Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-01-07
Capt. ]. W. Rowan.


Capt. ]. W. Rowan.
This venerable patriot and devoted soldier
Is discharged from his earthly warfare.
When the Mexican war broke out Capt R.
buckled on the sword and, with company
raised In this place, proceeded to the scene of
action. In that war he rendered useful SER
vice. AT its termination he returned home,
resumed his trade of stone masonry, and, in
part as reward of his patriotic devotion en-
Joyed the respect aud patronage of his cons
munity.
Bringing with him from Mexico the love
OF arms, he soon formed a volunteer com pany.
than which few men ever had more cherished
pet. With this company he was among the
hrst to meet the famous raid of John Brown,
which however proved to be but the harbinger
OF general war, and the vanguard of an army
numbered by millions.
When the long roll was beat along the
Potomac in 1861 and summoned Virginians
to arms for the maintenance-not the 6estruc-
ton of those grand old principles on which
this government was founded-especiallyt the
wise balancing of powers between the Federal
Union and the States, no man responded more
promptly or cheerfuly than Capt. Rowan,
though he had now considerably passed the
meridian of life. The same breast that was
iuterposed between the Sovereign State of
Texas and her foe in the west, ready to
be interposed again between Texas and her
foe in the north. 1t mattered not to him if
in the one case the foe were foreign nation
and in the ether sister state-what he re-
garded to be the sovereign rights of Texas
were involved, and with the rights of Texas
those of his own Virginia. The Southern
States were threatened with invasion, military
subsection and destruction of their largest
source of wealth by the populous States of
the North, now grown strong from commerce
and manufactures-if not begun, largely in
creased by the price Of slaves sold by them to
the South years ago. Calling his company
around him, and recruiting its members, he
rendered his services to Virginia. This COM
pany was incorporated as company A. in the
End Virginia Infantry under Col. j. W. Allen
and put into the 1st Brigade, afterwards
known as .Jackson's, and then as the Stone
wall Brigade, and never failed to render fine
service whenever engaged.
Capt. r. was wounded in the first battle of
Manassas by ball in the leg, frou, which he
never entirely recovered. Disabled from
marching he was allowed to attend his COM
pauy on horse back (and the form of his
straight back sorrel is still familiar to MANY
Thus mounted the hoary headed patrio. re-
NAMED at his post-true, devoted and reso-
lute-through several most trying campaigns
But sufferngs from his wound, and exposure
In the field. gradually overcame the old veteran
and obliged him to yield to the counsel of
friends and seek retirement to some less
arduous post. IF We mistake net he first
found rest in some hospital up the Valley,
and then employment with Capt. John Avis,
(his Corner Lieutenant,) ct Stanton
The war over, Capt. II. returned hcmc. and
pursued his trade till failing health disabled
him. After several years Of i'll health and
great sufferings he was attacked on Sabbath
night, Dec, 22d, with serious apoplexv and
after lingering more than thirty~six hours died
Tuesday, 9th of Dec, 1872, at i y. NJ,
aged about 62-lcaving a family of three
grown daughters and sou to mourn his loss
On Christmas day his remains were followed
by long train of mourning friends and sur
viving comrades, including many of his old
company. to lot in Edge Hill Cemetery. adj.
joining that of the Confederate Dead, where
fc;aw soldiers buried them in silincc. No
muflled drum, no arms reversed, no soldiers
salute lent their force to the scene The
solemn tramp of surviving comrades, muf1Ied
by deep snow, and long procession of other
friends, marching silently through biting
cold, were filter and more eloquent tokens of
community's respect for the hoary headed
patriot and veteran soldier, who bad fought
for his country but lost her cause.
Coon MARKETING "A Jefferson lady,
who ran in opposition to the Clarke ladies in
marketing last year, sends us the following as
list of her products during the year -
iSG lbs. Butter, SIP o.
80. doz Eggs, 90 10
lG4 Chickens, 43 O2
rs lbs. Turkeys, 20 10
Total, s2O6 O6
We regret that a feeling of delicacy COM
pcls request from her to withhold her name,
but we vouch for the accuracy of the above
statement. Let us hear from the ladies of
Clarke.
Masonic SUPpER.-Our Masonic brethren
of Jefferson Lodge, No 81, of Kabletown,
held an oyster supper at that place on the