Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/406

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Maurice B. Rowe. Attached to the army who defended the Heights was the father of Captain Broaddus and at a later period he also served with the army in the quarter- master's department, although but a boy of fifteen years. The Rowe family for many years has been prominently connected offi- cially with the city life of Fredericksburg, Absalom Peyton Rowe. father of the pres- ent generation, occupying the mayor's chair for twelve years. One of his sons, Josiah P. Rowe, is now the incumbent of that of- fice, another son. .A. Prescott Rowe, city collecter of taxes and manager of the Free Lance-Star Publishing Company. Absa- lom Peyton Rowe was the son of Rev. George Rowe, a Baptist minister and large plantation owner of Stafford county, Vir- ginia, born 1789, died 1866. He married a Miss Leitch who bore him five sons, and three daughters, but one of whom is now living, Mrs. Ella Brown, of Richmond, Vir- ginia. The sons were : Absalom Peyton, of further mention ; John G. and R. Semple, ministers of the Methodist Episcopal church ; George H. C. and Cephas, lawyers ; daughters : Ella, above mentioned, Mrs. Fanny King and Mrs. Mary Ann Luck.

Absalom Peyton, son of Rev. George Rowe. was born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, and moved to Fredericksburg, Vir- ginia, when a boy. He became a produce merchant of that city, continuing for many years, finally retiring to a stock farm where he became a well-known breeder of blooded farm stock. He served in the Confederate army as quartermaster, and for tvi^elve years was mayor of Fredericksburg, also serving two years in the Virginia house of delegates. He died in 1900, aged eighty-three years. He married Almeda Francis Gayle, born in Caroline county, Virginia, but moved with her parents in youth to Spottsylvania. She died in July, 1913, aged eighty-five years. She was the daughter of Josiah P. Gayle. of Caroline and Spottsylvania counties, died 1870, aged seventy-two years, and his wife, Fanny (Gatewood) Gayle, who died in 1B74, aged seventy-three j'ears, leaving children : Mordecai W., Almeda F., Josiah P., Ro- berta, Margaret, Betty, Thomas B., the only living son ; two daughters, Roberta and Margaret, both married, are also living (1914). Four of the eight children of Ab- salom P. and Almeda F. Rowe are living: Captain Maurice B., of whom further ; Josiah

P., the present mayor of Fredericksburg ; A. Prescott. manager of the Free Lance- Star Publishing Company; and Alvin T., a merchant of Fredericksburg.

Captain Maurice Broaddus Rowe was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, February 2j. 1850. He attended the public schools until the last year of the war between the states, then joined his father in the quarter- master's department of the Confederate army. After the war was over and Absa- lom P. Rowe began his stock raising oper- ations, Maurice B. was his assistant for sev- eral years, later engaging in the same busi- ness for himself and so continues. His farm is part of the old battle field of Fred- ericksburg, then known as St. Mar^f's Heights, now Brompton, and over these acres consecrated by the blood of thous- ands of brave men his herds of Jersey and Guernsey cattle now graze. His home is a fine colonial mansion and here he welcomes and entertains his friends with the same genume hospitality that has made southern homes famous. He has large business in- terests in the city, is president of the Planters' National Bank, also interested in a profitable grocery business and in other activities of importance. Captain Rowe served in the Spanish-American war as cap- tain of Company K, Third Regiment Vir- ginia \'olunteers, which with his civil war experience makes him a veteran of the two wars waged during his life time. In civil affairs he has also attained prominence, hav- ing represented his district four terms in the \'irginia house of delegates and for twelve years was a member of the city council and recorder. He is a member of the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Knights of Pythias and the Owls. In political faith he is a Democrat, and in religious belief a Baptist.

Captain Rowe married. June 15, 1876, in Caroline comity. Virginia, near Sparta, Cora, daughter of John L. Motley, who died in 1888, a Confederate veteran, and his wife Maria, also deceased. Of the fourteen chil- dren of Captain Rowe six are living: Pey- ton, a member of State Dairy and Food Commission, Richmond, Virginia ; Lena, of Clifton Springs, New York; Mary D., mar- ried Edv^'ard W. Chappell. of Waverly, Vir- ginia; Leland, of the United States Hospi- tal Corps, stationed at Boston, Massachu- setts ; Cora, residing at home ; Maurice, now