Born: Delaware County, New York.
Died: Laramie, Wyoming, 1893.
Mr. Rowe was first a blacksmith, and the action of the smith characterized, in a measure, his public ministry--he hit hard licks. He began to preach at the Berea Church, in Morgan County, in 1852. His last sermon was on Christmas Day, 1892, on "Posting the Books for Fifty Years." He did successful work in Illinois for many years. Mr. T. T. Holton furnishes the following incidents that will portray the man and his manner:
When pastor of the church at Berlin in the sixties, he was walking to church on Sunday morning when his attention was attracted by a sapsucker at work. He was impressed and said to himself, "That bird never planted the tree, and had it been left to him there would have been no sap there." Instantly the sermon he had prepared for that morning was placed on file and he proceeded to make some shoes that would fit, as was his manner. He spoke of human parasites, hangers on, deadbeats, legislators who traveled on passes while the masses paid their railroad fares, and members of the board of equalization who did the same; of the leeches and bloodsuckers of society; of loafing big boys who ate the bread of their mothers' toil; of "sanctified" husbands who loafed at stores while their wives made the living; of the fellows who came to help after the fire was out, and, by contrast, of the praise and credit that should be given honest laborers in all necessary industries. The sermon was remembered many years.
Another incident was:
Mr. Rowe began a protracted meeting in a country church in Illinois. The first night the people came in crowds and with them came many dogs--he guessed the number at sixty. In the main there was no particular disturbance until two of the unfriendly curs came into collision. He met the emergency by saying just before dismission: "Now, brethren, the dogs are all right. They seem to enjoy being here. They like to come to church. They like to be with their folks. A dog would rather be with a man than to be with another dog. I find no fault with the dog or his master. But, brethren, dogs have no souls. The preacher has no mission to dogs and the attendance of so many dogs with different dispositions, and different views upon the subjects of the day, may cause a clash and seriously interfere with the meeting. Now, will you not all just tie up your dogs to-morrow night at home and see how we will get along without them." The suggestion was fully acted upon. The next night Mr. Rowe was well up on Jacob's ladder in his sermon, when a startling crash was heard, the door flew wide open, and a great dog, with chain about his neck and an attached post upon his shoulders, moved to the front of the platform, stopped and looked with evident satisfaction at the audience. The sermon ended and every one laughed. The post was detached and the dog led out. Mr. Rowe concluded the meeting as follows: "Brethren, there is a great lesson for all of us in what we have seen here to-night. This pious dog has taught us what we should not forget. He wanted to come to meeting to-night because he had been here before. I have just learned that he has been a regular attendant. You can not keep the regulars away. You can not tie them up so they will not break away and come. Brethren, get the habit of being here and you will like it and can't be kept away. Then, this good dog wanted to be with his folks. He chose his society. He was restless away from those who befriended him. So ought those to be who stay away from the house of God. Wake up and come where you will enjoy your best friends. This brave dog tugged at his post that held him and never let up till he was with his folks in the house of the Lord. I close with one suggestion, that this pious dog be allowed to be present every night of the meeting if he chooses to come. Let us be dismissed."