Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News
February 15, 1984

W. Earl Rowe, veteran of federal politics and former lieutenant-governor of Ontario, died yesterday of a heart attack at his farm, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of Toronto. He was 89.

A lover of both politics and horses, Mr. Rowe spent 35 years as a Progressive Conservative member at both provincial and federal levels before being named lieutenant-governor in 1963, a post he held for five years.

His only defeat at the polls came in 1937, when he waged an unsuccessful attempt to wrest the Ontario premiership from Liberal Mitchell Hepburn. Shortly afterwards, he returned to federal politics.

Born in Iowa of Ontario parents, Mr. Rowe began his political career in 1919, when he was elected reeve of Gwillimbury Township.

He next won a provincial seat in the riding of South Simcoe in 1923 and two years later won the federal seat of Dufferin-Simcoe. He held the seat for 38 years with the only interruption being his try for the Ontario premiership.

Mr. Rowe was the youngest member in the cabinet of R.B. Bennett, serving briefly in 1935 as a minister without portfolio in the short-lived government. he resigned his federal seat and returned to provincial politics when the government was defeated in November of that year.

He remembered Bennett as "probably the most knowledgeable and least appreciated prime minister because of the very difficult time he went through."

Mr. Rowe was provincial Tory leader from 1936 to 1938, but his failure to win a seat in the 1937 election, and reported dissension in party ranks, sent him back to Ottawa.

He ran federally for Dufferin-Simcoe again in 1940, and was reelected six times before leaving federal politics in 1963 to become lieutenant-governor, a position he held for five years.

Mr. Rowe and his late wife, Teva, raised horses.

Event Date : Thursday, April 10, 1902
Event Type : Death

Description : "Age: 64th year. Born in Bradford on December 12, 1838, as the second, but oldest living son of Thomas and Jane Driffill. His father, Thomas, had come to Bradford before it was a town, and was first married in 1830. His first wife died, and he remarried, and had eight children. Only four survive: Mrs. Jeffs, Bond Head; James Driffill, Toronto; Mrs. T.S. Graham, Bradford; Miss C.E. Driffill, Newmarket. Joseph was married in May 1869 to Margaret E. Clinkenbroomer, daughter of Joseph Clinkenbroomer, then of Bradford. They had four children, of whom Alfred and Edna survive. Arthur died in 1894 at age 24 (or in 1895 at age 25), and Louisa in 1898, at age 23. Joseph partnered with his brother James and ran a hardware store on the corner of Holland and Simcoe Street. Interred in Mount Pleasant cemetery."

Description : Earl Rowe Dies at 89
By Marianne Kazmer
Bradford Witness News Editor

NEWTON ROBINSON - They came to this small village, located just south of Cookstown, to pay their last respects to a political legend.

Gathered in the Newton Robinson United Church, with the rain falling softly outside, they listened as Rev. Henry Dahlin performed the service. It was the final tribute to a man whose political career spanned almost 65 years.

William Earl Rowe, former lieutenant-governor of Ontario and political veteran died last Thursday at his Newton Robinson home after suffering a hear attack. He was 89.

Born in Iowa, Mr. Rowe grew up in Simcoe County, where his political career began in 1919 when he became reeve of West Gwillimbury township. He spend 35 years as a Conservative legislator at both the provincial and federal levels before he was named lieutenant-governor in 1963. A former leader of the Ontario Conservative party, Mr. Rowe was also the youngest member in the R.B. Bennett cabinet, where he served as minister without portfolio.

In 1958, his daughter Jean Casselman Wadds was elected to parliament making the Rowes the first father-daughter team in Canada's history. She now serves as on the MacDonald Commission on the economy.

In addition to his long and distinguished political career, Mr. Rowe was also actively involved in harness racing throughout his life. Together with his son Bill, he founded both the Barrie and Windsor Raceway.

Among those attending the funeral service held Monday afternoon at Newton Robinson United Church were Lieutenant-Governor John Black Aird, Premier William Davis, NEw Brunswick Premier Richard Hatfield, Solicitor-General George Taylor, former lieutenant-governor Roland Michener, and York-Peel MP Sinclair Stevens.

Premier Davis described Mr. Rowe as "a great Canadian who will be remembered as a man who excelled as parliamentarian, Queen's representative in Ontario, as a breeder and racer of standard-bred horses, a farmer, and most importantly, in raising a fine family."

Mr. Rowe's wife, Treva, died five weeks ago after suffering a series of strokes. They are predecessed by a son, Lennox.

Mr. Rowe leaves a sister, Mary Lennox and a daughter, Jean Casselman Wadds. In addition, he leaves to mourn grandchildren Mrs. Jane Hutchins, Nancy Casselman of Toronto, Earl Rowe of Shanty Bay, Clare Casselman of Toronto, Scott Rowe of Cookstown, Cindy Rowe of London, Patti Rowe of Cookstown and great grandchildren Jennifer Hutchins, Katherine and Crystal Rowe.

Mr. Rowe was buried at Newton Robinson Cemetery.