WI BIO - Dane Co - STOWE, Lafayette
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 333-334

Lafayette STOWE, one of the early settlers and most successful farmers of 
Dane County, Wisconsin, was born in Chazy, Clinton County, New York, 24 April 
1824. His father, Stephen STOWE, was born at Point Rush, New York [Point au 
Roche in Clinton County, New York?], and his father, the grandfather of our 
subject, Abijah STOWE, was a farmer by occupation, who removed from New York 
to Ohio and spent the last years of his life in that State. The father of 
our subject [Stephen STOWE] was reared to agricultural life and remained a 
resident of Clinton County [New York] until 1856, when he came to Wisconsin 
and bought a farm in Windsor, Dane County, where he remained a number of 
years, and then removed to Sun Prairie [Dane County, Wisconsin], and lived 
retired until his death. The maiden name of his [Stephen STOWE's] wife was 
Annie DeLONG, who was born in Clinton County, New York, and her father, 
Francis DeLONG, was formerly a resident of North Carolina, born of French 
parents or ancestry. He was a farmer and spent his last years in New York. 
The maiden name of his wife, the grandmother of the subject, was Polly DOODY, 
who was, as far as known, a native of New York, where she spent her entire 
life. The mother of our subject died on the home farm in Windsor [Dane 
County, Wisconsin].

As the parents of our subject were in limited circumstances, he [Lafayette 
STOWE] was obliged to commence life for himself very early, beginning when 
fourteen or fifteen years of age to work out by the day or month. At that 
time the iron mines of the country were worked very little, although labor 
was very cheap, men's wages ranging from forty to fifty cents per day. 
England supplied the country with nearly all its iron and that commodity was 
very expensive. Mr. STOWE relates that the irons for a wagon cost $35 and 
this state of things existed under free trade.

Mr. [Lafayette] STOWE continued working by the day and month in New York 
until 1847, when he concluded to emigrate westward, as it was very difficult 
to become rich on the meager wages he was receiving. His first emigration 
was to Ohio, going via the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, Welland Canal 
and Lake Erie to Cleveland [Cuyahoga County, Ohio]. He found employment on a 
farm near that city and remained in that vicinity until 1850, when he came to 
Wisconsin, via Lake Erie to Detroit, thence via rail to Buffalo, on the lake, 
via Chicago to Milwaukee. He there loaded his goods on a wagon and drove to 
Dane County [Wisconsin], arriving 14 December 1850. After he had been here 
about two weeks he [Lafayette STOWE] bought a tract of land in the town of 
Bristol [Dane County, Wisconsin], at $2.50 an acre. The improvements on this 
place consisted of a small frame house, without lath or plaster, and twenty 
acres of broken land. Mr. STOWE marketed at Milwaukee, drawing his goods in 
an ox team. The journey consumed a week and he took his provisions along and 
slept under the wagon. He [Lafayette STOWE] improved his land and occupied 
it until 1866, when he removed to Sun Prairie [Dane County, Wisconsin] and 
engaged in the sale of agricultural implements and lumber, continuing for 
three years, when he removed to a farm, which he purchased on section 14, of 
Burke Township [Dane County, Wisconsin]. Here he resided until 1885 and then 
removed to the farm he now occupies on section 23, of the same township. 
This farm contains 190 acres, well improved, with good buildings. In 
addition he is the owner of some 600 acres in all.

Mr. [Lafayette] STOWE was first married, in 1844, to Diana SCOTT, born in 
Mooers, Clinton County, New York, daughter of James and Amy SCOTT. She 
[Diana (SCOTT) STOWE] died 05 June 1855, and in November 1858, Mr. 
[Lafayette] STOWE married Ellen ABERNATHY, born in New Haven [Addison 
County], Vermont, daughter of John and Permelia ABERNATHY. Four children 
were born of the first marriage: Joel, Angeline, Jennie, and LaFayette, Jr. 
Two daughters have been born of the second marriage: Minnie E.; and Permelia 
A., who died at the age of ten days. Mr. STOWE is a self-made man, who 
started early in life with nothing and is now one of the wealthiest men in 
the county. He has been a Republican since the formation of the party 
[1854], and is a worthy, good citizen.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly