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Stow, born about 1790, who engaged in
agriculture through his life in the town of
Cromwell. His first location was in "The
Nooks" then a popular settlement near
the present factory at North Cromwell.
Subsequently he removed to what is
known as the "Plains" where he died
October 15, 1864. He married, February
7, 1812, Sally Pardee, who was a native
of Cromwell and died there March 9, 1867.
Their second son, Asa Bray Stow, born
May 15, 1818, in what is now Cromwell,
early turned his attention to business.
Before attaining his majority, he went to
Charleston, South Carolina, where he
resided for a time and later made a second
trip to the South, where he engaged in
business. He became a painter and on
the second return to his native State was
employed in that capacity for a time at
Meriden. Later he conducted a paint
shop in Middletown and in time formed a
partnership with William Bogelt.and car-
ried on an extensive business as a decorator,
many fresco paintings of Middlesex
County being his handiwork. He also
conducted a wood engraving business, and
died in Middletown, February 23, 1898,
and was buried in Indian Hill Cemetery.
He was one of the three original corpo-
rators of that home of the dead in associ-
ation with Daniel Chase and E. F. Sheldon.
In his later years, Mr. Stow was
engaged in developing considerable real
estate holdings in Middletown and was
interested in the summer resort at Cres-
cent Beach, which he aided largely in
building up. He was interested in mili-
tary affairs, was a member of the Cadets
and subsequently an original member of
the Mansfield Guard of Middletown, a
noted militia organization. He was affiliated
with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows and St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Free
and Accepted Masons ; was a man of very
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
2 15
large figure, standing six feet in height
and weighed two hundred and forty
pounds. He married. May, 1843, Maria
Louise Crossley, who was born May 22,
1826, in Middletown, eldest daughter of
David and Maria (Chamberlain) Crossley
of that town. His widow continued to
reside at the family home, No. 60 Ferry
Street, erected in 1852, until May i, 1901,
when she went to reside with her youngest
son in Middletown. Mr. Stow and
wife were attendants of the Baptist
Church in Middletown, of which Mrs.
Stow was a member.
James Pomeroy Stow was born August
16, 185 1, on Ferry Street in Middletown,
where he grew up, receiving his education
in the public schools and Wesleyan Uni-
versity, from which he was graduated in
1875. As a boy he had charge of his
father's books and subsequently became
secretary and treasurer of the Middletown
Electric Light Company, upon its organi-
zation, continuing in that capacity for
several years, after which he became gen-
eral manager and continued as such to
July I, 1896. He was also a director of
the E. T. Burgess Cut Glass Company
from its organization, and in time became
its secretary and treasurer. In 1880 he
was elected a member of the Common
Council and in the following year was
made clerk and treasurer of the city of
Middletown, in which capacity he has
served continuously with the exception of
one year. He was also treasurer of the
town of Middletown from 1881 to 1893,
and from 1895 to 1920, when another was
elected to that office. His long continu-
ance in these various capacities of re-
sponsibility and importance, testify to his
standing as a business man and his popu-
larity with the voters of his native town.
This is especially emphasized by the fact
that he is a Democrat, while the normal