biographies

GALWITH, FINKS, MILES, McCOWAN	Book Title: History of Callaway County, Missouri 1884 Page #: 770-771 JOHN H. GALWITH, shoemaker, New Bloomfield. Mr. Galwith's father, John W. Galwith, a native of Maryland, but subsequently an early settler in Callaway County, lived to the advanced age of ninety-five and died at the residence of another son of his, George W. Galwith, in this county. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Finks, was also a native of Maryland. They had seven children: Eliza Ann, John H., Peter, Elizabeth, Gabriel, Susanna and George W. John H., the oldest son and the subject of this sketch, was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, February 2, 1820, and was reared in his native State. He was brought up on a farm to the age of fifteen when he entered the shoemaker's trade and has worked at it ever since, except for three years while he was engaged in the grocery business at Fulton, a period now of nearly fifty years. He was engaged in the grocery business of Fulton during the years 1855, 1856 and 1857. Mr. Galwith's first wife, formerly Miss Martha T. Miles, to whom he was married in Charleston, Virginia, died in December, 1847. He was afterwards married to Miss Catherine Sitton, who died in 1854, leaving him one child, William, who now lives near Fulton; one other died in infancy. To Narcissa McCowan, formerly of Tennessee, daughter of Isaac W. McCowan. She has borne him three children: Mabel, I. Mason and Gertrude. Mr. Galwith has been engaged in the shoemaking business (and of course he makes boots too) for sixteen years, since 1867. He is without doubt the most experienced and skillful boot and shoemaker in the county.