Merton Percy Rowe

Merton Rowe lived in Lake Park, Iowa at least until 1921 because his first 2 children where born there. Then he must have been persuaded to purchased land near Kirksville, MO as Ralph E. Rowe writes that he spent a winter with him in Kirksville, MO from 1932-1933 and also the last 3 children were all born in Kirksville, MO 1922, 1925, and 1927 respectively.

In the fall of 1934 Merton headed for Tucson, AZ to find relief from a health problem. He asked Ralph if he would drive his family through when he got located, which he agreed to do. Merton stopped in Albuquerque, NM and liked it so well that he stayed there where he lived the rest of his life. That is a trip Ralph and his family will never forget. Opal, his wife, purchased a 1926 Overland Whippet and a 2 wheel trailer. Ralph and family loaded the trailer to overflowing and tied 2 beds on top of the car, fixed a board on the running board for more stuff, loaded 5 children plus dog and 2 Bantam chickens and headed west. They got as far as Springfield, MO the 1st night, to Oklahoma City the 2nd night, and were running out of funds by the 3rd day. They reached Amarillo, TX by the 3rd night, but kept driving. By morning they reached Santa Rosa, NM. They spent their last 55 cents on bread and bologna for breakfast and decided to take the desert route of 90 miles. Palma was the nearest town about mid-way. That route proved to be little more than a wagon trail across the desert. They had already traded their shot-gun for 5 gallons of gas and 2 quarts of oil; now at a gas pump by an adobe shack, Ralph took the owner aside and worked out a trade of half a gallon of canned fruit for each gallon of gas. They learned that there was no Palma. Some years ago there had been a house there where people got mail. One hill they couldn't make in the desert. The family all got out and pushed while Ralph re-started the motor, revved it up and let the clutch out. Ralph nearly buried them in gravel, but they made it up the hill. They reached the mountains east of Albuquerque by dark. One cylinder missed, one head light did not work, but they limped on into Albuquerque, tired and relieved to be at the end of the journey. Opal's money was gone and so was Ralph's so his only choice was to remain for the winter. First Merton worked at a dairy... the story is too long to finish here.

It was Merton who was considered the black sheep of the family. Why I don't know. But he got saved back in Kirksville, MO and interested Ralph in the Church of God. According to Charles Henry Rowe, my grandfather, Merton went on to attend the Four Square Gospel church. The family did not stay in touch with others and my father was about the only one who was welcomed into their home. We stopped to see them in 1957... I remember, because Opal was in bed sick.

Children:

Glenn Dowayne Rowe b. Aug. 26, 1919 Lake Park, IA. d. Mar. 3, 2007 Albuquerque, NM m. Joan Williams 

Hadley Merton Rowe b. Jan. 26, 1921 b. Lake Park, IA m. Ramona Guinevere Whitlow

Marna Clarine Rowe b. Nov. 16, 1922, Kirksville, MO m. Clyde C. McWhorter child: Ted Allan McWhorter, Dayton, OH 1976. B.S.E.E. (University of Texas). Field of Specialization: Electrical. Engineering

Clarence Mondell Rowe b. Mar. 29, 1925 Kirksville, MO d. Jan. 18, 2002 Ukiah, Mendencio, CA

Arlene Opal Rowe b. Feb. 24, 1927 d. Nov. 1977 Santa Monica, CA m. James Harold Lane. Child: Vickie Lynn Lane b. Mar. 14, 1947 Santa Monica, CA d. Mar. 9, 2002