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         JACOB ROWE, a leading farmer and stock-raiser of Louisa County, residing on section 18, Grand View Township, was born in Lorain County, Ohio, in 1848, and was the fourth in a family of five children born to Philip and Barbara (Steinman) Rowe, who were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, born near Stuttgart. They came to this country in 1834, setting sail from Bremen, and after a voyage of fifty-four days landed at Baltimore, from which city they proceeded directly to Ohio, where they were numbered among the pioneers of Louisa County. The father was a farmer by occupation, but also engaged in charcoal burning. In March, 1847, he removed farther west, this time locating in Grand View Township, Louisa County, where he purchased a partly improved farm on section 18, comprising eighty acres. He made his purchase in 1858, and the following spring took up his residence thereon and commenced the cultivation of his land, but was only permitted to make that his home for a short . . .

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. . . time, his death occurring March 15, 1860, at the age of forty-seven. His excellent wife survived him some years, dying at the age of sixty-five, on the 4th of March, 1883. The children of their family were Louis, who died in December, 1865, aged twenty-six years; Emma, who became the wife of Albert H. Young, who died Aug. 7, 1886; Adam, who is married, resides in Keokuk County, Iowa; Mary is living in Grand View.

In the district schools of Louisa County our subject was educated, and here grew to manhood upon the farm. In 1884, in the county, he was united in marriage with Barbara Bosard, who was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Gottschall) Bosard, who were also natives of the Keystone State. Her father there engaged in farming and blacksmithing until his removal to Louisa County, in 1857, when he located upon a farm in Elm Grove Township. In connection with his other labors he also became a preacher of the Evangelical church, was ordained in Grand View in 1863, and entering the Conference was placed in charge of a circuit, and has since continued his ministerial labors. He has been Presiding Elder for the last eight years, and is now located at Independence, Iowa. His wife died about ten years ago, in 1878.

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rowe two children were born—Louis and Katie. The former died April 4, 1887, aged nine months and seventeen days. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm where they yet reside. It is pleasantly situated on section 18, Grand View Township, about six miles from Columbus Junction, three miles from Letts and four miles from Grand View. The farm comprises 160 acres of arable land, well cultivated and improved, upon which may be found a good grade of stock, including the Durham cattle, the Poland-China and Chester-White hogs. Mr. Rowe is a great friend to education, and in political sentiment is a Republican. Since March, 1857, he has made his home in this county, has witnessed almost its entire growth and development, and aided in the many changes which have transformed its once wild and uncultivated prairies into beautiful homes and farms. His wife is a most estimable lady and a member of the Congregational Church. Both hold a high social position, and have many warm friends throughout the community.

One of Mr. Rowe’s brothers, Adam, was in the service of this country during the late war, enlisting in the 35th Iowa Infantry, as a member of Company F. For four years he was upon the Southern battle-fields, during which time he participated in many of the hottest engagements, and was discharged in 1864. He partially lost his eyesight, for which he now draws a pension.