Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11

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A parade through historical newspapers taking a look at the wild and colorful history of one Charles H. Rowan, proprietor of a matrimonial agency in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the late 1890’s. He was accused, arrested, tried, found not-guilty, allegedly bribed government officials, retried… and the story doesn’t end there.

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Charles H. Rowan is in trouble, accused, arrested, tried.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11."Charles H. Rowan, proprietor of a matrimonial journal published in Milwaukee, was arrested today by Postal Inspector Ralph Bird, and is charged with using the mails with intent to defraud." Published in the Sedalia Weekly Democrat of Sedalia, Mississippi on December 15, 1898.

“Charles H. Rowan, proprietor of a matrimonial journal published in Milwaukee, was arrested today by Postal Inspector Ralph Bird, and is charged with using the mails with intent to defraud.” Published in the Sedalia Weekly Democrat of Sedalia, Mississippi on December 15, 1898.

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Apparently that didn’t scare Mr. Rowan into behaving.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11. Charles Rowan bribes U.S. Officials. Reported in the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern of Oshkosh, Wisconson on February 15, 1899.

Charles Rowan bribes U.S. Officials. Reported in the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern of Oshkosh, Wisconsin on February 15, 1899.

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Six months later, jury returned a verdict of acquittal.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11. "The jury in the case of Charles Rowan, matrimonial bureau, charged with unlawful use of the United States mails, returned a verdict of acquittal last night. Rowan, it is estimated, made not less than $15,000 out of his bureau in a year and five months." From the Wilkes-Barre Times of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1899.

Charles Rowan acquitted in Milwaukee. Published in the Wilkes-Barre Times of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on June 7, 1899.

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But just because a jury determined he wasn’t guilty (then) that didn’t mean he was free…

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11. Rowan acquitted of fraudulent use of the mails but must stand trial for attempted bribery. From the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Dated June 7, 1899.

Rowan Not Guilty. Published in the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern of Oshkosh, Wisconsin on June 7, 1899.

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Having Rowan behind bars didn’t mean no one had trouble…

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11. "A Widow in Trouble" through the journal of Charles H. Rowan's Matrimonial Bureau. Published in Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Virginia on May 16, 1899.

Widow in trouble after advertising through the journal of Charles H. Rowan’s Matrimonial Bureau. Published in the Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Virginia on May 16, 1899.

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In case you’re feeling sympathy for Mr. Rowan, I’ll share a snippet of an update on the trial:

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“Several young women whose names were on the list of the agency were on the stand and testified they did not give their names to Rowan.”

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~ Logansport Pharos-Tribune of Logansport, Indiana on May 28, 1899

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Lonely hearts near and far apparently had not heard of the probable crooked businessman’s doings and cancellation of the establishment…

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11. "The postoffice here stopped 9,800 letters addressed to Rowan. This was some time after the Postoffice department had entered the fraud order against his business." From Chicago Daily Tribune on June 3, 1899.

Chicago Daily Tribune of Chicago, Illinois on June 3, 1899.

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Or that the authorities were done taking a look…

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11. Charles Rowan Matrimonial Agency in The Inter-Ocean of Chicago, Illinois. Dated October 11, 1899.

Charles Rowan Matrimonial Agency in The Inter-Ocean, Chicago, Illinois on October 11, 1899.

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Now Mrs. Rowan appears to be “in business”, too… but not for brides. I wouldn’t trust her. Would you? And check out the latter half of this notice: apparently Mr. Charles Rowan believes he’ll never be found guilty…

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11. Mrs. Rowan in business too. Mr. Rowan wagers he'll never be found guilty. The Inter Ocean, Chicago, Illinois. 15 July, 1899.

Mrs. Rowan in business too. Mr. Rowan wagers he’ll never be found guilty. The Inter-Ocean, Chicago, Illinois. Dated July 15, 1899.

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Notice in the above article, Mr. Rowan was reputed to have made $100,000.00 (in 1899 dollars) in his matrimonial business.

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“$100,000 of 1899 dollars would be worth: $2,857,142.86 in 2015.”

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Source: Dave Manuel Inflation Calculator

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Rest assured previous witnesses were not done trying to do their civic duty…

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11. "Another Trial for Rowamn." Rowan. Published in The Inter-Ocean of Chicago, Illinois on November 15, 1900.

Another Trial for Rowan. Published in The Inter-Ocean of Chicago, Illinois on November 15, 1900.

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And then… Charles H. Rowan shows up as having been tried on multiple counts of mail-order fraud (this time for pills billed as curing deafness) in the 1880’s. And yeah, we’re talking about the same guy (despite the few abbreviations used) as the correct year and government official’s name that he’d allegedly bribed.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11. Fraud Order Against Rowan. The Tennessean of Nashville, Tennessee on May 3, 1901. Part 1 of 3.

1 of 3). Fraud Order Against Rowan from The Tennessean of Nashville, Tennessee. Dated May 3, 1901.

2 of 3). Fraud Order Against Rowan from The Tennessean of Nashville, Tennessee. Dated May 3, 1901.

3 of 3). Fraud Order Against Rowan from The Tennessean of Nashville, Tennessee. Dated May 3, 1901.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11. Stylized image of theatrical props. Evidently both Mr. AND Mrs. Rowan were able to wear more than one hat, present themselves to the unsuspecting public as the proprietor of a Miracle Cure, Cupid, the Matchmaker of all matchmakers...

Evidently both Mr. AND Mrs. Rowan were able to wear more than one hat, present themselves to the unsuspecting public as the proprietor of a Miracle Cure, Cupid, the Matchmaker of all matchmakers…

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Apparently Rowan’s first time around with the jury yielded a guilty charge for attempt to bribe a government agent–but due to a technicality, he was granted a second trial.

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11. Rowan's Jury Disagreed. The Minneapolis Journal of Minneapolis, Minnesota. November 16, 1901.

Rowan’s Jury Disagreed. The Minneapolis Journal of Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 16, 1901.

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What finally became of Charles H. Rowan? I couldn’t believe this! I would’ve had to have sat on the jury, myself (never would have happened for an adult woman at the turn of the century, though), heard and handled every bit of evidence… how on earth was Charles H. Rowan acquitted?

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11. Charles H. Rowan acquitted. The Inter-Ocean, Chicago, Illinois. Dated January 23, 1902.

Rowan acquitted. The Inter-Ocean of Chicago, Illinois. Dated January 23, 1902.

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Apparently Charles H. Rowan did just as he told a reporter he’d do– he went back into business as a matrimonial agent. Here’s an advertisement from February 1903, showing him as the agent:

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Kristin Holt | Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 11. C. H. Rowan advertises in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of St. Louis, Missouri on February 15, 1903. "MATRIMONY--Mary Rich; picture, descriptions, and P. O. addresses of 300 rich and pretty ladies who wish to marry, free. C. H. Rowan, Milwaukee, Wis."

C. H. Rowan advertises in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of St. Louis, Missouri on February 15, 1903.

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Simply studying about the havoc wrought by one Charles H. Rowan makes me cringe. My blood pressure’s up just thinking about his 2 decades (minimum) causing trouble through the mail, wringing money out of people who trusted him to be what he presented himself to be. If the man–and his wife–successfully defrauded so many selling “cures” and matrimonial introductions, what else did they successfully and fraudulently sell through the mail?

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I might be wrong. It’s possible this slice of Charles H. Rowan’s life has led me to believe the man guilty as sin. After all– just because someone said so doesn’t make it true.

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Invitation

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What do you think of the case of Charles H. Rowan?

Do you see the bits and pieces of his timeline differently than I do? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please scroll down and leave a reply.

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Up Next!

Nineteenth Century Mail-Order Bride SCAMS, Part 12:
THE FINAL ARTICLE IN THE SERIES.