Born in St. James parish of St Kew, Cornwall, Rowe received a common school education. He came to Wisconsin in 1836, and became a farmer and miller. He first lived in Blue Mounds at the same time as a John Rowe, was elected to that town's school board and is described as being one of the "important citizens in 1848, at the organization of the town government".[1] He moved to Iowa County in 1849 and to Idaho Territory in 1862; after living there for five years he returned to Arena, Wisconsin, in 1866. He died in 1888.[2]
Legislative service
Rowe was elected to the Assembly in 1868, succeeding Republican incumbent Jefferson Rewey, defeating DemocratHenry C. Barnard by four votes. He ran in 1869 as a Republican, and was defeated by Barnard, 862 to 776.[3][4] He was elected in 1871 as a "Free Trader", with 1,042 votes to 786 for Republican John Edwards (incumbent Barnard was not a candidate). He defeated Republican challengers in 1872 and 1873, but did not run for re-election in 1874, and was succeeded by Reform Party candidate Owen King.
In 1878, he ran again for the Assembly as a Democrat, losing to GreenbackGeorge L. Frost, who polled 1,154 votes to 862 for Republican Robert L. Joiner, and 697 for Rowe.
