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Note: N2772 James J. Fowler was found in the 1860 Coffee Co., AL census, living very near all the Garretts (12 housesholds from Wm.Garrett) and Nancy Fowler who was living with her daughter and son-in-law, John S. and Rebecca Garrett. Land records prove that he owned property adjacent to Nancy Fowler. *(See below). He was found in the 1870 Geneva Co., AL census, p. 578, HH #123. All his children were born in Alabama. His age was 44, his wife’s 45. The Garretts and Gavins had all moved to Walton Co. and Santa Rosa Co., FL, as well as other Fowlers who were sons of William. 1880 Geneva Co., AL census, p. 640D: Lists James J. 51, Mary 54, Nancy 20, William J. 17, Thomas 15, Mary Q. 11.
*Although it is not proof of familial ties, the proximity of names on the census record usually shows the physical proximity of homesteads, and this proximity in many cases implies kinship. This is because, in the early days of the settlement of the country, the federal marshals (census takers) rode the dirt roads that bordered section lines and divided rural real estate to access the homesteaders for census interviews. Since the custom at that time was for landholders to subdivide their land between sons and sons-in-aws, adjacent properties were often occupied by kin. Of course, this is only a clue, but a valuable one.
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