Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 475

DR. DAVID L. ROWE, of Moscow Township, residing on section 6, is one of the pioneers of Iowa, having been identified with its history for over half a century. He was born in the Empire State, his birth occurring in Steuben County, Dec. 16, 1817. The Rowe family is descended from the Dutch, and was founded in America by three brothers, Jacob, William and Smith Rowe, who emigrated from Holland to America in an early day. The former is a direct ancestor of our subject ; in fact he was the father of Christopher Rowe, who in turn, was the father of David. Christopher Rowe was a farmer by occupation, and wedded Elizabeth Look, a native of Orange County, N.Y., and a daughter of Thomas and Elsie ( Franklin ) Look. The mother was an own cousin of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, the eminent philosopher and statesman. After their marriage the young couple settled on a farm five miles south of Bath, where they made their home until 1836, at which time they emigrated to the West, locating in Iowa, which then formed a part of the Territory of Wisconsin. That was more than half a century ago, and Iowa was considered the extreme western boundary of civilization. The means of travel were then very primitive, man had not yet learned the use of steam as a motive power, and it required two months and a half for Mr. Rowe to make the journey. With teams he proceeded to Olean Point on the Alleghany River, where he embarked with his family on a raft, floating down that river to Pittsburgh, and from there in the same manner to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he boarded a steamer, continuing down that river to the Mississippi, then up to Davenport. He had brought with him from his old home a team and wagon, household goods and the lumber with which to build a shelter when they should reach their destination. Davenport existed then only in name as a ferry station. Entering land about six miles above the site of the present city, Mr. Rowe then landed with his family and such household supplies as they had brought with them, and of the rough boards erected a plain dwelling. In the wilds of this now great commonwealth he made a home and improved a farm, upon which he resided until 1852, when he sold out, but continued to make his home in Scott County until his death, yet at the time when he was called to his final rest he was visiting his children at Atalissa. He died in the autumn of 1860 at the age of seventy-two years, a short time after the celebration of his golden wedding. His wife survived her husband for a number of years, dying in September, 1878, aged eighty-eight years.

Christopher Rowe was a man of more than ordinary ability, possessing a strong mind which was well stored with extensive and varied reading. He was especially interested in religious subjects, and was uncommonly well-versed in the teachings of the scriptures. In early life he was a communicant of the Baptist Church, but adopted the doctrine of universal salvation, believing that he found in the Bible proof of the faith that he professed, and in which he continued a firm believer. He supported the Whig party during its existence, but later became a Republican, and was a warm advocate of the principles of that great organization. Mrs. Rowe was a companion to her husband in all his studies, and was a woman of superior intellectual faculties, being far in advance of the average, possessing, apparently, many of the characteristics of her famous ancestry.

Mr. and Mrs. Rowe were the parents of seven children, all of whom grew to maturity. Those living are : V. R., who is a resident of Rochester, N.Y.; Dr. David L.; and Emma M., wife of Hon. A.J.Hyde, of Scott County, Iowa. Those who have passed away are : Anson, who died at Atalissa about a year prior to the death of his mother, at the age of sixty-six years ; Nelson, who died at Prairie City, Jasper Co., Iowa, many years ago ; Eliza A., wife of Hon. John P. Cook, died several years ago ; and George died in Scott County, at the age of nineteen years.

Dr. Rowe, our subject, was reared to farm life, which he followed until twenty-four years of age, when a new field of labor presented itself. This was no less than an opportunity to exercise his talents in the missionary field. Through an influence of friends he rceived an appointment as teacher in what was known as the Armstrong Academy, in the Indian Territory, an institution under the charge of Rev. Ramsey D. Potts and wife. It was located at Fort Towson, in the Choctaw Nation, and was established by the Baptist denomination for educating and Christianizing the children of the Choctaw Indians. This was an interesting and valuable experience in the life of Dr. Rowe, and he there continued as a teacher for a period of four years. In the meantime he began the study of meducune with an uncle, Dr. Enos S. Look, and from the Indian Territory removed to Clasrksville, Tex., where he formed the acquaintance of the lady whom he afterwards married-- Miss Ann E. Sampson.

Mrs. Rowe was a native of Brownsville Tenn., and a daughter of Rev. James and Margaret M. Sampson. With her parents she removed from her native State to Arkansas, where her mother died, and in 1840, went to Texas with the family, when that State was an independent Republic. During the remainder of his life, Rev. Sampson made that city his home. He was the father of eleven children, three sons and eight daughters, and was twice married, Mrs. Rowe being a child of his first wife.

Our subject continued his preparation for the medical profession and was graduated from the Medical College at Memphis, Tenn., in 1854. In the meantime, Mrs. Rowe had established a ladies' school at Waco, McClennan Co., Tex. She was well fitted for this position, having received a liberal education principally under the direction of her father, who was a fine scholar and a graduate of the North Carolina State University. For two years she was also a student in the Ringwood Female Seminary at Boston, Tex., and later taught in that institution for a few years. She continued in charge of the ladies' school, above mentioned, for a period of eight years, and was very successful, having to enlarge the facilities and employ a number of assistant teachers.

In 1858 seeing the approach of the storm that was to envelope the nation in the most bloody struggle of modern times, the Doctor resolved to return North. His sympathy and influence were on the side of the Government, and that year found him again a resident of Iowa. Locating at Atalissa, he prosecuted his profession for twenty years, building up a large and lucrative practice, but at the end of that time he retired from active life, and removed to his fine farm on section 6, Moscow Township, which comprises 240 acres. The beautiful home of Dr. Rowe and his wife is the abode of hospitality and good will, and all its surroundings indicate taste and refinement. Their union has been blessed with a family of five children, four sons and a daughter : Richard R., who is living in Atchison, Kan.; James S., a leading grain dealer of Atalissa ;Ida L., wife of H. W. Lewis, of Creston, Iowa ; Clarence C., who is living in Atchison, Kan.; and Chester W., a resident of Malcolm, Iowa. It is a source of pleasure to us to present the portraits of Dr. and Mrs. Rowe to the readers of this work.


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