James Reid Gow (1876 - 1961)

Born 18 Apr 1876 in North Hartland, Niagara, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Myra Belle (Branch) Gow — married 7 Dec 1904 in Newfane, Niagara, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 21 Dec 1961 at age 85 in North Hartland, Niagara, New York, United States

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Biography

James was born in 1876. He passed away before 1961.

Sources

• *First-hand family information

In Volume two of Niagara County New York, A Concise Record of Her Progress And People, 1821-1921, by Edward T. Williams and published by J. H. Beers & Company, Chicago, there is a biography for J. Reid Gow.

“J. REID GOW, who is one of the best known men of the town of Hartland, successful farmer and heavy fruit grower, was born on the farm on which he resides, in the town of Hartland, Niagara county, N. Y., April 18, 1876.

His parents were John and Janet (Reid) Gow, who for many years were known and esteemed throughout this section of the county.

Mr. Gow’s ancestry leads back to Scotland, in which land his mother was born and from which came his paternal grandparents, Alexander and Agnes (Carlaw) Gow, to the United States about 1827. They settled first at Albany, N. Y., moved from there to Cortland county, and in 1830 they bought the farm in the town of Hartland, now owned by their grandson, J. Reid Gow, but did not settle on it until three years afterward. Here the grandfather died on June 2, 1875, and the grandmother, March 20, 1874. Their six children are deceased.

John Gow, father of J. Reid Gow, was born at Lockport, N. Y., Nov. 10, 1831, and was about three years old when brought to the town of Hartland, where his life passed. He was a man of sterling character, industries, upright and provident, and in his death, which occurred March 4, 1909, Niagara county lost one of her worthiest citizens. The mother of Mr. Gow survived the father for ten years, passing away on Feb., 21, 1919. Their children were seven in number, six of whom grew to maturity, one dying in infancy. The others were: Jessie, who is the wife of George Waring, lives near Newfane; Alexander, who lives in Canada; Agnes C., who died Aug. 27, 1905; Margaret, who lives at Niagara Falls; J. Ried; and Oscar, who resides at Newfane.

J. Ried Gow obtained a public school education in the town of Hartland and at Lockport. For about five years in early manhood, he taught school at Pendleton, Newfane and Lewiston, but his natural inclination has always been in the direction of agricultural pursuits. In 1900 he bought the old homestead and has occupied it ever since and is counted with the extensive raisers of wheat and potatoes in this section, and large growers of fruit, devoting twenty acres to the production of apples, peaches and pears. His farm comprises 110 acres and under his progressive methods, not a foot of his land is unremunerative. He is greatly interested in scientific farm development and is a member of the Niagara County Farmers Club.

On Dec. 7, 1904, Mr. Gow was married to Myra Branch, who was born in the town of Newfane, Niagara county, a daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Ferris) Branch, old residents of that section. Mr. and Mrs. Gow have had children as follows: Gladys A., Helen R., John Walter, Robert Melvin, George Andrew and Myra Belle, all surviving except the eldest.

As a good citizen ever mindful of his town’s good name and best interests, Mr. Gow takes part in public matters but has never accepted any political office except in connection with the public schools. He is serving as a school director and as school trustee in School District No. 2, town of Hartland. He is a trustee also of the Methodist Episcopal Church at North Hartland, of which he is a member and in which he is superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a member of Newfane Lodge No. 947, F. & A. M. One might go far without finding a more honorable, straight-forward man than J. Reid Gow and his fellow citizens appreciate, respect and esteem him.”