Editor’s Note: In conjunction with the Chenango County Civil War Commemoration Project Team, The Evening Sun will present a monthly series chronicling items of local interest during the war between the states, compiled and written by a number of local history enthusiasts.

By Charles J. Decker
Afton Town and Village Historian
It was not uncommon for two or three males from the same family to serve in the Civil War, and there are examples from Afton. However, Seymour, Delos, Hanford, and Homer Rowe, the four eldest sons of Henry and Celina Smith Rowe of Perch Pond all served in that war and survived to come home.
The Rowes originally came from Wales and eventually settled on Perch Pond Hill, adjoining Perch Pond toward Nabinger Road. Henry and Celina had four other children. Henry later married Elvira Morse, by whom he had a daughter.
Seymour, 1830-1909, married Mary P. Johnson, 1836-1906. He enlisted in Herkimer County on March 12, 1862 for three years and was mustered out on July 18, 1865 at Washington, D.C. He served in the 97th Regiment which was involved in the battles of Bull Run, Antietam, and Gettysburg, among others. Casualties were high, including 73 enlisted men killed in action and 326 who died of disease and other causes. It was common in those years for more men to die of disease than from battle wounds. On April 2, 1902, Seymour was appointed Aide de Camp for the Grand Army of the Republic, with headquarters in Albany, N.Y. His daughter Nellie wrote a poem “Seymour,” dedicated to him at the time of his death. He is buried at Perch Pond Cemetery with a G.A.R. marker.
Delos Rowe, 1832-1906, was born at Sidney Center. He married Polly A. Seward, 1829-1911. He enlisted at Afton on August 12, 1862 in Co. E, 114th Regiment, N.Y.S. Volunteers. On September 16, 1863 he transferred to 29th Co., 2nd Battalion of the Veterans Reserve Corps. He was mustered out on August 13, 1865 at Fort Monroe, Va. He died at home on Perch Pond Hill after having suffered a disability due to chronic diarrhea. He is buried at Perch Pond Cemetery where there is a G.A.R. marker.
Hanford D. Rowe, 1834-1905, was born in Sidney and moved to Sanford when eight years old. He was married to Cornelia Applington, 1837-1913. He enlisted at Afton in Co. E, 114th Regiment, N.Y.S. Volunteers as did his brother, Delos. He was absent sick for about two years. In 1863 he was serving as a nurse in the U.S. Hospital in Baltimore. On August 21, 1863 he wrote to his friend, Zenas Tarbell, from the hospital telling him of his hard work there. He had a disability due to rheumatism and applied for a pension in 1890. His widow applied for a pension in 1906. He moved to Afton about 1900 and died there at his home on Pleasant Avenue. He is buried in Glenwood Cemetery where there is a G.A.R. marker.
Homer Rowe, 1837-1903, was born in Sidney. He enlisted in Co. H, 49th Massachusetts Regiment, known as “the Forlorn Hope.” He lived in several places after the war. In 1878 he moved to Kansas for three years and then spent seventeen years in Wyoming. He came to Afton in 1899 where he worked as a carpenter. He died at his home on Maple Street after a lingering illness. He is buried in Glenwood Cemetery near Hanford, and there is a G.A.R. marker. Homer was survived by his widow, but she is not named and she has no marker on the grave site.
These four brothers were honored on Armed Forces Day in 2012 by the Afton Historical Society and the Old Onaquaga Historical Society of Harpursville with appropriate ceremonies and with many descendants present.