Isaiah D. Row

I. D. ROW. The name of Row is associated with one of Larned's oldest and most substantial families. The family has lived in Pawnee County since 1878 and in many ways has furthered and influenced the development and business and civic life of Larned. A number of business structures and homes have been erected by and through the Row family, and seven of the name still have their homes in the city.

When the family came to Larned in 1878 Ebbidel Row was only three years of age. He was born in DeKalb County, Indiana, September 19, 1875, a son of Isaiah D. Row, who for twenty years had been a resident of Indiana before he brought his family to Kansas. Isaiah D. Row was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, October 13, 1851. His father, Fred Row, was a native of Pennsylvania and of German stock. The family name has been variously spelled in different generations as Rau, Rowe and Row. Fred Row was a volunteer soldier from Indiana in the Civil war, but otherwise spent his life as a farmer. He enjoyed the activity of the frontier, and much of his time was spent in "blazing the way from one clearing to another." He died and is buried at Garrett, Indiana. Fred Row was married three times. His first wife was Miss Roush, and their children were Isaiah D.; George, of Garrett, Indiana; Elizabeth, who died at Garrett, the wife of J. V. Reyher; Elijah D., who lives in Colorado; and Jacob A., who died at Greensburg, Kansas. Fred Row by his second wife had a son, Cornelius, who lives at Garrett, Indiana. His third wife bore him one daughter, Dessa, who is married and living in Fort Scott, Kansas.

Isaiah D. Row was married at Ada, Ohio, December 27, 1874, to Miss Lavina Long. Her father, Tobias Long, was a native of Pennsylvania but spent his active life in Ohio as a farmer. Mrs. Isaiah Row died in Larned Kansas, in 1911. She was born August 8, 1851, the same year as her husband, whose death occurred in 1915. Their children were: Ebbidel; Etta, wife of S. K. Lovett, of Larned; Harry E., of Larned, who married Mary Brindel; Clyde A., of Larned, who married Jemima McNeil; Mary M., wife of Harry E. Smith, of Larned; Lathe B., who graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1913 and is now a major and acting brigade adjutant in the Eleventh Division in France; Raymond H., of Larned; and Alvin A., also of Larned, who married Lucy Ware.

The Row family came from Indiana to Kansas by railroad and their first stop was made in Stafford County, where Isaiah homesteaded a claim. He establishcd him family there, but he provided for their maintenance by work in Larned. He came to Kansas without surplus means, having just three dollars after getting his family located. He was a baker by trade and soon went to Larned to work at that vocation. He was employed by the pioneer baker Charles Casper, but after a year he purchased the Casper Bakery and conducted the business by himself for several years. He then became a partner with his brother-in-law, G. F. Long, and the firm of Row & Long was in existence until 1893, when Mr. Long took part in the opening of the Cherokee strip in Oklahoma. Mr. Row continued the bakery business until his death in 1915.

While he was thus getting a substantial start in business affairs at Larned his wife and children were doing their best to farm and improve the claim in Stafford County. The home there was a sod house about 20 by 30 feet, with tar paper roof. Their first team was a yoke of cattle and their tools and implements were such as could be borrowed from the neighbors. The family remained on that old homestead about two years. Through the benefits of the exemption law it was possible to use some of the money made in the bakery at Larned to pay the Government for the land.

Larned, at the time the Row family became residents, was a very small village, most of its buildings being of frame, though occasionally there was a stone structure. The Row bakery was situated where the Conard gallery now is. Isaiah Row proved himself an effective citizen and a very successful business man. He had grown up with a limited education, and while that did not handicap him in a business way seriously he was always somewhat diffident about any active participation in public affairs. He was a democrat and for a number of years served on the school board at Larned. He was a well known Odd Fellow, passed the various chairs of the lodge and was a delegate to the Grand Lodge of the state and for long and faithful membership was given the twenty-five year medal by the order. He also did much to upbuild and uphold morality and religion in the western community and was an active Methodist.

Mr. Ebbidel Row's early recollections are practically all of the city of Larned in the early days. He attended the public schools there and early qualified as a school teacher. He afterwards catered the Kansas State Normal School, finishing the elementary course and graduating in 1898. Following this he resumed teaching at Burdette, Kansas, and for four years was principal of the school there. He gave up teaching to enter business with his father in the bakery. After two years he became manager of the Farmers Elevator at Larned and interested in the grain and coal business. He was with that company two years, and then bought a half interest in a hardware stock. The firm of Boyd & Row, hardware merchants, continued for a year and was then changed to the Row Hardware Company. Mr. Row was a leading factor in the success of this business for seven years, at which time he sold out. He then returned to the Farmers Elevator as its manager. Owing to his father's declining health he resigned the management of the elevator to take charge of the varied business interests and investments of his father, who had acquired a large amount of farming land and was financially interested in various business enterprises at Larned and elsewhere. When his father died Mr. Row became trustee of the estate. On March 1, 1916, he entered the implement and automobile business as a member of the corporation, the Larned Implement Company, of which he is president. He now gives his best energies to this flourishing corporation. The good of the community has always made a strong appeal to Mr. Row's interests and hard work. He was a member of the committee from Larned which performed most of the work required for securing the Anthony & Northern Railway through the city. He was also chairman of the committee selected to petition for the new courthouse. He is now serving as president of the Larned Library Board.

On reaching manhood he identified himself with the fortunes of the democratic party, and in 1896 he voted for Mr. Bryan as president, returning to Larned from school at Emporia in order to cast his vote. He supported Mr. Bryan's aspirations in three campaigns. Mr. Row is past noble grand of Lodge No. 129. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has sat in the Grand Lodge and has been chairman of its committee on legislation for five years. He belongs to all the branches of the Odd Fellows' Order. Mr. Row is a member of the official board of the Larned Methodist Church.

He was first married May 23, 1906, at Larned, to Miss Gertie Holdren. She was born in Spring Hill, Kansas, daughter of George W. Holdren, and she died March 20, 1909. The one child of this marriage is Ruth G. In June, 1914, Mr. Row married Mrs. Bertha Kinnamon. By her first husband she is the mother of Lucile Kinnamon and Willis Kinnamon. Mr. and Mrs. Row have one child, Lavina May. Mrs. Row is a daughter of Daniel Brindel, being one of his four daughters. Daniel Brindel was a Union soldier with a Pennsylvania regiment, and came out to Kansas and homesteaded a claim in Pawnee County in 1878. He was an active farmer until his retirement.

Pages 2128-2129.