JONATHAN NICHOLSON  ROWE

     Jonathan Nicholson Rowe is president and treasurer of the Mortgage Investment Realty Company of New Haven, which was organized in 1912, and throughout the intervening period he has conducted a successful business in that field. He was born January 16, 1859, in the town of East Haven, which is now the fifteenth ward of New Haven, a son of Robert and Abby Ann Rowe. He acquired his education in the East Haven district schools and the New Haven public schools, supplemented by study in Cargill's Business College. When his textbooks were put aside he secured a situation as bookkeeper with the Gay Brothers Publishing Company and later occupied a clerical position with the New Haven Steamboat Company of New Haven and New York. He continued with the latter corporation from 1875 until 1883, during which period he carefully saved his earnings until he felt justified in embarking in business on his own account. He then opened a small grocery store at the Four Corners in what was then East Haven, where he remained in business until 1892.
     For a number of years Mr. Rowe figured very prominently in positions of public honor and trust. From the time that age conferred upon him the right of franchise he has voted with the democratic party and upon that ticket has been chosen a public official. He served as registrar of voters in the fifteenth ward from 1885 until 1890 and was appointed commissioner for the Tomlinson toll bridge by Senator A. Heaton Robertson in April, 1886, acting in that capacity until the bridge was purchased by the city and town. In 1890 he was elected as a selectman of the town of New Haven and in June, 1893, he was appointed to the position of superintendent of letter carriers by Francis G. Beach, postmaster under President Cleveland, and occupied that position for six months, when he became assistant postmaster and served until 1897, when Mr. Beach's term expired. While he was filling the position of assistant postmaster he was appointed a member of the United States civil service examining board for the postoffice department and the custom house department. In 1897 he entered the real estate business, but in 1899 was again called to public office, being elected controller of the city of New Haven, in which position he remained from June, 1899. until January, 1912, having been elected for six successive terms, a fact which stands as indisputable evidence of his ability and fidelity. In 1913 he was made a member of the board of finance of New Haven and so continued until 1914. It was also in the former year that he organized the Mortgage Investment Realty Company and has since engaged in the real estate and mortgage business and the development of suburban property. He is president and treasurer of this company, which now has a large clientage, making its business a profitable one.
     On the 26th of June, 1888, Mr. Rowe was married in New Haven to Miss Margary Matilda Kenty, and they now have four children: Margary Story, who is attending Connecticut College; Ralph Sterling, who was graduated from Yale with the degree of Metallurgical Engineer; and on May 1, 1917, enlisted as sergeant in the officers reserve training corps and is in the aviation branch of service; Helen Madeline, also a student in Connecticut College; and Roger Mayham, a student at Lafayette College.