This is so named in honor of Edwin H. Stowe, president judge of the common pleas court of Allegheny county. The division of Robinson was first agitated in 1867, when, at the June sessions, a petition was presented to court, the line proposed being the Pittsburgh and Steubenville turnpike and the Hookerstown road. The court, deeming it unnecessary to appoint commissioners, directed that the question should be submitted to popular vote. August 1, 1867, the election was held, but the measure was defeated. The advocates of the measure made a second effort in 1869; J. B. Stilley, Cornelius Scully and R. M. Kerr, to whom the matter was referred, reported favorably September 18, 1869, and at an election ten days later their verdict was sustained by a vote of one hundred and eleven to eighty-eight. The final decree of court erecting Stowe was issued December 6, 1869.

The township is triangular in shape, and is bounded on the north and east by the Ohio river and Chartiers creek. It is one of the smaller subdivisions of he county. A large part of its area was originally secured by Alexander McKee from Col. Henry Bouquet, a Swiss officer in the British service, and at that time (1764) commandant at Fort Pitt. This tract is described as situated "at the mouth of Shertee’s creek," and is said to have comprised more than a thousand acres. McKee was faithful to the British cause when the Revolution began, and lied to a military post in the northwest to avoid, arrest by colonial officers. His position here was that of deputy agent of Indian affairs for the district of Fort Pitt. In after years he figured conspicuously in the British interests about Detroit and the Maumee river. He acquired considerable property there, but it was almost totally destroyed after the battle of Fallen Timbers by Gen. Wayne. James McKee, his brother, succeeded to his estates on Chartiers creek. The sons of James were Alexander, Thomas and John, and some of their descendants still reside here.

Lewis Davis came to this township about 1800, and purchased from William Brown the island of about fifty acres that has since been known as Davis’ island. A grandson of Mr. Davis now owns a portion of the island. The upper part is owned by the United States government, and is occupied in connection with the "Davis’ island dam," a government work. The sons of Lewis Davis were David, John, Lewis and James. William McCoy and his son Thomas, and John Sampson and his sons John and George were early residents. "Paddy’s Hill," in this township, is so named from "Paddy Moore," who was killed by the Indians and buried there. James and Robert Porter; William Wagstaff and his brother; Caleb and Daniel Moriarty; Joseph Wilson and sons Robert, Joseph, William, Thomas and Alexander; Edwin Haynes; Allen and son William and several sons of William were among the early citizens of what is now Stowe township.

McKee’s Rocks, known as a railroad station under the name of Chartiers, is a town of several hundred inhabitants situated on the Ohio river at the mouth of Chartiers creek, three miles from Pittsburgh. Its growth and importance as a manufacturing point are the direct result of the opening of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie railroad. The advantages of the location were early regarded with favor by manufacturers, and at no one of the numerous suburban railroad points around Pittsburgh is there greater promise of industrial activity in the future. Of the manufacturing interests represented at present the Pittsburgh Steel-works, Anderson, Dupuy & Co., proprietors, rank first in importance and extent. The works comprise about seven acres of ground, principally occupied by buildings. The plant consists of 4 sixteen-pot and 2 thirty-three-pot Sieman furnaces, 15 heating-furnaces, 1 open-hearth furnace, 5 trains of rolls, 3 steam hammers, and other apparatus of a varied character. The product consists of fine-tool crucible steel for the manufacture of agricultural and mechanical devices to the amount of 10,000 net tons annually. The works were established in 1882.
. . . The Iron City Bridge-works, C. J. Schultze, proprietor, were established at Cincinnati in 1854, removed to Pittsburgh in 1856, and to Chartiers in 1881. The main building is 300 feet long and 50 feet wide, with three wings attached, 110 by 62 feet, 80 by 50 feet, and 60 by 20 feet, respectively, aggregating fully one acre of floor-surface under roof. The plant consists of general bridge machinery of the most approved design, and the annual product is about five thousand tons of finished material. Among the structures built by Mr. Schultze may be mentioned the Thirty-third street bridge, Pittsburgh, several inclines on the South Side, the Red river bridge on the Texas Pacific railroad, and the railroad sheds at Indianapolis, recently completed. The establishment is represented by its work in every part of the United States, in Mexico, Cuba and South America.
. . . The Vulcan Forge and Iron Works, Long & Co., proprietors, were established in 1877 and removed to Chartiers in 1882. The rolling mill is 192 feet long and 170 feet wide; there are 3 trains of rolls, 18, 16 and 9 inches, respectively, 15 puddling-furnaces, 10 heating-furnaces and other requisite machinery. The forge and machine building is 179 feet long and 90 feet wide. The product consists of railroad specialties — carwheels and axles, and bridge-iron — to the amount of 15,000 net tons annually. Three hundred men are employed. The repair-shops, roundhouses and freight-yards of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie railroad were constructed during the past year, and can not fail to attract a large population. The opposite bank of the Ohio river is embraced within the corporate limits of Allegheny City, and comparatively thickly settled; there is every reason to anticipate similar developments in relation to this place.

St. Mary’s German Catholic Church originated in the efforts of the Passionist Fathers of Pittsburgh in 1855, when Father Luke laid the cornerstone of the church. It has experienced frequent pastoral changes. The first Presbyterian service at McKee’s Rocks was held in 1875 by Rev. W. C. Burchard, by whom, E. E. Swift, D.D., Rev. W. J. Holland and David Robinson, Esq., the church was organized in 1883, with twenty-four members. The church edifice was dedicated in 1884. Rev. O. N. Verner is pastor. St. John’s German Lutheran Church was organized in 1885, and incorporated in the following year. The cornerstone of the church-building was laid September 25, 1887. It is a frame structure 42 feet long and 30 feet wide. Rev. F. L. Dietrich is pastor. Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, at Duff’s station, is an older organization. It was organized in 1853 by Rev. H. Reck. The present church-building was completed and dedicated a few weeks before the organization. The pastors have been: Rev. M. Valentine, six months to 1854; Rev. H. Reck,, five years to 1859; Rev. J. S. Lawson, nine years to 1869; Rev. W. A. Passavant, D.D. (supply), eight years to 1876; Rev. G. H. Gerberding, three years to 1879; Rev. A. N. Bartholomew, six years to 1885, at which time the present pastor. Rev. J. Q. Waters, took charge. The church was organized with 10 members, and in a few years ran up to about 80 souls. The record prior to 1868 is very imperfect. The number of communicants then (1868), was reduced to 23. From that time the membership has been fluctuating. It now numbers 65. The Sunday-school numbers 70 scholars and 8 teachers. The church is beautifully located on a hill overlooking the valley of Chartiers creek, about a mile from its mouth, and has in connection with it a fine cemetery and a pastor’s home with several acres of ground. The oldest postoflice in the township is Chartiers, established in February, 1863. McKee’s Rocks was established in 1879, discontinued in August, 1881, and re-established in February, 1882. The j)opulation was 739 in 1870 and 867 in 1880.