Absalom P. Rowe
Absalom P. Rowe | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the Fredericksburg district | |
| In office 1879–1880 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Absalom Peyton Rowe November 17, 1817 Spotsylvania County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | June 1, 1900 (aged 82) Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Fredericksburg City Cemetery |
| Spouse |
Almedia Frances Gayle
(m. 1845) |
| Children | 8, including Maurice |
| Relatives | Maurice B. Rowe III (great-grandson) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Nickname | Marse Ab |
Absalom Peyton Rowe (November 17, 1817 – June 1, 1900) was an American politician from Virginia. He served as mayor of Fredericksburg, Virginia, from 1888 to 1896 and from 1898 to his death. He also served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1879 to 1880.
Early life
[edit]Absalom Peyton Rowe was born on November 17, 1817, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, to George Rowe. His father was a Baptist minister. At the age of five, he moved with his family to Fredericksburg.[1]
Career
[edit]Rowe worked as a produce merchant in Fredericksburg and after a number of years, he managed a stock farm and worked as a breeder. He served in the Confederate States Army as a quartermaster.[2]
Rowe was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing Fredericksburg, from 1879 to 1880. He served as mayor of Fredericksburg from July 1, 1888, to June 30, 1896, and from July 1, 1898, to his death. He was re-elected as mayor on May 24, 1900, shortly before his death.[1][3][4] While mayor, he helped support the building of the Mary Washington statue in Fredericksburg.[5]
Rowe was the first president of the Agricultural Society.[5]
Personal life
[edit]Rowe married Almedia Frances Gayle, daughter of Fanny (née Gatewood) and Josiah P. Gayle, on June 2, 1845.[2][6][7] They had eight children, including Maurice Broaddus, Josiah P., A. Prescott and Alvin T. His son Maurice was a state delegate and his son Josiah also served as mayor of Fredericksburg.[1][2][5][8] His grandson Josiah P. Rowe Jr. also served as mayor of Fredericksburg.[9] His great-grandson was Maurice B. Rowe III.[10] Rowe was a member of the Baptist Church in Fredericksburg.[6] He went by the nickname "Marse Ab".[4]
Rowe died on June 1, 1900, at his home on Hanover Street in Fredericksburg.[1] He was buried in Fredericksburg City Cemetery.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Mayor Rowe Dead". Fredericksburg Daily Star. June 1, 1900. p. 3. Retrieved September 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Lyon Gardiner Tyler (1915). Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Vol. 5. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 826. Retrieved September 3, 2024 – via Archive.org.
- ^ Quinn, S. J. (1908). The History of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The Hermitage Press, Inc. p. 338. Retrieved September 3, 2024 – via Archive.org.
- ^ a b Goolrick, John T. (1922). Historic Fredericksburg: The Story of an Old Town. Whittet & Shepperson. pp. 113–114. Retrieved September 4, 2024 – via Archive.org.
- ^ a b c "Death of Mayor A. P. Rowe". The Free-Lance. June 2, 1900. p. 3. Retrieved September 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Mayor A. P. Rowe". The Richmond Times. June 2, 1900. p. 2. Retrieved September 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Inventory of Church Archives of Virginia. Vol. 1. 1940. p. 224. Retrieved September 3, 2024 – via Archive.org.
- ^ Goolrick, John T. (1922). Historic Fredericksburg: The Story of an Old Town. p. 157. Retrieved September 3, 2024 – via Archive.org.
- ^ "Josiah Rowe, Editor and Fredericksburg Mayor, Dies in Sleep". The Evening Star. September 7, 1949. p. 10. Retrieved September 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Obituaries & In Memoriam: Rowe, Maurice". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 29, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ "Funeral of Mayor Rowe". The Richmond Dispatch. June 3, 1900. p. 14. Retrieved September 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
