William Henry ROWE
1850 - 1924 (73 years)-
Name William Henry ROWE Birth 20 Aug 1850 Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland 
Gender Male Census 1860 Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland [1] Census 1870 Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois [2] Census 1900 Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois [3] Death 29 Jan 1924 Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois [4, 5] Burial Oakwood Cemetery, Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois [6] 
Siblings5 brothers and 2 sisters Person ID I48 bmds Last Modified 21 Jun 2020
Father Joseph R. ROW, b. 10 Dec 1827, Washington, Maryland d. 8 Jul 1910, Dallas Center, Dallas, Iowa (Age 82 years) Mother Nancy MYERS, b. 16 Nov 1830, Maryland d. 2 Nov 1870, Leaf River, Ogle, Illinois (Age 39 years) Family ID F40 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Alice SWINGLEY, b. 27 Jul 1852, Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois d. 25 Dec 1920, Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois (Age 68 years) Marriage 23 Sep 1875 Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois Age at Marriage William : 25 years old | Alice : 23 years old. Children 3 sons and 2 daughters + 1 
. Edith Laura ROWE, b. 2 Aug 1876, Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois d. 4 Aug 1956, Polo, Ogle, Illinois (Age 80 years)+ 2 . Benjamin Swingley ROWE, b. 29 Oct 1879, Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois d. 7 Sep 1964, Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois (Age 84 years)+ 3 . Effie Mae ROWE, b. 6 Dec 1882, Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois d. 23 Jan 1959, Oregon, Ogle, Illinois (Age 76 years)+ 4 . Frank Oliver ROWE, b. 8 Nov 1888, Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois d. 26 Nov 1956, Oregon, Ogle, Illinois (Age 68 years)+ 5 . Morris William ROWE, b. 30 Jan 1894, Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois d. 6 Oct 1963, Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois (Age 69 years)Family ID F50 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Event Map 
Birth - 20 Aug 1850 - Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland Census - 1860 - Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland 
Census - 1870 - Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois Marriage - 23 Sep 1875 - Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois Census - 1900 - Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois Death - 29 Jan 1924 - Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois 
Burial - - Oakwood Cemetery, Mount Morris, Ogle, Illinois Pin Legend 
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Notes - Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Ogle County, Volume II, by Horace and Rebecca Kauffman, 1909. Page 1006):
ROW, William Henry — No more earnest and enlightened exponent of twentieth century farming methods has been evolved from the experiences of the past half century in Ogle, than is found in William Henry Row, who was born in Washington, Md., August 28, 1850, and came to this part of Illinois with his parents, Joseph and Nancy Row, during the summer of 1865. Benjamin Row, the paternal uncle of William Henry, came here in 1855, and in 1870 removed to Dallas, Iowa, where he is engaged in lumber business. Joseph Row seems to have followed closely upon the fortunes of his brother Benjamin, for in 1875 he also located in Dallas, Iowa, and after many years of successful farming, is enjoying in fair health and excellent spirits the approach of his eigthy-first year. Besides his son, William H., he had a son Martin, who went in Iowa about 1876 and was killed there by the cars in 1898. His son Courtney, after losing his wife, moved too his present home in Iowa. A daughter, Mary, lived for some years in Iowa, but now makes her home in Mount Morris with her retired husband, William Marshall. Nettie Row married, first William Smith, and now is the wife of Henry Miller, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Like many another youth of limited resources, William Henry Row entered his preferred arena of life throuth the ante-chamber of school teaching, equipping himself therefor in the country schools and the high school at Forreston. For twelve consecutive years he taught in the winter and farmed in the summer, and September 23, 1875, was united in marriage to Alice Swingley, daugher of Benjamin Swingley, and cousin of Nathaniel Swingley, partner of Samuel Hitt. Benjamin Swingley came in 1847 with his family of four children from Washington, Maryland, locating on what since has been the swingley farm, two miles north of Mount Morris. In 1892, Mr. Swingley moved to the town of Mount Morris, where his wife died the following year, and thereafter he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Joseph Moats, until the latter’s death four years latter. He then went to live with his daughter Ellen, wife of J. E. McCoy, and there his life came to an and September 8, 1905, at the age of eighty-nine years. He was one of the original members of the Silver Creek Brethren, and until old age laid its limitations upon him, he was an active worker and deacon in the church.
After his marriage, Mr. Row for three years rented a part of the Reuben Marshall farm, then mad his first land purchase of forty acres in Pine Creek Mount Morris Township. This land he operated in summer teaching school in winter, and at the end of four years, in 1881, bought 120 acres a mile and a half north of Mount Morris. For this land he paid $55 an acre, which was by no means cheap, as it was flat and undrained, and far from being a model of fertility. Owing to the untiring energy and good judgment of the new owner, it was converted into an admirable property, and in 1904 it was sold for $125 per acre, a gain of seventy dollars over the original cost. Mr. Row engaged in general farming an stock-raising on a large scale, rotated his crops to insure greater fertility and energy of soil, and fed large numbers of stock each year. He was widely recognized as a farmer who kept pace with the times, and was as much in accord with scintific agriculture when he abandoned the calling as he was when starting in to carve his fortune unaided. He now is living on a place on and a half miles north of Mount Morris, where he has an ideal country home, modern in every particular, and furnished with electricity obtained from the town. He owns forty acres of splendid land, which he contemplates converting into as fine and productive property as can be found in the, and this, with a home recognized as the superior of anything thus far constructed outside of the city limits, gives him a prominent place among the most abitious and progressive landsmen of his section. He also owns a farm of 280 acres, three miles east, in Rockvale Township, now being operated by himself.
Politically, Mr. Row is a Democrat, but he does not blindly follow the supposed leaders of his party. He was not in favor of free-silver, but stanchly defended the cause of sound money. He is not a member of any church, but is philanthropically inclined, and a generous donator to any worthy local cause. In all respects Mr. Row is a home man, devoted to his family and friends, and to the improvement of his agricultural surroundings. He has led an exceptionnaly moderate an temperate life, avoiding th temptations and excitement of office, and caring little for the diversions afforded in his wide awake and progressive community. Of his five children, Edith, formerly a teacher for four years, is the wife of Fay Coffman, of Buffalo Township ; Benjamin is operating his own farm of eighty acres in Mt. Morris Township ; and Effie, Frank and Morris are living in the paternal home.
Will from Record of Wills in Ogle, IL (27 April 1996):William H. Row of the Village of Mount Morris County of Ogle and state of Illinois being of sound mind memory and understanding do make this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows:
I name and appoint my son Frank O. Row and my son-in-law Alva Houpt jointly as Executors of my will and direct that they shall not be required to give bond. After paying all my just and lawful debts and my burial expenses and the expenses of adminstration said adminstrators shall make distribution of my estate as follows.
a. To Oakwood cemetery association shall be paid the sum of three hundred dollars for the upkeep and care of my family lot therein
b. To Plainview cemetery association shall be paid the sum of fifty dollars for the care of the graves of my wifes grandparents
c. To Silver Creek Cemetery shall be paid the sum of one hundred fifty dollars for the care of the graves of my wife’s parents Benjamin Swingley and Catherine Swingley and my parents Joseph Row and Nancy Row.
d. And the residue of my estate shall be given to my children Edith L. Coffman, Benjamin S. Row, Effie May Houpt, Frank O. Row, and Morris W. Row share and share alike any idebtedness that may exist against any of the aforesaid on account of my monies or other valuable contributions that they may have received from me shall be reckoned as so much paid in the above distribution.
I direct that the aforesaid executors shall make an effort and if not to disadvantage so to do, to sell all of my property both Real and personal within two years after my demise provided however that if in the judgement of a majority of my above named children my said property might bring more advantagious income by waiting longer the time may be extended a resonable time beyond two years, and in any question concerning the management or disposal of my estate a majority of my children may decide and the executrs shall comply with the wishes of said majority.
In witness whereof I William H. Row, the testator, have to this, my last will and testament, set my hand and my seal this first day of August A.D. 1921.William H. Row
Signed Sealed published and declared by the above named William H. Row as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who have hereunto subscribed our names at his request, as witnesses thereto, in presence of the said testator and of each other. — D.S. Cripe, W.W. Peacock
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Sources - [S23] 1860 US Census.
Household (head: Joseph Row)
- [S22] 1870 US Census.
Household (head: Joseph Row)
- [S12] 1900 US Census.
Household (head: William Rowe)
- [S15] Internet.
Source: Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947.
William H. Row | d: 29 Jan 1924 (Mount Morris, Ogle, IL) | b: 28 Aug 1850 (MD) | Father: Joseph Row | Mother: Nancy Kennedy | Spouse: Alice Row
- [S4] Obituary.
Mr. William Rowe is Laid to Rest – Well known Mount Morris Man Passes away after suffering stoke of paralysis. – Was Born Near Hagerstown, Md., in 1850 – Has Been Resident of This Vicinity for Nearly 60 Years. Survived by Five Children.
As mentioned in last weeks’ paper Mr. William Rowe, well known Mount Morris man, was laid to rest last Friday afternoon after a week’s illness due to a paralytic stroke suffered a week previous. His death came as a shock to his many friends hereabouts as up to the time of being stricken he had appeared in excellent health and was a familiar figure about the streets, always being interested in the doings of his neighbors and friends. Mr. Rowe was a former well known Rockvale farmer, moving from there to the farm at the cross roads just north of town, now occupied and owned by Mr. Robert Clark. He built the fine modern house now located there. Later he moved to Mount Morris where he built the find house which he occupied jointly with his son, Morris and family, until the time of his death. His wife passed away several years ago and her death was a great shock to him.
Mr. William H. Rowe was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, on August 28, 1850, and died at Mount Morris, Illinois, on January 29, 1924, age 73 years, 5 months and 1 day. He came to Illinois in March, 1865, having resided in and near Mount Morris.
- [S5] Find A Grave, → Memorial ID 9345436.
- [S22] 1870 US Census.
- [S23] 1860 US Census.