintendent that Andrew's Raiders stole The General from Big Shanty, Georgia and "The Great Locomotive Chase" ensued ending in their capture just 2 miles north of Ringgold, Georgia.

John Sharpe Rowland was said to be "a liberal supporter to widows & orphans of the Confederacy during the Civil War - that his body was lowered into the grave on the 20th of September 1863 when the cannons were booming at the Battle of Chickamauga and the roar could he heard at the time and that he expected to sleep there until the Resurrection." (as told by his daughter-in-law, Serena Jane Dillard Rowland [1834-1898]).

Born in Rutherfordton, North Carolina to Thomas and Mildred Lewis Rowland. His father served in the Revolutionary War. In 1810 his family moved to Greenville, South Carolina and at age 17 John Sharpe Rowland "began teaching an English school with the permission of his parents." At age 19 he was appointed deputy collector of the revenue for the Pendleton District, South Carolina. He volunteered during the War of 1812 and served in Captain William Turner's Company under Lieutenant Colonel John Ashe Alston's 3rd Regiment, South Carolina Militia. There he served with rank as private, adjutant, and mustered out as a corporal.

In November 1816, he married Miss Frances Machen Lewis of Spartanburg, S.C. They had eleven children, four of whom died in infancy. In 1832, he was a member of the Committee of South Carolina during the epoch of Nullification, he being a strong Union man. He purchased land in Cass County (now Bartow), Georgia in 1839 and built a sizeable plantation of over 2,500 acres which was called "Etowah Valley". In 1843, he purchased over 2,500 acres in Cass County (Bartow) and, in addition to his already successful plantation, built the most exclusive resort in the state of Georgia - Rowland Springs. In the mid 19th century Rowland Springs was considered the most exclusive resort in the state of Georgia and Governor and Mrs. Joseph E. Brown were frequent guests there. Among other notable friends of Major and Mrs. Rowland was Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois.

From June 1 - 5, 1852, Major Rowland was a Georgia delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Baltimore, Md. He was a Unionist in a Georgia delegation that was evenly divided between Unionist and State's Rights delegates. After 49 ballots, Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire was nominated as the Democratic Candidate for President with William King of Alabama as Vice-President.

Major Rowland was accorded the title of "Major" during his middle years to honor the high esteem and many accomplishments and contributions that he made to the Confederacy during the Civil War and the state of Georgia during his lifetime. He was said to stand 5'10" weighing approximately 210 pounds with dark hair and eyes and a swarthy complexion.

In August 1861, Major Rowland was appointed Superintendent of the Western & Atlantic Railroad which ran between Atlanta, Georgia and Chattanooga, Tennessee a distance of 138 miles. He held this position until his death on Sept. 18, 1863. It was during his tenure as Superintendent that Andrew's Raiders stole The General from Big Shanty, Georgia and "The Great Locomotive Chase" ensued ending in their capture just 2 miles north of Ringgold, Georgia.

John Sharpe Rowland was said to be "a liberal supporter to widows & orphans of the Confederacy during the Civil War - that his body was lowered into the grave on the 20th of September 1863 when the cannons were booming at the Battle of Chickamauga and the roar could he heard at the time and that he expected to sleep there until the Resurrection." (as told by his daughter-in-law, Serena Jane Dillard Rowland [1834-1898]).* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 1 2023, 14:30:51 UTC