Page:The Dictionary of Australasian Biography.djvu/456

 Stow, Jefferson Pickman, S.M., second son of the late Rev. (q.v.) was born on Sept. 4th, 1830, at Buntingford, Hertfordshire, and came to South Australia with his parents in 1837. After engaging in farming pursuits, he went to the Victorian diggings in 1856, and to the Northern Territory in 1864. In the following year he formed one of a party of seven who sailed from Adam Bay in the Northern Territory to Champion Bay in Western Australia in a small ship's boat named the Forlorn Hope. An account of this expedition was published by Mr. Stow, who in 1876 was appointed editor of the South Australian Advertiser in succession to Mr. Harcus. Mr. Stow is the author of "South Australia: its History, Productions and Natural Resources," compiled at the request of the South Australian government for circulation at the Calcutta Exhibition, and published in 1883. It is a well written and concise manual, and has had an extensive circulation in Australia, England and India. Mr. Stow was appointed a magistrate in 1884, and in 1886 Commissioner of Insolvency, and Special and Stipendiary Magistrate at Mount Gambier.  Stow, His Honour Randolph Isham, sometime judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia, was the eldest son of the late Rev. (q.v.), and was born in Suffolk on Dec. 17th, 1828. He came to Adelaide with his parents in 1837, and was educated at Mr. Wylie's school. He was articled to the legal firm of Bartley & Bakewell, with whom he became a partner, but commenced practice on his own account in 1859. Mr. Justice Stow was member for West Torrens in the Legislative Assembly from 1861 to 1862, for Victoria from 1863 to 1864, for East Torrens from 1867 to 1868, and for Light from 1873 to 1875. He was very successful in the practice of his profession, and was Attorney-General in the Reynolds Ministry from May to Oct. 1861, in that of Mr. Waterhouse from Oct. 1861 to July 1863, in that of Mr. Ayers from July to August 1864; and in the Blyth Government from August 1864 to March 1865. In 1875 Mr. Stow, who was a Q.C., and the leader of the Adelaide bar, was made a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia in succession to Mr. Justice, who was drowned in the Gothenburg. Mr. Justice Stow died on Sept. 17th, 1878.  Stow, Rev. Thomas Quentin, who was born at Hadleigh, Suffolk, on July 7th, 1801, emigrated to South Australia in 1837, and became the first minister of the Congregational Church erected in North Terrace, Adelaide. He was, in fact, the first regular clergyman of any religious body who officiated in South Australia, with the exception of the Rev. C. B. Howard, the Colonial Chaplain. The church in North Terrace was built of pines and reeds, Mr. Stow assisting the labourers in the erection of the building. In England he had commenced his pastorate at Framlingham, Suffolk, and afterwards preached at Buntingford in Hertfordshire, and at Halstead in Essex, leaving the latter place to go to South Australia under the auspices of the Colonial Missionary Society. For a short time after his arrival in Adelaide, in Oct. 1837 he preached in a tent, and after leaving North Terrace occupied the pulpit of the Freeman Street Church. He died at Sydney whilst on a visit on July 19th, 1862. Mr. Stow was one of the most able opponents of the introduction of state aid to religion from 1846 to 1851, and the failure of the attempt was largely owing to his vigorous efforts. The esteem in which he was held is attested by the erection of the Stow Memorial Church in Adelaide, which was built to perpetuate the public esteem in which he was held.  Strachan, Hon. James Ford, was an early settler in Port Phillip (Vict.), and a leading merchant in Melbourne, in which city he built the first brick store. He was an active promoter of separation from New South Wales, and when the colony of Victoria was constituted in 1851 he was returned to the semi-elective Legislative Council, then the only chamber, as member for Geelong in October of that year. After responsible government was conceded in 1855, Mr. Strachan was elected to the first wholly elective Legislative Council for the South-western Province. He was a member of the second Ministry without portfolio from April 1857 to March 1858. During the great constitutional battle between the two Houses on the tariff and Darling grant "tacks" Mr. Strachan took a leading part on the side of the Council,  440