Sampson T. ROWE, a leading farmer of Marshall county, resides on section
23, Whitefield township, having in his home farm six hundred and sixty-three
acres. In addition, he owns two hundred and forty acres on section 16, and
sixty acres one mile southwest of his home. A native of the county, he was
born on the tract where he now lives, April 13, 1837. His parents, William
and Harriet (PETERS) ROWE, natives of county Cornwall, England, emigrated to
this country in 1834.
On arriving at New York William ROWE, with his
family, proceeded directly to Cincinnati, Ohio. A younger brother of his had
some time previously emigrated to America, and visiting Illinois with the
view of locating, was well pleased with the country, and therefore advised
William not to stop in Ohio but proceed directly to the Prairie State.
Procuring teams at Cincinnati, the brothers started for Illinois. En route
they met Charles KNOCK, who was also on the way to Marshall county, and in
company they finished their journey.
Arriving here, William ROWE
first selected government land on section 13, Whitefield township, but not
being accessible to market, he squatted on a claim near the present village
of Henry. Mr. KNOCK settled two miles below Henry, on the present line of
the railroad, and lived and died there, but leaving no family. The brother
of Mr. ROWE first located where the village of Henry is now situated, but
subsequently removed to Sugar Grove, in Whitefield township. After a
residence there of about twenty years, he sold out and removed to Missouri,
where he remained until after the war, when he again returned to Marshall
county, and here died some years ago.
On coming to this county
William ROWE was in very moderate circumstances, but he came to this free
land that he might better his condition in life, and the better provide for
those dependent upon him. He was a hard working and industrious man,
economical in his habits, and with a steadfast determination to succeed.
Success did crown his efforts, and year after year he continued to add to
his landed interests until he owned one thousand and forty-five acres at the
time of his death. His land was mostly timber land, which in the early day
was thought more valuable than that of the prairie, but this fact was
disproved in later years.
The first house in which Mr. ROWE lived was
a log structure of the regulation pattern. There most of the children were
born, and in front of the log fire many an air castle was built "as the days
were going by.” Some years later he erected the brick house which still
stands on the place, and where his latter days were spent. This house was
built in the latter part of the 40’s and is now about fifty years old, but
in a good state of preservation. Major THOMPSON, well known to all pioneers,
made the brick required in its construction.
To William and Harriet
ROWE were born ten children – Carolina, wife of William PAYNE, of Lucas
county, Iowa; Sampson T., our subject; Mary A., wife of William MANCHESTER,
of Clinton county, Iowa; Roger T., residing on a part of the old homestead;
William A., of Henry, Illinois; Emma Harriet, who married George HARRIS, and
died in Henry, leaving five children; Ellen Maria, wife of Robert WARD, of
Lamar, Buchanan county, Iowa; John P., a farmer of southeastern Kansas;
Elizabeth Rebecca, who married Jacob MANCHESTER, and moved to Clinton
county, Iowa, where she died, leaving two children; and Joseph Henry, who
died at the age of nine years.
From the organization of the party
until his death, William ROWE was an advocate of republican principles and
voted the party ticket. As a citizen he was always up with the times, and
served his townsmen in various local official positions. He at all times had
the confidence and respect of those with whom he was associated, and his
death was a sad loss to the community in which he lived. He died in August,
1863, when but fifty-four years of age. His good wife survived him over
twenty years, dying in 1885 at the home of one of her daughters in Iowa,
where she had resided for several years.
Sampson T. ROWE, our
subject, has spent his entire life in Marshall county, and was educated in
the public schools. Under the instruction of his father he learned every
detail of farm work, and determined to make that calling his life work. He
remained at home, assisting in the cultivation of the farm until the death
of his father, when he took entire charge, and for ten years operated it.
The heirs then being of age, it was divided, and Sampson moved to his
present residence, the farm comprising three hundred and ninety acres, which
included the portion of a younger brother, from whom he purchased it. Other
tracts were subsequently added, making the home farm, as stated in the
beginning of this sketch. For some years he gave much attention to feeding
cattle, but at the present time the raising of hogs is his specialty, though
not confined to that branch. He carries on general farming, devoting about
one hundred acres to corn, which he uses principally in feeding his own
stock. The sheep industry has been in times past fairly profitable, and he
now has about four hundred head.
On the 20th of March, 1872, Mr. ROWE
was united in marriage with Miss Ellen S. TIDMARSH, a native of Wilkeshire,
England, who came to this country when but six years of age, with her
parents, Abel and Elizabeth (WILTS) TIDMARSH. Her family located in the
neighborhood of ROWEs, but later moved to what they considered a better
location near Varna, in Roberts township, where her father yet resides. They
were there residing when the marriage occurred. By this union seven children
were born – William A., who married Bertha Leona GREEN, and now resides in
Whitefield township; and Edward Marshall, Ann Elizabeth, Henry Sampson,
Charles Garfield, Francis Taylor and Eugene Lloyd, all of whom yet remain at
home.
Mr. ROWE is a thorough and practical farmer and gives personal
attention to every detail of the work in carrying on his splendid farm. His
two oldest sons are also practical farmers, and are operating the two
hundred and forty acre farm two miles from the old homestead. Politically
Mr. ROWE is a republican, and is thoroughly grounded in the principles of
the party. He cares nothing for political honors or official position. Mrs.
ROWE is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Henry. The family are
all highly honored citizens of the county and respected by all who know
them.
Extracted April 2011 by Norma Hass from The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, 1896.
One
of the most prominent representatives of the agricultural interests of
Marshall county is Sampson T. ROWE, whose landholdings are very extensive,
embracing about one thousand acres. He has displayed in an active business
life excellent executive force and unfaltering enterprise, together with
keen discernment and a ready recognition of opportunities, and thus he has
made rapid and substantial advancement in his business career, which will
bear close investigation and scrutiny, for his interests have been conducted
along most honorable lines.
He is one of the county's native sons,
having been born in Whitefield township on the 15th of April, 1837. His
father, William ROWE, was a native of Cornwall, England, and in that country
was reared and educated. He was also married there to Miss Harriet PETERS,
likewise a native of that country, and in the year 1834 they crossed the
Atlantic to the new world. On arriving at New York William ROWE with his
family proceeded directly to Cincinnati, Ohio. A younger brother of his had
some time previously emigrated to America and, visiting Illinois with a view
of locating, was well pleased with the country and therefore advised William
ROWE not to tarry in Ohio but to proceed directly to the Prairie state.
Therefore, procuring teams at Cincinnati, the brothers at once started for
Illinois and while en route they met Charles KNOCK, who was also on his way
to Marshall county and in company they completed the journey. Only two years
before had the Black Hawk war been fought and some Indians still lingered in
the neighborhood, while many evidences of pioneer life were to be seen in
the wild unbroken prairies and the uncut timber. Only here and there had a
settler built his cabin and begun the work of developing a farm. Following
his arrival William ROWE made selection of a tract of government land on
section 13, Whitefield township, but not being accessible to market he
"squatted" on a claim near the present village of Henry. Mr. KNOCK settled
two miles below Henry on the present line of the railroad, while the
brother, Sampson ROWE, first located where the village of Henry is now
situated, but subsequently removed to Sugar Grove in Whitefield township.
For twenty years he lived on that farm and then, selling his property,
removed to Missouri, where he remained until after the war, when he again
returned to Marshall county, where he died some years ago.
When
William Rowe reached Illinois his financial possessions were quite limited,
but he made the journey with the hope that he might better his condition in
a free land where opportunities were greater and results were more quickly
attained. He lived a life of industry, diligence and frugality, was
economical in his habits and possessed a steadfast determination to succeed.
The years came and went and he prospered, adding to his landed possessions
as his financial resources increased until he was the owner of one thousand
and forty-five acres at the time of his death. In early days timber land was
thought to be more valuable than the open prairie and he accordingly
invested in such. His first home in Illinois was a little log cabin such as
was typical of the pioneer period and in that frontier home most of his
children were born. Later this place gave way to a brick residence which
still stands upon the farm and in which William Rowe spent his last days.
The house was built in the latter part of the '40s but is still in a good
state of preservation. Mr. ROWE not only assisted in the material upbuilding
and improvement of the county through the development of his agricultural
interests but was also well known as a leader in local political circles and
was a stanch champion of the republican party from the time of its
organization. He served in various local offices, the duties of which were
discharged with promptness and fidelity. In all life's relations he
commanded the confidence and respect of those with whom he came in contact
and the community deeply mourned his loss when in August, 1863, he passed
away at the comparatively early age of fifty-four years. His wife survived
him for more than twenty years, and passed away in 1885 at the home of one
of her daughters in Iowa, with whom she had lived for several years.
In the family of William and Harriet ROWE were ten children, of whom six are
yet living: Sampson T., of this review; Mary Ann, the wife of William
MANCHESTER, of Clinton county, Iowa; Ella Maria, the wife of Robert WARD, of
Lamar, Buchanan county, Iowa; John P., who follows farming in Kansas;
William A., who is living in Henry; and Roger T., also a resident of Henry.
Those who have passed away are: Carolina, the deceased wife of William
PAYNE, of Lucas county, Iowa ; Emma Harriet, who married George HARRIS and
died in Henry; Elizabeth Rebecca, who married Jacob MANCHSTER and removed to
Clinton county, Iowa, where she passed away; and Joseph Henry, who died at
the age of nine years.
Sampson T. ROWE has spent his entire life in
Marshall county. He was reared amid pioneer scenes and environments and
shared with the family in the hardships and privations of life on the
frontier, also enjoying its pleasures and its opportunities. His memory
forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive
present and he justly deserves mention among the leading early settlers of
this part of the state. His education was acquired in the district schools,
which he attended through the winter months, while in the summer seasons he
worked upon the farm. He early became familiar with farm work in every
department and assisted in the cultivation of the old homestead until the
death of his father, when he took entire charge and for ten years operated
the farm. The youngest of the heirs having then attained majority, the
property was divided and Sampson ROWE removed to his present residence,
which is an excellent farm of three hundred and ninety acres on section 24,
Whitefield township. This was a part of the old homestead which he inherited
and also the portion of a younger brother from whom he purchased it. As the
years passed by and he saw opportunity for judicious investment he extended
the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises over five hundred acres.
He owns altogether one thousand acres of land in Marshall county and is
therefore one of its most extensive realty holders. For some years he gave
much attention to feeding cattle and hogs and has likewise been a breeder of
horses. He is also engaged in raising sheep and at all times fine grades of
stock have been found upon his place, while his fields have been carefully
tilled and have brought forth rich crops. He has lived a life of industry
and enterprise and has displayed keen business discernment in the management
of his property and the further purchase of land.
Mr. ROWE was
married on the 20th of March, 1872, to Miss Ellen S. TIDMARSH, who was born
in Wiltshire, England, and was brought to America when but six years of age
by her parents, Abel and Elizabeth (WILTS) TIDMARSH, who located in the
neighborhood of ROWEs, Illinois, but subsequently took up their abode near
Varna in Roberts township, Marshall county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. ROWE have been
born seven children: William A., who married Bertha Leona GREEN and follows
farming on section 16, Whitefield township; Edward Marshall, who married
Amanda MILLER, of Henry, and also follows farming in the same neighborhood;
Mrs. Ann Elizabeth COKER, a resident of Henry, Illinois; Henry Sampson, who
follows farming on a place adjoining his father's home; Charles Garfield,
who is connected with business interests in Henry; Francis Taylor and Eugene
Lloyd, who are at home with their father and assist him in the work of the
farm. There are now several grandchildren, William having six children,
Edward three, Mrs. COKER one and Henry two children.
Mr. ROWE saw the
beginnings of the republican party, became an endorser of its principles and
since attaining his majority has given to it his strong and stalwart support
but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He holds
membership in the Grange, and the family are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church at Henry. From a very early period in the history of this
county the name of ROWE has been an honored one here and the life of Sampson
T. ROWE has added new luster to the record, because in all life's relations
he has been upright and honorable and in business affairs has been
straightforward and trustworthy, never taking advantage of the necessities
of his fellowmen in any trade transaction but depending for his prosperity
upon unfaltering perseverance, unabating energy and careful investment.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
| Bureau | Putnam | |
| Stark |
 |
La Salle |
| Peoria | Woodford |
