Jonas Rowe (1839 - 1923)

Born 11 May 1839 in Mifflin Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, US

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah Sevilla (Martz) Rowe — married 1859 in Berrysburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 6 Apr 1923 at age 83 in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, US

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kevin Whisler [send private message]

Biography

ROW, JONAS, farmer and justice of the peace, was born in Mifflin township, now Washington township, Dauphin county, Pa., May 11, 1839. His grandfather, William Row, was of English descent, and was a carpenter and farmer. He married Barbara Rudy, also of English extraction. His son, Jacob Row, father of Jonas Row, was born in Lykens Valley, in 1812. He owned, improved and worked a farm of ninety acres in Washington township in connection with which he carried on a butchering business, also a store at Matterstown. He married Susan Matter, born in Mifin township. They had nine children : Jonas; Catherine, widow of

Daniel Carle; Susanna, wife of J. Matter, of Harrisburg; Melinda, widow of Samuel Koppenberger; Amanda, wife of Henry Bechtel, plasterer, Elizabethville; Sarah, wife of John Lebo, Schuylkill county; Adam, deceased; Samuel, of Schuylkill county; Isaac, resides on homestead, at Matterstown. Mr. Row first held Democratic views in politics, but changed for a time to the Republican party, and finally returned to the Democratic party.

He has served as supervisor of roads, tax collector, and in other offices. He died in Schuylkill county at the age of eighty-two. Mr. Row was well known and highly respected. He was comfortably cared for in his declining years by his faithful son, Jonas. He was a member of the old school Lutheran church, in which he was deacon and trustee, also Sunday-school superintendent and teacher. Mrs. Row died in Washington township.

Jonas Row attended the schools of Washinaton township in the winter, and worked with his father in the various departments of his business until he was twenty-one years of age. On reaching his majority he was employed by his father on wages. He worked two years on the homestead farm, at Matterstown, and two years in Lykens Valley, at butchering, etc.

In 1863 Mr. Row enlisted, at Harrisburg, in the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, under Colonel Jennings and Captain Bell. He participated in the battle of Gettysburg, and was wounded in the knee, the result of which was to lame him fur life. He was discharged at the end of three months' service, but re-enlisted in the fall of 1863, in company F, Sixteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, under Colonel Robinson and Capt. J. H. Ressler. He was at Petersburg five days, and on account of bravery in action was promoted to the rank of orderly to General Gregg. Mr. Row was at the surrender of General Lee, and was rnustered out of service in 1865. He returned home and engaged in trading in Lykens V:cllcy for two years, after which he bought thirty-three acres of land and added twenty-two acres more, in Washington township. This farm he improved at an expense of $5,000. But Mr. Row became security for a friend, through which he sustained a loss of $4000, and was forced to sell his farm which brought only $5,000. In 1890 he removed to Jefferson township and purchased eighty acres, the buildings on which he remodeled and enlarged, and fitted the place for farming and stock raising.

Mr. Row was married, in Washington township, October 23, 1859, to Susan S. Martz, born in Upper Paxton township, September 25, 1845. They have seven children: Jacob C., born October 27, 1860, operates in mines, Tower City, Schuylkill county, Pa.; Theodore and Charles, twins, born November 9, 1862, deceased; Ida A., born May 15, 1864, wife of Henry Harman, Halifax township; Ira U., born January 11, 1867,deceased; Eve Jennie, born January 27, 1868, deceased; Oliver G., born April 12, 1869, deceased. Mrs. Row died December 28, 1870, in Washington township. The second wife of Mr. Row was Catherine R., daughter of David Matter, of Washington township, born in that township, in 1844. They have no children. Mr. Row is a Republican, served as supervisor of roads for two terms, and justice of the peace for two years. He belongs to Helner Post, G. A. R., at Lykens.

Mr. and Mrs. Row are members of the Lutheran church, in which he has served as deacon and in other offices, and is Sunday school superintendent and teacher. Mr. Row has led a busy and somewhat eventful life. He has met misfortunes with a brave and cheerful heart. His wife is a genial woman and a true helpmeet. They are surrounded by friends who honor them for their worth. From the Historical Society Gazette of Halifax Pennsylvania, Volume 3, number 4, Summer 1990

Sources

• https://familysearch.org/tree/#view=ancestor&section=details&person=LZTD-DK7&parents=277X-4QX_LZTD-DKX