When Eli Ephraim Fowles was born on 22 July 1828, in Ohio, United States, his father, Ephraim Fowles, was 27 and his mother, Lois Small, was 21. He married Hannah Fuller Rice on 23 April 1871, in Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, United States. He lived in Shiawassee, Michigan, United States in 1860 and Michigan, United States in 1870. He died on 8 January 1891, in Nebraska, United States, at the age of 62, and was buried in Brady Cemetery, Brady, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States.