Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-04
THE CENTURY MARK
Reached in Life of Mrs. Joanna Atwood
Rowe of Bangor.

:.
Ne. widow of Lieut.. Moses Rowe of the
American army in the War of 1872 has
reached the century mark of her life,
having been born in the town of Hamp-
den. Me. oct. 3, 1902
She observed this Tooth anniversary
of her birth at the home of her daugh-
ter. Mrs. r. f. :. Patten. at % Els
worth avenue. Melrose Highlands,
Mass.
Mrs Rowe comes of family re-
nowned for its longevity. Her parents
were benjamin SWEET and Mehitable
tAtwoodD SWEET There were 13 chill
drcn in the SWEET family. the circle con-
tinuing unbroken until the youngest
had reached the age of Sc years. He
died in Gloucester early in the present
year aged 80 wears.
Only two are now living-Mrs. Rowe.
the subject of this sketch, and Mrs.
Mehitabe A. Burbank of Bangor, ovid
ow of Jonathan Burbank, who is now
in her Goth year. and in excellent
health. with all her faculties eXcellently
preserved.
Mrs Rowe has been a busy woman
all through her life, with an active in
teIeSl III St.iti I'll iiitittCiS- e'ibi'OUS
rearing 4 family of nine children. Four
of these are now living. These are
Mrs. Patten. with whom her mother
has resided for several years: Mrs. En-
ily A. Drew Of Gloucester. Benjamin 5.
Rowe of Nevada. and Mrs. William r.
johnson of Somerville.
There are IS grandchildren and is
great grandchildren, all of whom reside
in New England.
Until within Il year or two Mrs. Rowe
has possessed Il remarkable memory,
especially of the events which occurred
during the early portion of her life.
Particularly vivid have been her de-
scriptions of the battle of Hampden.
when she was but 10 years old. During
the hombardment of the town by the
British fleet in the Penobscot her father
was hidden III the well to escape con-
scription, while the mother sought safe
" with her children in the great fire
place. from which. as the cannonading
grew more violent, they retreated to
the cellar.
While they were thus sheltered cam
non bah passed through the house ana
into the ground beyond. while second
one lodged in the wall, where it re-
manned until two years ago. when its
removal WAS necessary on account of
some alterations by the present occu-
pant of the house and farm.
Mrs. Rowe saw the opening in 1s32
of the second railroad in the United
States. that covering the Is miles be-
tween Bangor and Old Town, owned
and operated almost exclusively by
Gen. Samuel NeaZie for many years.
She also witnessed the passage of the
first steamboat which assembled the Pc
nobscot river and remembered the hrst
iron steamer in the United States-the
Bangor. which was partially destroyed
by fire in Penobscot bay. rebuilt. and
afterwards sold to the United States
government and used as a cruiser IN
the Mexican war under the name OF
Scourge.
Mrs Rowe is the oldest surviving
member of the Pine Street NJ. f. church
in Bangor. having united with it a.
years ago on a letter from the church
in Hampden. which she had joined IL
years earlier.
Mrs Rowe is enfeebled by old age
and her faculties are somewhat I'M;
paired, but she rs still aDle 10 ENJOY 'h'
visits of her descendants. nepneWs
nieces and other relatives as well as
other friends.
Soon after the death of her husband
some 40 years ago. she was granted Q
pension because of his military service
and is now one of the. four survivors ol
the widows of the War of ISL whe
were thus honored.