As we take a moment to remember past residents of the Haigler area, I wish to expand a little on Blanche Herring Rowett (my aunt). Blanche lived about five miles west of Haigler an about a mile north of U.S. 34. She and her husband, Richard Rowett, settled on that farm early in the 20th. Century, and while he died sometime in the late 1920’s, she remained on the farm until her death. She was born in 1886, and she died in 1964. She is buried in the Benkelman Cemetery.
Blanche and Richard originally lived in a small frame house no more than a quarter-of-a-mile south of the home that we best remember Blanche living in. The "little house" was still standing, though not in good health, when I would visit her, but it no doubt is no longer hanging on.
What may not be well known to those who knew Blanche is that Richard was the son of a well-known Civil War General – also named Richard. There is a web site with information regarding him at: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilmaga/macoupin/1891bios/rowett.html
I have located and attached two photographs. One is Blanche. It was taken in April 1953. The other photo is the home she had built and lived in until her death. It was taken in June 1940.
Kent Hoffman
San Antonio, TX
