William appeared in Highland County in the 1860 U.S. Census as William Rouk. It was unmistakably the same family, given that Martha and all of the children’s names were correct, and ages were appropriate. Also living in Highland County for the 1860 Census was a Joseph Rowk. The census data says that all of family were born in Highland County VA, but Highland County didn't exist before 1850. Half of it was Bath County (South) and half Pendleton County (North). However, they were undoubtedly born in the part of Bath County that had become Highland County by the time the census was taken.
Also found in the 1860 Census in Highland County is a George W. Rouk and his family. George is undoubtedly William's brother, since his family also moved to West Virginia around the same time that William moved there. William and George Jr. also married sisters, Mary "Polly" and Martha Williams, which is strong evidence of their relationship. In the 1850 Census, George W. Rouk has a George Sr. living with him, who is undoubtedly the patriarch of the family.
After studying early records from Augusta County, Virginia, it became clear that the original name of the family was German, and spelled Rausch. The name Rowe was pronounced to rhyme with Cow or How not Mow or Tow. The final sound would be the softer Germanic CH sound, made at the back of the throat. In Augusta County records it is sometimes spelled Rowk or Rouk, but was most commonly spelled Rough. This was not pronounced Ruff, as we would pronounce it today, but was rendered this way to rhyme with Plough (the earliest version of Plow).
The Scottish people who dominated the county may even have given the word Plough a guttural ending much like the Germanic CH. In changing from Rauch to Rowe, they were merely dropping the final CH sound, which was probably difficult for their new English neighbors to pronounce. The name was undoubtedly still pronounced to rhyme with Cow, since contemporary descendants from this family line assure me that it is still pronounced this way today.
Rauch is the German word for Smoke. It is unknown whether the family name derived from the production of tobacco products (which were introduced to France in 1560, and consequently traveled throughout Europe), or from the preservation of meat in a smokehouse. There has also been some conjecture that the name may have come from the same root as the German word Rauchwaren, which refers to Fur worn as a garment--Waren meaning wearing apparel, and Rauch meaning Hairy or Furry. The advocate for this theory maintains that a strong, hairy man was a common heraldic symbol to represent fierce fighters.
The following gives marriage record information for William and Martha:
| Groom Name: | William Rough |
| Bride Name: | Martha Jane Williams |
| Marriage Date: | 12 Jan 1842 |
| County: | Bath |
| State: | Virginia |
Chackley has confirmation of this:
| Name: | William Row |
| Date: | 30 Jan 1840 |
| Notes: | This marriage record was originally published in "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, 1745-1800. Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County" by Lyman Chalkley. |
| Description: | Spouse |
In 1850 there is a Rough family with William Rough as a head of family (b. abt 1818), Sally as the wife and a daughter Alice aged 6. I cannot locate this family in any previous or subsequent records in the area. Nor can I find my William (b. 1822), Mary and the four children who were born before 1850 anywhere in the area. All I can think is that the enumerator somehow confused William with another family, so listed the wrong wife and child for him.
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| "William Rowk" and family in the 1860 Federal Census in Highland County, Virginia. |
1860 Census Highland County, VA
William Rowk 36 Farmhand, born Highland Co. VA
Martha J. 36 36 Housewife, born Highland Co. VA
Alphius E. 16 Farmhand, born Highland Co. VA
Jeremiah J. 14 born Highland Co. VA
Mary M. 12 born Highland Co. VA
William A. 10 born Highland Co. VA
James H. 7 born Highland Co. VA
Peter N. 3 born Highland Co. VA
Sarah E. J. 2 born Highland Co. VA
The railroad came to Preston County (then Virginia, now West Virginia) in 1852. The iron industry followed shortly after that. Industrial jobs paid much better than farm labor, and were a more reliable source of income, which explains William's change of occupation from farmhand to coke burner upon moving to Preston County. Coke was burned in the production of steel, since it burns at a higher heat than coal. William's work involved keeping the blast furnaces burning.
William Rowe/Rough probably moved to Preston when the Civil War began in 1861, to get work in the iron foundry. Steel was in great demand during this era of railroads and rifles. Great fortunes were made by the owners of these works. War makes for good business, if you position yourself carefully.
William Rowe/Rough probably moved to Preston when the Civil War began in 1861, to get work in the iron foundry. Steel was in great demand during this era of railroads and rifles. Great fortunes were made by the owners of these works. War makes for good business, if you position yourself carefully.
It is unknown whether William Rowe participated in the war, beyond his work at the foundry. There are a couple of William Rowes who did serve, one on each side of the conflict. Rowe was an extremely common name in Virginia at the time, and William was the second most popular male name after John. So, it is unlikely that either of these is our William. But just for informational purpose here is the information on these two men:
U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
about William A. Rowe Jr.
Name: William A. Rowe Jr.
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: Virginia
Regiment Name: 21 Virginia Militia
Regiment Name Expanded: 21st Regiment, Virginia Militia
COMPANY: A
Rank In: Second Lieutenant
Rank Out: Second Lieutenant
Film Number: M382 roll 48
American Civil War Soldiers
Name: William Rowe
Side Served: Union
State Served: West Virginia
Service Record: Enlisted as a Sergeant.
Enlisted in Company C, 5th Infantry Regiment West Virginia.
Promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant on 1 May 1862.
Mustered Out Company C, 5th Infantry Regiment West Virginia on 9 Nov 1864.
Sources: 304,79
There is a William C. Rowe who "Mustered out" in May 22, 1862, listed on the Adjutant General's annual report. He is in the 5th Regiment Company C, so probably the same as the second William above. [The 5th Regiment was mustered in at Ceredo, Wayne County WV. Wayne County is where a lot of Rowes lived, so was not likely our man.]
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| William Row with family in the 1870 Federal Census in Lyon District, Preston County, West Virginia. |
William can be found in the Lyon District, Preston County WV in the 1870 and 1880 Census.
1870 Census Lyon District, Preston County, WV
William Row 45, occupation--Burning Coke, born VA
Martha J. 44 Keeping House, born VA
William A. 20 Underground Driller, born VA
James A. 17 Breaking Oar, born VA
Peter M. 16 Breaking Oar, born VA
Sarah S. 10 at home, born VA
John 9 at home, born VA
Martha J. 6 born WV
Louisa B. 4 born WV
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| William Rowe and family in the 1880 Federal Census. Son, Alpheus and family, are living next door. |
1880 Census Lyon District, Preston County, WV
Rowe, Wm 58 born VA Head, Ore Miner
Martha J. 50 born VA Wife
Peter 24 Son born VA
Sarah E. J. 22 Daughter born VA
John 18 son born VA
Martha B. 16 daughter born WV
Louisa B. 14 daughter born WV
Earnest B. 2 Grand son born WV
In the 1880 Census, son Alpheus is living next to them:
Rowe Alphus E 30
Sarah A 24
Harvey W 8
Addie 7
Estella 6
Guy 4
Gorden 1
By 1880, William had become an ore miner. As difficult as ore mining is, this must have been less taxing than the blast furnace work that he had been doing. It is likely that William worked as an ore miner until he became too elderly to work. He passed away in 1896, at about 74 years of age. William and Martha share the same marker for their graves. The marker gives birth and death years for each, as well as some lovely iconography of the book of life and the curtains rolling back on the morning of the resurrection.
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