Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-06-18
Biography of Capt. Franklin E
Stowe.

this county, ON the I'd of January, 1873.
His father, Harvey Stowe, was native oi
Canaan, Ct, and settled i'll Braceville in
1910; his mother, Lucretia Oviatt, a ma.
tive of Goshen, CT, came to Braceville in
1905.
His opportunities for education in his
youth, were limited, being confined to
" the District School" Us it was, but having
a strong desire for knowledge, every ac-
cesSible and useful book was eagerly read.
\ part of his daily duty. the performance
of which was insisted upon by his father,
was the reading of a portion of the Scrip
lures. At a very early age, he manifested
his fondness and aptnesS for the study of
arithmetic, mathematics, &C., in which.
in after life, he was remarkably proficient.
He closed his school studies in the winter
of 30 and SO, at the Pennington Acad-
envy.
From 1888 to 1910, he spent the winters
in teaching district schools, and was slAf-
eessful teacher.
In the fall of 1888, he commenced the
study of Surveying, under the tutOrship
of the late Alexander Sutherland,-then
County Surveyor-and so rapid was his
progress. that in the April thereafter, he
was appointed Deputy County Surveyor,
and discharged the entire duties of the
office of County Surveyor, until 1885, at
which time he was elected to that office,
was reelected in 1871, and continued to
practice the profession until his departure
I for the army. last year. lie was noted for
his skill and reliability as a surveyor, and
in all cases of disputed boundaries,
throughout the county, whether he was
in Office or out, Mr.. Stowe was appealed
to, as the last resort, and his surveys and
decisions were admitted to be final.
In Nay, 1872. he was elected Justice of
tile peace, which office he held for four
terms-lIis last term expiring in Nov
1851. The length of time which he held
this Office and the fact of his being re-elec-
ted again and again when the political
party (the democraticl of which he was
member, comprised but small minority
of the voters in the township, is the best
evidence that could be had of the compe-
tent and impartial manner in which he
performed its duties.
He was appointed Post Master III 1916.
In the fall of 1850, being a candidate for
Representative, he resigned. In May
1856, he again received the appointment,
which he held up to the time of his death. |
In 1850, Mr. Stowe was unanimously |
yentiOn, as a candidate for Representative |
in the State Legislature. but was defeated
by small majority. In 1851 he wis again /
a candidate and was elected by a strong
majority, and thus represented this county |
in the Legislature in the first session un-
der the New Constitution. As legis-
lator lie was noted for his great industry,
cool self-possession, intrepidity, and per-
To.
than for much talking. He cared little L
for political party ties, but steadily per-
formed his duty, endeavoring to follow
the right path whether it might cross par
ty lines or not. The resolution which he
introduced in the House, calling for an
Investigation of the Ohio Penitentiary,"
brought down upon him the bitterest de-
of the Ohio Statesman, the
organ of his party, and of all the party
''curs of low degree, but it ultimately re-
ceived the commendation of honest men
Of all parties, and many suggestions in the
Report of the Committee, (which Mr.. S.
lrew up.) were subsequently successfully s
adopted by the State. He labored hard 6
or the passage of "Bill to prevent the S
ale of Intoxicating liquors, but it was 5
without avail at that time. {
In 1917 he was appointed District I
Assessor" p" for the purpose of valuing Real G
Estate. His district comprised six town I
hips, Warren, Braceville, Newton, Lords I
own, Weathersfeld and Rowland. His a
was not changed by the Board Il
# Equalization, but was taken by them t
S standard for the remainder of the e
ounty. In 1853 he was elected to the b
anne office by his township, and by large
majority. f
lie was nominated by his party for sew n
raj offices, at different periods, and 81
hough he was not always elected, he al a
Tays received vote greater than the fl
trength of the party. p
His integrity as man, and consistency c.
5 a politician, rendered him popular with
ne people; they knew he could be trust
d whether his party went this way or that
n his last letter to the public, written af
ug. 10th, '6l, he says: There is a time re
hen the love of country should weigh bl
lore than the love of party, and that ec
me is now, when our country is in dan pi
er 1t Is true as Holy Writ, if 10
e are not for, we are against our gov sa
'nment; let our acts show whether we
e for the Union, or for rebellion" And
obly did his acts show for him.
His industry was remarkable. Besides ~
le duties of his profession as Surveyor, ~
nd those of his public offices which we 10,
ave have enumerated, his private bust 10,
ess was large. He was administrator or g.,
,ecutor on numerous estates, and guar
an of minor heirs. In company with q
70 others, he built steam saw mill, -
out the year lS4S, of this he soon became -, ~
lie owner and manager. He sold the II
i'll in 1853, and in 1860 built another on -
$ home farm, which he managed up to III,
e time of his death. He owned large Fo
rm and always gave to it his personal ms
pervision and was successful agricul- ~
rists.
On the 18th of May 1887, he married az ~
iss Mary Amy Heath, of Sandisfeld, d;l IL,
One child, only, IA son, t;1
IN in 1874, and still living, was the fruit s'C !
this union. He was kind and devoted :
sband and father, and at no place was -
true kindness of heart and unselfsh- w, .io
SIS so conspicuous ..as in his own home, %
d around it, where he was best known, We
was most respected and loved. His WI WI
spitality was unbounded, and friend yo
d stranger were alike welcome at his pr
ard. To all enterprises for the public PEI