William H. Rowe was born Aug 27, 1819, in Baltimore, Maryland 1, 2, 3. He married Clarissa S. Norris 4. Clarissa was born February 22, 1818 5.
There were several William Rowes (various spellings) in the 1840 census living in Maryland, too many to make an educated guess which one he was, so… I’ll skip over that part of his life.
W. H. Rowe and his wife Clari moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1844 6 , where he was engaged in the “pork packing” business 7. He continued in this business until “His patriotism was manifested at the time of the Mexican war, in which he rendered loyal and effective service 8.” However, I have not been able to substantiate his military record.
Following the Mexican War, William caught gold fever in 1849 and he made three trips to California. “His first trip was made overland, and was attended with the vicissitudes and dangers incidental to the long and wearisome journeys over mountain and plain in those early days. He subsequently made a second trip by land, and his third trip to the Golden state was made by water, via Cape Horn. For a time he was engaged in street contracting in San Francisco, but finally longed to return to scenes of an older civilization, and accordingly retraced his steps to Ohio 9.” Again, I’ve been unable to substantiate this information other than with a quote written by my g grandmother in her infant daughter’s journal. “Great grandma Rowe gave me a lovely present – a solid silver teaspoon that she used when she was house keeping one that her husband brought her from California 10.” And W. H’s obituary which states, “He was one of the great mass who crossed the plains to California in the great excitement of 1849, and spent several years there successfully 11.”
William and Clarrisa had the following children: Benjamin Norris Rowe, Susannah Rowe, Elizabeth Rowe, William Gamble Rowe, Harry H. Rowe, Charles Eugene Rowe, Lewis A. Rowe, and Clara S. Rowe 12.
While it’s not clear what happened during the Mexican War and the Gold Rush of ’49, what is known is that William appears in the 1850 census living in Hamilton County, Ohio.
In 1850 he shows up as William H. Rooe, in the 6th Ward, Cincinnati, OH. He was 30 years old and by way of occupation he was listed as a grocery keeper. From 1850 through 1880 he consistently shows up as born in Maryland, and his ages show him to be born between 1817 and 1819. In the 1850 census his wife shows up as Clari Rooe, though subsequent censuses show her as “Sarah C.” Though in Conover, she’s listed as Clarissa S. Norris Rowe. Living with him at the time were his wife Clari age 25. And children [Benjamin] Norris age 6, Susannah age 4, and Elizabeth age 2 13.
William H. again appears in the census of 1860, only this time he appears in Jefferson Twp., Montgomery Co., OH, where he’s listed as a farmer with no real estate, and a personal estate of $500. According to Conover, William finally settled “on a farm near Dayton, devoting his attention to its cultivation until 1869…” During the time he resided on this farm, Conover wrote: “he was called upon to serve in the capacity of justice of the peace, and he was also incumbent as infirmary director of Montgomery county for two terms.”
In, or about, 1869 he moved into Dayton, “where he was for a number of years engaged in business.” In 1870 he’s listed in the Harrison Twp., Montgomery County, Ohio Census. He’s a retail grocer valued at $700 personal property.
However, by 1880 he appears in the 1st Ward, Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio according to FamilySearch.org he listed himself as a farmer, a quick reglance at Ancestry.com census images shows that no financial worth was recorded for anyone on that page for 1880.
According to Conover, “The death of William H. Rowe occurred in Dayton on New Year's eve of the year 1886, at which time he was in his sixty-fourth year.” But thanks to Steve Koons, I discovered that he actually passed away December 24, 1881 14. Apparently after a long and active life, William H’s obituary concludes with the following sentence: “He had peculiarities, but was a temperate and worthy citizen.”
William's obituary: Dayton Journal. City Matters.
"The late W. H. Rowe, who died on the 24th inst., was once a vigourous and prosperous man. He was one of the great mass who crossed the plains to California in the great excitement of 1849, and spent several years there successfully. After his return he met with reverses. He had the reputation of being an honest man. He was a zeaolous Democrat and served one term as Justice of the Peace, and was also elected County Infirmary Director, where he made a good record. Of late years he supported his family by various employments. Several years ago, while serving on a jury, he suddenly felt a hot stinging sensation in one check. Soon after a cancer developed, and of that he died. He had peculiarities, but was a temperate and worthy citizen."
William and Sarah are buried at Old Greencastle Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.
Sarah survived her husband by at least 20 years. I don’t know exactly when she moved in with her son William G. Rowe, but she’s in the Dayton city directory living with him in 1896-97 “Rowe, Sarah C., widow, residence 207 S. Broadway.” It appears as though Sarah was living alone after that, in 1897-98 Sarah is living at 723 N. Keowee, in 1898-99 she's living at the southeast corner of Lawn and Best, and appears to have stayed there till she died, that is, if the corner of Lawn and Best is “46 E. Lawn” which is where she was living in 1900-1901, Dayton City Directory 15.
In the back of my Great Aunt Romelia’s personal book of births, deaths, and marriages 16, she has in her own handwriting, “Old ladies met with Mrs. James Stevens for an afternoon visit Oct. 30, 1900. Mrs. Lucy A. Miller 77, Sarah Clarissa Rowe 82, Hannah Stockslager 68 (widow of Jacob Stockslager mother-in-law of Harriet Alice Stevens), Elizabeth Stout 79, Ziporah Stimson 69 (wife of Wm R. Stimson), Harriet Stevens 82.” And for some reason in parentheses she has “(Mrs. Sample).” Romelia herself would have been just over five years old at the time of this meeting. Therefore we know that Clari Rowe died sometime after Oct. 30, 1900, but to date, I’ve not been able to find a record of her death.
UPDATE!
A special thank you goes to Steve Koons for finding her death record 17. Sarah C. Rowe White Female Widow died March 1, 1901, b. 22 Feb. 1818, age 83 years 9 days, born Baltimore, MD., father and mother also born in Maryland, died of senility.
Again, thanks to Steve I have her obituary, too! 18 ROWE -- Mrs. William H. Rowe died at the residence of her son, B.N. Rowe, No. 156 Linden Ave., March 1, 1901, at 8:30 a.m.; born in Baltimore, Md., Feb. 18, 1818. Funeral from Broadway M.E. church Monday, March 4, at 2 p.m. Services from residence private. Omit flowers.
1. Cemetery marker at Old Greencastle Cemetery in Dayton.
2 Conover, Frank. Centennial Portrait and Biographical Record of the City of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio. Edited by Frank Conover, of Dayton, Ohio. A. W. Bowen & Co., 1897. Under Charles Eugene Rowe, p. 328-330.
3 Also based upon 1850, 60, 70, and 80 census records, located in the rear of this book.
4 Conover, Frank.
5 Rowe, Margaret Stevens. Back of Margaret Stevens Rowe’s Diary where it has a spot for birthdays and anniversaries. Copyright date in diary is 1933, but actual five years are 1940, 41, 42,43, 44. Margaret was born 24 May 1892, and died 05 Dec 1989. She was at least 8 years old at the turn of the twentieth century.
6 David MacClement Rowe’s birth certificate (22 Jan 1868). David’s father (Benjamin) was a son of Wm. H. and David’s mother (the informant on the certificate) states that David’s father was born in Cincinnati and gives his age, as 23. If she was correct that he was indeed 23 years old at the time of birth, the family moved to Cincinnati in 1844 and not 1845, as is stated in Frank Conover’s book, listed above.
7 Conover, Frank.
8 ibid.
9 ibid.
10 From The journal of Margaret Stevens Rowe, as written by her mother Anna Maria Stevens Rowe, it was started on Oct. 13, 1892
11 Dayton Daily Journal Dec. 30, 1881. V. XIX, iss. 131: pg. 3, col. 5.
12 Children’s names from combination of 1850, 60, 70, and 80 census records.
13 The 1850 census is the only mention of Elizabeth anywhere that I’ve been able to find. She must have died before the 1860 census.
14 Dayton Daily Journal Dec. 30, 1881. V. XIX, iss. 131: pg. 3, col. 5.
15 Thanks to Steve Koons for all the assistance he’s given me, for finding the Obituary, and for the City Directories.
16 Romelia Rowe’s Book of Births, Marriages, Deaths, and Obituaries 1895-1974
17 Montgomery County Board of Health, Record of Deaths. Dayton deaths indexed on microfilm. Montgomery County Library.
18 Dayton Daily News March 2, 1901
William H. Rowe
and
Clarissa Sarah or
Sarah Clarissa Norris.
No known picture
