Frederick Stanley Stowell
Frederick Stanley Stowell (1849-1924) of F. S. Stowell
Born the son of William Stowell, Church Minister.
1874 Married to Mary Jane Palmer and had five sons and two daughters.
1884 Birth of son Harold Joseph Stowell
1911 Living at 49 West Hill, St Leonards on Sea: Frederick Stanley Stowell (age 61 born Chorlton), Wine Merchant. With his wife Mary Ann Stowell, one daughter and son Harold Joseph Stowell (age 27 born Ealing), Wine Merchant.[1]
1924 Died.
1926 Death of his widow Jane age 70.[2]
1924 Obituary.[3]
The death occurred on Monday week of "The Bungalow." Castlebar-road, Ealing, of Mr. Frederick Stanley Stowell, aged 74, founder of the well-known firm of F. S. Stowell, Ltd., and father of Clr. H. J. Stowell.
Mr. Stowell was born at Longsight, a suburb of Manchester, on Sept. 18, 1849. His father was the Rev. Wm. Stowell, an Independent minister, and his grandfather was the Rev. Dr. Wm. Hendry Stowell, principal of Cheshunt College, and formerly principal of Rotherham College. The Rev. Wm, Stowell was an old college friends of Rowland Hill, at whose instigation he resigned his ministry for a time in order to become editor of the "Bedfordshire Mercury." of which Hill was proprietor. In later years Mr. Stowell himself contributed a series of articles to the “Mercury" entitled "I remember." He was, in fact, fond of writing, and he wrote an interesting autobiography called "My Story" which was privately circulated among members of his family and clone personal friends. He was also a frequent contributor to the "Middlesex County Times " and other journals.
At the age of 13 he came to live in London, his father having been called to the pastorate of the Ebenezer Independent Chapel in the Kentish Town-road. He was sent to Carlton Hill College nearby. kept by his uncle, at that time an Independent minister, but who was later ordained to the priesthood and became a beneficed clergyman in the Church of England. Mr. Stowell entered the wine trade as a clerk in the business of Mr. John Winekworth at the Canal Bridge Vaults. Camden-road. but he left after five months to enter a warehouse in the City. Very soon after this his father resigned his pastorate to join the Plymouth Brethren, and the family moved up to South Shields, where he eventually joined the literary staff of the "Newcastle Chronicle.' Mr. Stowell also joined the Brethren with his father, and remained with them for twenty years before returning to Congregationalism.
At South Shields he entered a lawyer's office, but he soon decided to go back to the wine business in London with his first employer, with whom he remained until 1878 when he came to Ealing and started business in the Mall on his own account. He allied himself with the Brethren, took a prominent part in the building of the Sunnyside Room, and was responsible for the Sunday school, but a few years later he joined the Ealing Congregational Church and subsequently became its treasurer and one of its deacons. Mr. Stowell founded and financed the "Ealing Magazine" in 1886, but the publication lived for only six months.
His business soon began to prosper, and before long he was able to buy the premises that are still being run by the Company at the corner of Ranelagh-road. For a time he lived over these premises, but with added success he was able to move to St. Vincent's Lodge, Hanwell, and later to have a house at Pirbright. For three years he was a member of the Pirbright District Council and of the Guildford Board of Guardians. Meanwhile he had opened other branches at Horn-lane, Acorn, Argyle-road. West Ealing. Southall (sold in 1901), and Ealing Common, and while living at Pirbright he opened a shop at Weybridge, of which Clr. H. J. Stowell was, first manager. The business turned into a private company in 1901. While at Pirbright Mr. Stowell inaugurated a library for the village, and got together two or three hundred books for it. He took very little part in public affairs in Ealing, but he was much interested in the work in connection with the Ealing Congregational Church and to a lesser extent in th e activities of the Ealing Chamber of Commerce.
The funeral took place at Ealing Cemetery on Thursday afternoon after a short service held at the house by the Rev. Wilton E. Rix, who also officiated at the graveside. There were no flowers, except a floral cross from members of the family. The mourners were Mrs. Farris, Mr. Edward Stowell. Mr. Stanley Stowell, Mr, Huey, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Stowell. Mr. Hugh Stowell, Mr. Farris, the Rev. A. K. and Mrs. Stowell, Dr. Stowell, Miss Powell, Kathleen, Ruth and Roger, Mr. Rayner Stowell, Mrs. Hilton Stowell. Miss L. Stowell. Mr. Hoey, Mr. Leonard Stowell, Mr. Tom Crow, and Messrs. Gregory, Baker, Smithson, Wakelin and Stephens. Messrs. E. Myring and Son, Ealing Broadway, carried out the arrangements.