Absalom P. Rowe

Absalom Peyton Rowe was born on November 17, 1817, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, to George Rowe. His father was a Baptist minister. At the age of five, he moved with his family to Fredericksburg.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-star-mayor-rowe-dead-1-jun-19/154553866/ |title=Mayor Rowe Dead |date=1900-06-01 |newspaper=Fredericksburg Daily Star |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-09-03}}{{Open access}}

Rowe worked as a produce merchant in Fredericksburg and after a number of years, he managed a stock farm and worked as a breeder. He served in the Confederate States Army as a quartermaster.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofvi05tyleuoft/page/826/mode/2up |title=Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography |author=Lyon Gardiner Tyler |volume=5 |publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company |year=1915 |page=826 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2024-09-03}}{{Open access}}

Rowe was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing Fredericksburg, from 1879 to 1880. He served as mayor of Fredericksburg from July 1, 1888, to June 30, 1896, and from July 1, 1898, to his death. He was re-elected as mayor on May 24, 1900, shortly before his death.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924028786627/page/n417/mode/2up |title=The History of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia |last=Quinn |first=S. J. |publisher=The Hermitage Press, Inc. |year=1908 |page=338 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2024-09-03}}{{Open access}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/historicfrederic00gooliala/page/112/mode/2up |title=Historic Fredericksburg: The Story of an Old Town |last=Goolrick |first=John T. |publisher=Whittet & Shepperson |year=1922 |pages=113–114 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2024-09-04}}{{Open access}} While mayor, he helped support the building of the Mary Washington statue in Fredericksburg.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-free-lance-star-death-of-mayor-a-p/154554139/ |title=Death of Mayor A. P. Rowe |date=1900-06-02 |newspaper=The Free-Lance |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-09-03}}{{Open access}}

Rowe was the first president of the Agricultural Society.

Rowe married Almedia Frances Gayle, daughter of Fanny (née Gatewood) and Josiah P. Gayle, on June 2, 1845.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-mayor-a-p-rowe/154554404/ |title=Mayor A. P. Rowe |date=1900-06-02 |newspaper=The Richmond Times |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-09-03}}{{Open access}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/inventoryofchurc21hist/page/224/mode/2up |title=Inventory of Church Archives of Virginia |volume=1 |year=1940 |page=224 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2024-09-03}}{{Open access}} They had eight children, including Maurice Broaddus, Josiah P., A. Prescott and Alvin T. His son Maurice was a state delegate and his son Josiah also served as mayor of Fredericksburg.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/historicfrederic00gooliala/page/156/mode/2up |title=Historic Fredericksburg: The Story of an Old Town |last=Goolrick |first=John T. |year=1922 |page=157 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2024-09-03}}{{Open access}} His grandson Josiah P. Rowe Jr. also served as mayor of Fredericksburg.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-josiah-rowe-editor-and-fre/154554937/ |title=Josiah Rowe, Editor and Fredericksburg Mayor, Dies in Sleep |date=1949-09-07 |newspaper=The Evening Star |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-09-03}}{{Open access}} His great-grandson was Maurice B. Rowe III.{{cite web|title=Obituaries & In Memoriam: Rowe, Maurice|url=http://www.richmond.com/obituaries/article_048d6d6b-a0c6-53eb-98f6-5cc8b5d98555.html|publisher=Richmond Times-Dispatch|accessdate=September 3, 2024|date=November 29, 2014}} Rowe was a member of the Baptist Church in Fredericksburg. He went by the nickname "Marse Ab".

Rowe died on June 1, 1900, at his home on Hanover Street in Fredericksburg. He was buried in Fredericksburg City Cemetery.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-dispatch-funeral-of-mayor-rowe/154554559/ |title=Funeral of Mayor Rowe |date=1900-06-03 |newspaper=The Richmond Dispatch |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-09-03}}{{Open access}}

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Category:1817 births

Category:1900 deaths

Category:People from Spotsylvania County, Virginia

Category:People from Fredericksburg, Virginia

Category:Farmers from Virginia

Category:Confederate States Army soldiers

Category:Members of the Virginia House of Delegates

Category:Mayors of Fredericksburg, Virginia

Category:19th-century members of the Virginia General Assembly