For four years Earl Osborne Stowitts has been secretary and manager of the Amsterdam board of trade, which was fortunate in securing the services of a man who has grasped the meaning of modern municipal development and has made a study of the methods and details connected with the work of promoting it. He was born in the town of Root, Montgomery county, New York, May 25, 1882, a son of Jacob and Anna R. Stowitts, the former an agriculturist.
Earl Osborne Stowitts attended the grammar and high schools of Amsterdam and after completing his education engaged in newspaper work, becoming proofreader for the Amsterdam Evening Recorder. He found the occupation a congenial one and advanced continuously, at length reaching the editorial desk. He afterward entered the advertising field and in 1921 became secretary and manager of the Amsterdam board of trade. Each succeeding year he has attended the summer school of Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, studying economics in addition to pursuing a special four-year course for Chamber of Commerce secretaries and executives, and is now a graduate of the school. He is sagacious and farsighted, capable of handling large and important business problems, of grasping minute business details, of coordinating forces, and has demonstrated that he is ideally fitted for the position. Recognition of his ability led to his appointment by Governor Smith as a delegate from New York to the Pan-American Commercial Congress held in Atlanta, Georgia, October 1-4, 1924.
On August 14, 1907, Mr. Stowitts was married to Miss Elizabeth E. Moore, a daughter of John T. and Jennie (Hare) Moore of Amsterdam and Mr. and Mrs. Stowitts have three children: Evelyn O., who was born December 15, 1909; Bertha, who was born on May 16, 1911; and Marguerite, born August 6, 1913.
Mr. Stowitts is a stanch republican and takes a keen interest in the activities of the party, but is not a politician. He realizes the importance of the public schools as a factor in national progress and has served as clerk of the board of education. He is an Episcopalian in religious faith and is affiliated with St. Ann's church at Amsterdam. He is an exemplary representative of the Masonic order, in which he has filled important offices, being past master of Welcome Lodge, No. 829, F. & A. M., and past assistant grand lecturer for the Fulton-Herkimer-Montgomery Masonic district, while he is also connected with the Past Masters' Association of that district. He is a member of Amsterdam Chapter, No. 81, R. A. M.; Holy Cross Commandery, No. 51, K. T., at Gloversville, New York; and Oriental Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Mr. Stowitts is identified with the Masonic Club, the Amsterdam Automobile Club, the local Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, being an honorary member of the last named organization, and is also connected with the Young Men's Christian Association. Honest, sincere and straightforward, he has wrought along lines of progress, expansion and development and during the period of his incumbency in his present position has given to Amsterdam the services of an expert public agent, a capable business man and a public-spirited citizen.