Draft:Marion Cook Stow

Marion Cook Stow was born to Elizabeth Ransom Cook and Cyrus Monroe Cook on the 7th of June, 1875, in Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio. From a young age, she was very fond of nature and writing about nature. In her elementary school years, Cook’s family relocated. Alongside her three brothers, Frank Ransom Cook, Walter Monroe Cook, and Hervey McCurdy Cook, she traveled across the country from Ohio to Portland, Oregon. This is where she met her husband, Charles Messer Stow, and where she would remain for the rest of her life.

Life
As Stow grew into a young adult, her love for nature grew and manifested through her writing—especially her poetry. She wrote several books of poetry, many of which were stories about the Northwest. Her poems reflect a fondness for the woods, greenery, plants, and being outdoors. Her obituary notes that her best-known poem is titled Where Flows Hood River, published in 1907. Another famous work of hers is a novel titled The Child and the Dream, which has withstood the test of time and is described today by Amazon as a “masterwork” that “has shaped literature, inspired countless adaptions, and touched the heart of generations.” Two of her most successful poetry publications are titled Nature Sonnets and Voices of the City. The latter collection is particularly significant historically due to its dedication to the city of Portland and its strong lyrical cadence. During Stow’s lifetime, Voices of the City was considered by many Portland locals to be a beloved piece of literature and a valuable contribution to poetry in Oregon.

A lesser-known fact about Stow is that she was also an artist. Her published works include original illustrations to complement select poetry or chapters. Her love for visual arts was evident throughout her household; the walls of her home were always covered with original sketches and other art forms. She fully immersed herself in nature to create every pencil sketch included alongside her poetry. Stow’s poems and illustrations often pair together and are inspired by the same experience, echoing the remaining modernized influence of Romanticism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Death
Stow passed at age 35 on the 16th of September, 1910, at her parents’ house in Portland. Her burial was held at Riverview Cemetery. Her funeral was held on Sept 18th, 1910, at 2:30 pm at Holman’s Chapel in Portland, Oregon. Her obituary notes that she had a charming personality and that her large circle of friends deeply mourned her early and unexpected death. Stow’s friend and neighbor, Bill Grace, wrote a poem in her remembrance. He expresses a caring sentiment for Marion, writing that “her garment was the garment of love… I only hope as one of the last to see her, that I gave her comfort and that The Great Spirit that holds her has received her to a heart infinitely greater than my own.” While there is little information about the cause of Stow’s death, Grace’s poem follows with a remark inferring that a poorly treated sickness may have caused it. Grace follows his fond remarks for Stow with, “which is much better than my feelings towards her doctors.”

Today, Stow’s literature and illustrations are few and far between. Her work can still be found and purchased online, with companies ranging from Amazon to small businesses replicating antique novels and literature. While little information is left behind about Marion Cook Stow, her stories and poetry remain significant throughout the history of literature, echoing the lasting influence of Romanticism and the female voice in 20th-century American literature.