Background
Rowe was born in Bolivar, New York, one of the six children of John S. Rowe and Hulda Peck Rowe.
Rowe was born in Bolivar, New York, one of the six children of John S. Rowe and Hulda Peck Rowe.
He served as the Mayor of Portland, Oregon from 1900 to 1902. The family moved to Wisconsin and Henry Rowe began working for the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Saint Paul Railroad as a telegraph operator at the age of thirteen. He held numerous positions in the railroad industry, working primarily in Kansas.
Rowe moved to Oregon in 1880, initially working for the steamship division of Henry Villard"s newly established Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company.
He took office on June 4, 1900. During Rowe"s term, Portland"s first Board of Park Commissioners was established.
Rowe also served as president of the Board of Fire Commissioners and on the city"s Water Committee. He is noted for his interest in developing Oregon"s scenic attractions and also for reducing city expenditures.
Rowe returned to the railroad industry after his term as Portland"s mayor.
He was also involved in the banking and real estate industries. Rowe later went into business with Lee Holden, a former Portland Fire Chief. Rowe and Holden constructed the Rhododendron Inn near Mount Hood in 1905.
A post office was established nearby in 1909.
The town was christened "Rowe" in his honor, but the name was eventually changed to Rhododendron, Oregon. Rowe died in 1914 and is buried in Lone Fir Cemetery.
After becoming active in politics at the county and state level, Rowe was elected Mayor of Portland, Oregon as a member of the Republican Party, defeating the incumbent West. A. Storey.