My Genealogy Hound

William J. Rowe, farmer, Greenville Township, Clark County. Upon reaching the age when it became necessary for him to choose some calling in life to which he would afterward adhere as his chosen occupation, Mr. Rowe at once wisely adopted agricultural pursuits, and this has continued to receive his attention. As well known as he is it is unnecessary for us to add what the results of these years of labor have been. He was born in Lawrence County, Ala., on the 5th of September, 1830, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Rhodes) Rowe. John Rowe was a native of South Carolina, was a farmer by occupation, and followed this all his life. He was married in his native State about 1810, and became the father of eleven children, four of whom are now living: Pearson (a farmer residing in this county), John W. (also a farmer in this county), Elizabeth (widow of Nathaniel Betchler) and William J. The father of these children emigrated to Tennessee, thence to Alabama, and there resided until his death in 1848. The mother died in 1853. The paternal grandfather, Benjamin Rowe, was in the Revolutionary War, and drew a pension up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was nearly a hundred years old. William J. Rowe was married to Miss Mary J. Conway, of Lawrence county, Ala., in 1853, and they became the parents of two children, one now living—Martha V. (wife of W. M. Lee, a farmer living in this county). Mrs. Rowe died in 1856 in full communion with the Baptist Church. Mr. Rowe's second marriage occurred in Clark County, Ark., in 1864, to Miss Melissa C. Rodgers, and to them has been born one child, Melissa E., wife of T. N. Gill, a planter living in this county. The second Mrs. Rowe died in 1869, and she was also a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Rowe was married to his third wife, Miss Priscilla Malcom, in 1870, and they became the parents of eight children—five sons and three daughters, three only now living: Alice C, James C. and Susan E. Mr. Rowe emigrated from Alabama to Arkansas in 1856, settled in Clark County, and bought eighty acres of land. He settled in the woods, began improving and adding to his land, until he now owns 650 acres of good farming land, with 350 acres under cultivation. He built a good steam cotton-gin in 1876, and this has run each season since. His wife is a native of Georgia, born in Walton County in 1852, and her father is a planter, residing in Clark County, Ark. She came to Arkansas with her parents when but two years of age, and here she has since remained. Mr. Rowe was in the late war. He enlisted in Company F (cavalry), in 1861, under Capt. Harrison Flanagin; was in the battles of Oak Hill, Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge, and served in the Confederate service until 1865. He surrendered at Washington, Hempstead County, Ark. Returning home he engaged in farming again, and in 1870 was elected justice of the peace of Greenville Township, which position he held until 1876. He is a member of the Masonic order, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church, of which he is a deacon. Politically he is a Democrat, dyed in the wool.