Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-03-11
THE PUTNEY COLUMN,
John Wesley StOwell.
Death Of the President OF the StoweII
Manufacturing COMPANY.

Death Of the President OF the StoveII
Manufacturing Company.
John Wesley Stowell 81, president of
fbc Stowel Manufacturing company. died
at his home in this village soon after G
o'clock last Monday night. Only two davs,
warning was given, yet during that time il
had become generally known that the end
was not far distant. For many months he
had been afflicted with nervous dyspepsia
which had greatly reduced his vitality. On
Friday morning his condition was so much
worse that a physician was called, but he
improved during the day. He endured
great distress during the night, which
greatly affected his hearts action. He
dressed himself Saturday morning but he
was obliged to return to his bed, and. his
vitality being so low, his hearts action be-
came rapidly weaker and he settled into an
unconscious state which continued until
the end. The news of his death added
greatly to the sorrow of the community
which was then lamenting the death of a
former townsman. Funeral services were
held at the Congregational church at 1
o'clock yesterday afternoon, Prof. j. f..
Russell of Williams college officiating.
The services were under the Masonic rtu-
al, and the members of that fraternity
from this town, delegation from Brattle-
boro, Delta lodge, Knights of Honor, and
the employees of the Stowell factory were
present. The burial was in Maple Grove
cemetery.
Mr.. Stowel was born in Putney, Sept.
~, lS35, and was a son of Asa and Mary
Colby Stowell. His father died when he
was II years old and the latter was bound
out to relative to begin life for himself.
He went first to Royalston, Mass, where
he was employed three years in a chair
stock factory, receiving a business insight
which proved valuable to him in later
years. He went next to Ashburnham and
there the common school education which
he received at Putney was supplemented
by private instruction by Frof. Burrage OF
Amherst college. Returning to his native
town in 1861 Mr.. Stowell began the
manufacture Of chair stock with n. I'm
derwood in building in the rear of the
present factory. This building was burned
4 few years ago.
In 1878 co-partnership was formed by
George w. Underwood, r. G, Hitchcock
and Mr.. Stowell, under the name George
W. Underwood Il Co., for the manufac-
ture of toy chairs. The partnership was
dissolved in 1888 and the business was sold
by auction to Mr.. Stowell who continued
in business alone until 1885. In that yeal
Mr. Stowell was granted letters patent or
the Gem folding table, for the manufacture
of which the Stowell Manufacturing com.
pany was at once organized and a foul
story building was erected.
Mr.. Stowell was made president and gen
eral manager of the company and he ha:
always been the largest stakeholder. Mr.
Stowel and his son Charles owned hal
the capital stock until it was increased
After that the stockholders were j. w
Stowell, Charles A. Stowell, G. w. Kim
ball, +. S. Munger, A. b Hewett, A. F
Kelley and II. +. Wheat. The Gem tabl,
has had wide sale and it has met with NJ
superior in the market. From 80 to &
other articles have been manufactured by
the company and as many as 70 hand!
have been employed at one time. Another
four story building was built for storing
purposes five or six years ago.
In 1856 Mr.. Stowe,l married Helen NJ
Hosley of NARROW, N. H., who died in 1870
He married, Oct. 90, 1878, Olive j. Earle,
of Colrain, Mass, who survives with on,
daughter, Edith, who lives at home. Two
other children were born to him, Charlie
who died in 1894 and Arthur, who dice
about IA years ago. Mr.. Stowell leave
one brother, George W. Stowell of thi
town.
Mr.. Stoweu had held all the offices il
the Knights of Honor and Masonic lodges
He was Knights Templar and was pas
grand senior deacon of the grand lodge o
Masons.