Joseph Rowe

January 8, 1822 - January 14, 1913

Joseph Johnson Rowe was born in East Philadelphia territory on January 8, 1822.  He had 3 brothers, one of whom became a sea captain.  As a young lad, Joseph was bound out for 4 years as an apprentice shoemaker.  When his brother the sea captain found that young Joseph was being abused he kidnapped him and took him to sea to raise.  As a young man in 1845, he married Martha Clement Moore and pioneered to the Midwest, settling in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.  The last 4 of the 8 children were born in Wisconsin, the town of Mitchell near Plymouth, where Joseph pursued the occupations of carpentry and farming as was often the custom, the former bringing in much needed cash.  Joseph came to Clark County with his son, Will Rowe, and the youngest of his children who were not remaining in Sheboygan County.  Joseph lived to a age of 91 spending his later years in the home of his daughter, Mary (nee Rowe) Redman.  He succumbed on January 14, 1913 and was buried in the York Center Cemetery.  Along with his wife, Martha (nee Moore) Rowe, Joseph's son, William M. Rowe and many of his descendants are also buried in York Center Cemetery.