Person Page - 28

     Clark Ray Bowers was born on 30 Mar 1896.¹ He was the son of Samuel Peter Bowers and Malvina Ernestine Houser.¹ Clark Ray Bowers died on 22 Apr 1930 at age 34; He was born in Richland County, Illinois, 20 March 1876, son of S. P. Bowers, b. Iowa, and Malvina Houser, b. Edwards County, Illinois. He was a resident of Salem, Illinois, and died at the Olney Sanitarium, on 22 April 1922. He died of tuberculosis peritonits and intestinal obstruction. He was single and his occupation was timber estimator.² He was buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Bonpas Township, Richland County, Illinois. His tombstone is inscribed "Clark Ray Bowers, d. April 22, 1930, Ill. Pvt. US Maries 6 Rgt. 2 Div."³
     He, as Clark Bowers, registered with the World War I Selective Service System on 5 Jun 1917 at Bonpas Township, Richland County, Illinois. He described himself as living Route 4, Olney, Illinois, age 21, born 30 March 1896, Olney, Ill., Rt. 4, and his occupation was farm hand for S. P Bowers of Route 4, Olney. He was medium in height, medium in build, with light gray eyes and had dark hair.⁴ His name appears in the Olney Advocate of 27 Dec 1917 where he is shown as being in marine service among lists of those serving in WW I.⁵
     Clark taught school for a while, then later estimated timber in the South. He was a veteran of WW I. He never married.¹

     Claude William Bowers was born on 26 Oct 1922.¹ He was the son of Samuel Peter Bowers and Flossie Lee Seymour.¹ Claude William Bowers died on 5 Jul 1981 at age 58.²
     His obituary states:
     "Claude William Bowers, 58, 820 N. Fair, Olney, died at 10 p.m. Sunday in Richland Memorial Hospital.
"Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Summers Funeral Home with Rev. Ivan Lirely presiding. Burial will be in Haven Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be 7-9 p.m. Tuesday.
"Mr. Bowers was born Oct 25, 1922, in Olney, son of Samuel P. and Flossie (Seymour) Bowers. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church.
"Survivors include two brothers, Richard, Madisonville, Ky; Gerald, Toledo, Oregon; his mother, Mrs.Flossie Bowers, Olney; and several aunts and uncles.
"He was preceded in death by his father."³

     Daniel Clinton Bowers was born on 8 Nov 1935 at Olney, Richland County, Illinois. He was named for both of his grandfathers.¹ He was the son of Max Ivan Bowers and Dorothy Ellen Rothrock.¹ Daniel Clinton Bowers died on 27 Jul 1986 at Honolulu, Hawaii, at age 50.^2,3 He was buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Bonpas Township, Richland County, Illinois.⁴
     Dan joined the U. S. Marine Corps on 17 April 1956. He served in many places, including the Vietnam War. He was crew chief on the Presidential Helicopter for Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson.¹
     His obituary states:
     "Daniel Bowers, 50
"Daniel Bowers, 50, formerly of West Salem, died Sunday, July 27, 1986, in Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii.
"Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Ingram Funeral Home in West Salem with the Rev. Arthur Richey presiding. Visitation be 6-8 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery with full military rites by the West Salem American Legion.
"Mr. Bowers was born Nov. 8, 1935, in Olney, the son of Max and Dorothy Rothrock [Bowers].
"He was a retired Marine.
"Survivors include a brother, Paul Bowers, Huntingburg, Ind., and his mother, Dorothy Bowers, West Salem.
"He was preceded in death by his father and a sister."⁵

     Daniel W. Bowers M. D. was born on 29 Dec 1861 at Jefferson County, Iowa, in the evening.^2,3 He was the son of Peter Bowers and Mary Brown.¹ Daniel W. Bowers M. D. married Elise Rebecca Canby, daughter of Samuel Simpson Canby M. D. and Martha Bates, on 3 Jul 1889.² Daniel W. Bowers M. D. died on 16 Jan 1945 at Olney Sanatarium, Olney, Richland County, Illinois, at age 83; he died of carcinoma of the bladder and senility.^4,5 He was buried on 18 Jan 1945 at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Bonpas Township, Richland County, Illinois. The clergyman for the funeral was Rev. Oliver Dearing.^6,7
     "When Dad was still small enough to be sitting on Dan Brown's knee, they were discussing the fact that that they had no middle name and perhaps ought to have one since other people, who were no better, had one. They adopted W. for middle initial, but no middle name."⁸ This story is of interest to me, relating to the origin of my name, but does not fit with the facts that Dan W. Brown died in 1860 and Dan W. Bowers was born in 1861.
Daniel W. Bowers M. D. appeared on the census of 6 May 1910 at Kenmare, Ward County, North Dakota, as follows:
Dr. D. W. Bowers, head, age 48, m. once, 21 yrs, b. Iowa, parents b. PA, Doctor
Elise, wife, 38, m. once, 21 yrs, 6 children, 4 living, b. Ill., father b. Ohio, mother b. Del.
Samuel, son, 19, single, b. Ill., m. 20 yrs [sic], teacher
Anna, dau, 18, single, b. Ill., teacher
Evyline, dau, 9, b. Ill.
Max, son, 4, b. Ill.
Peter, father, 88, widower, b. PA, parents b. PA.⁹
     Dan Bowers, sixth child of Peter and Mary Bowers, was their youngest child at the time they moved from Iowa to Indiana. He was not quite eight years old when the family, now increased by two more births, came from Indiana to Decker township of Richland County, Illinois. In this area Dan grew to manhood and then again moved with his parents to Bonpas township of the same county in 1885. This home was about a mile north of Red Head School and near the home of Dr. S. S. Canby. It is reported that just after a daughter of Dr. Canby came to call on the new neighbors, Dan remarked "That is the girl I am going to marry". Whether that is the way it was or not, he did marry that girl, Elise Canby. On 3 July 1939, they celebrated 50 years of married life. Six children were born to them; two of these did not live beyond infancy. Dan and Elise were both members of the Church of the Brethren.
"It may have been partly due to the influence and example of his father-in-law that Dan decided to become a doctor. He attended Barnes Medical College of St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated, as his diploma states "16th day of March 1895, year of our Lord MDCCCXCV and of the Independence of the United States CXVIII". Upon his graduation the Medical College presented a medal to him because he ranked highest in his class. The medal was passed on to his son, Sam, then to Sam's grandson Myron who had it about 1978.
Dan practiced medicine and also at times did some farming. He was the "country doctor". His pay was not always in money but sometimes in chickens or pigs or hay or whatever the patient might have -- and sometimes no pay at all. He made home calls, depending at first on horses and later on automobiles for transportation, unless the roads (many of them dirt roads) were too bad to get a car through or the weather was too bad for a horse to be out. In those cases, he walked. But he went when and where he was called. He delivered babies, set broken bones (without X-ray), and treated all kinds of illnesses. One medicine that he gave was a dark brown liquid that tested as bad as anything could, it seemed, but it must have done the work, and tasting as it did, there was not much chance of an overdose.
The Bunn nephews remember Dr. Canby, Uncle Dan Bowers, and their father going fishing together, and they say Dan was an excellent shot with a rifle, too.

Perhaps partly because of the lure of the West, but mostly because of a health condition, Dan took his family to North Dakota where his sister Lila Dollahon lived. To take his household goods and live stock, he rented a railroad car. One of the horses died on the trip and was simply disposed of by pushing it out of the car. It was while in Dakota that Dan shaved off his beard, which he had worn for some time. That changed his appearance so much that his daughter Evelyn did not recognize him when he came to the door. When Dan asked for Evelyn's father, she turned to call her father, not knowing it was he who was asking. The family spent four years in North Dakota, probably about 1909 - 1913. Dan's father was there with them for a time, but he came back to Illinois before they did, making the trip alone at the age of 90.
Besides living in North Dakota those few years, Dan and Elise lived first near Dr. Canby, then at West Salem, at Claremont, and last at Berryville, Illinois. He practiced medicine until his last illness. The cause of his death was carcinoma of the urinary bladder.¹⁰
     Dr. Dan W. Bowers, physician, died 16 Jan 1945, from (1) carcinoma of the bladder (urinary) and (2) Senility.¹¹
     His obituary states:
     "Obituary
"Daniel W. Bowers was born to Peter and Mary (Brown) Bowers in Jefferson county, Iowa, December 29, 1861 and passed away in the Olney Sanatarium, January 16, 1945, aged 83 years, 18 days. His parents moved from Iowa to Indiana when he was quite young, then to Noble, Ill. in 1869 where he grew to young manhood. In 1885, he became a resident of Bonpas township, locating near Berryville, Illinois where most of his life was lived.
"July 3, 1889 he was united in marriage with Elise R., daughter of Dr. S. S. and Martha Canby. To this union were born six children, Mary Gertrude and Richard Ernest dying early in life.
"They celebrated their Golden Wedding July 1939. He united with the Church of the Brethren of Walnut Grove, Ill. at the age of 29 and lived a Christian life to the end.
"Dr. Bowers graduated with honors from the Barnes Medical College of St. Louis in 1895. He was well known throughout Richland County and especially Bonpas Township where he practiced his chosen profession most of the time since his graduation, until a very short time before going to the Sanitarium, one week before he passed away.
"He leaves to mourn, his loving wife, two sons, Sam P. of Olney, Max I. of near Claremont, and two daughters, Anna F. Fritchey of Claremont, and Evelyn M. Allen of Berryville, also 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, three sisters, Mary Findley of Parkersburg, Fannie Bunn of Olney Rt. 4, Maranda Ridgely of near Parkersburg and a number of nieces and nephews as well as many friends and acquaintances.
CARD OF THANKS
"We wish to thank our many friends for their kind expressions of sympathy during the recent illness and death of our husband and father, Dr. D. W. Bowers. Our special thanks to the singers and those who so kindly assisted at the church, and to Rev. Oliver Deering for his words of comfort.
"Mrs. D. W. Bowers, S. P. Bowers and family, Max I. Bowers and family, Mrs. Anna Fritchey and family and Mrs. Evelyn Allen."⁴
     Another states:
     "Dr. Bowers was 'County Doctor'
"Funeral services were being held this afternoon for Dr. Daniel W. Bowers, 83, at Walnut Grove church, and citizens of southern and eastern Richland county and nearby sections in neighboring counties were paying tribute to the man who undoubtedly was "the first citizen" of this large rural area.
"Dr. Bowers was a typical "country doctor" of the old-fashioned type who ministered to the ill and suffering of his large rural territory no matter what difficulty he faced in reaching his patients. Almost every year he would "walk his route" when the roads became so bad that neither car nor horse and buggy could make it.
"His ungrudging ministrations for almost half a century to the many people relying upon him in good or bad weather, often-times with conditions requiring almost primitive emergency treatment to the ill, or suffering, brought him the respect and love of those living in the isolated rural section whcih had no good roads until recent years."¹²
     His obituary states:
     "Thirty Years Ago, January 24, 1945"
"Funeral services are being held this afternoon for Dr. Daniel W. Bowers, 83, at Walnut Grove Church, and citizens of southern and eastern Richland County and nearby sections were paying tribute to the man who was the "first citizen" of this rural area. He was a typical country doctor of the old fashioned type who ministered to the ill and suffering of his large rural territory no matter what difficulty he faced in reaching his patients. Almost every year, he would walk his route when roads became so bad that neither car nor horse and buggy could make it. Many people had only him to rely on when conditions required emergencies, and due to conditions, his treatments were sometimes almost primitive, but more often than not his treatment was successful and brought him deep respect."¹³

     Delilah Alice Bowers was born on 15 Mar 1901 at Richland County, Illinois.¹ She was the daughter of Samuel Peter Bowers and Malvina Ernestine Houser.¹ Delilah Alice Bowers married Herschel Roy Henry on 30 Sep 1922 at Salem, Marion County, Illinois.¹ Delilah Alice Bowers appears in the Social Security Death Index as having died 27 Dec 1999 with the last place of residence listed as Claremont, Richland County, Illinois. Delilah Alice's SSN was issued in Illinois. Also, her birth date is given as 15 Mar 1901.² She died on 27 Dec 1999 at age 98.²
     In the 1970s, a lot of the credit for the continuation of the Bowers Reunion was due to Herschel and Lila. It was Herschel who made the arrangements for the use of the Olney Park.³
     Her obituary states:
     "Lila Alice Henry, 98, of Claremont, IL., died Monday, December 27, 1999 at Lawrence County Hospital, Lawrenceville, IL.
"Services were held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 31, 1999 at Summers-Kistler Funeral Home in Olney, IL. with Rev. Gary B. Ryden officiating. Burial was in Crest Haven Cemetery, Claremont, IL.
"She was born March 15, 1901 in Richland Co., IL., the daughter of Samuel Peer [sic] and Melvina (Houser) Bowers. She married Herschel Roy Henry on September 30, 1922. He preceded her in death February 25, 1980.
"Mrs. Henry was a homemaker; and a member of the Berryville Christian Church.
"Survivors include a son, Gordon Henry and his wife, Janet of Claremont, IL; two daughters, Darlene Fritschle and husband Ed of Claremont, IL., and Frances Pasley of Port Ludlow, WA; twenty-one grandchildren; sixty great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
"She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, her son Chester; her daughter Elinor Boldrey; four sisters, two brothers, four grandsons, and one great-granddaughter."⁴

     Delilah Susan Bowers was born in the evening on 1 Apr 1865 near Sulphur Springs, Indiana.^2,3 She was the daughter of Peter Bowers and Mary Brown.¹ Delilah Susan Bowers married Henry Franklin "Frank" Dollahon on 30 Apr 1889 at the home of the groom's stepmother, Edwards County, Illinois.⁴ Delilah Susan Bowers died on 2 May 1943 at Kenmare, Ward County, North Dakota, at age 78.⁵ She was buried on 5 May 1943 at Lakeview (aka Lake View) Cemetery, Kenmare, Ward County, North Dakota.
     "Kenmare, N.D., May 15, 1943
"Dear Aunt Randa: I started to write to you a couple of different times and didn't finish it, so now my letter must be only a bearer of sad news. Mother passed away May second after only a few days of serious illness. She went so peaceful and quiet and had such a nice look I know she is happy. We laid her beside father on May fifth at 10:30 in the morning. Only Bob was here, Bruce couldn't get train reservations, Mary couldn't leave home and Ruth didn't know it soon enough or she said she would have come but it is hard to make good train connections as every one has to wait on troop trains.
"Hope you are well. I will send your flower seed.
"With Love, Edith
"PS: Aunt Randa you can tell the rest of the folks for I don't just know their address."^5,6
     The marriage licence for Henry Franklin Dollahon and Delilah Susan Bowers was issued in Edwards County, Illinois, on 30 April 1889. The groom was a 22 [also listed as age 21] year old farmer living in Salem Precinct of Edwards County, born in "Arcunsas", son of G. F. Dollahon and Maggy Mahue. It was his first marriage. The bride was a 24 year old native of "Indiani" living in Ricland County, daughter of Peter Bowers and Mary Brown. It was her first marriage. They were married by Alexander H. McClure, a Justice of the peace, on the 30th day of April 1889 at the home of the groom's step mother. also shown as "groom's mother". Randa Ridgely and Oscar Ridgely were witnesses to the marriage.⁷
     "Lila Bowers, although born in Indiana, lived there only about four years, for the family came to the area near Noble, Illinois in 1869. By the time she married, the family had moved to Red Head School District, in Bonpas (pronounced Bum-paw) Township of Richland County, Illinois. After she and Frank were married, they lived in that general area for several years, perhaps both in Edwards and Richland Counties. Frank was a farmer and was, at one time, employed by Dr. S. S. Canby. Land records at the Richland County Court House show that, in 1900, Frank and Lila bought an acre of land from Peter Bowers, just east of the Walnut Grove Church of the Brethren. That is now [1979] part of the parsonage.
"About 1902, Frank and Delila left Illinois to homestead in North Dakota. They were there until their deaths, coming back only for visits. The Bowers famly was a close one, and Lila was greatly missed, especially by her youngest sister Maranda who once wrote that she thought she couldn't live without Lila but had to find out she could. Maranda said she thought Lila was more like her father than any of the other children. Perhaps she meant Lila could take things as they came and enjoy living. Anyway, some of the nieces and nephews remember that "Aunt Lila was a lot of fun". Lila spent the last years (perhaps six) in a hospital in Kenmare. Her sister Maranda visited her there in 1941."⁸
     Her obituary states:
"Mrs. L. Dollahan Rites Wednesday
"Mrs. Lila Dollahan passed away Sunday at Kenmare Deaconess hospital. Mrs. Dollahan has been bedridden at the hospital since Dec. 29, 1936, ill of diabetes.
" Lila Bowers was born at Sulphur Springs, Ind., April 1st, 1865. On April 30th, 1889, she was married to Frank Dollahan, who passed away Feb. 28th, 1929.
"After their marriage, they lived at Parkersburg, Ill. They came to North Dakota in March 1902 and homesteaded near the Canadian border, north of Noonan. In 1906, they moved to Kenmare to reside.
"To this union seven children were born, four daughters and three sons. The sons are Glenn of Clear Lake Park, Calif; Robert, of Grand Forks and Bruce of Los Angeles, Calif. One daughter died in infancy and those surviving are Mrs. Richard Gibson, Westhoff, Texas; Mrs. James Larson, Foxboro, Wis., and Mrs. Earl Ankenbauer, Kenmare. Also surviving are 25 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Mrs. Dollahan was affiliated with the Brethren church.
"Funeral services were held yesterday morning at ten-thirty o'clock from the Ringen Funeral Home with the Rev. S. Haukedalen, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Miss Carol Nelson rendered three vocal solos: "No Disappointment in Heaven," "Haven of Rest," and "Near to the Heart of God."
"Pallbearers were Messrs. Viggo Sorenson, Irvin Purdy, C. N. Westlake, W. C. Stice, Frank Elliot and Oliver Couey. Burial was in Lakeview cemetery.
"Out of town relatives here for the funeral were Robert Dollahan of Grand Forks and Mrs. Ambrose Bergeron of Minot."⁹
     When her mother died in 1943, Edith Ankenbauer wrote to Maranda Ridgely as follows:
"Kenmare, N.D., May 15, 1943
"Dear Aunt Randa: I started to write to you a couple of different times and didn't finish it, so now my letter must be only a bearer of sad news. Mother passed away May second after only a few days of serious illness. She went so peaceful and quiet and had such a nice look I know she is happy. We laid her beside father on May fifth at 10:30 in the morning. Only Bob was here, Bruce couldn't get train reservations, Mary couldn't leave home and Ruth didn't know it soon enough or she said she would have come but it is hard to make good train connections as every one has to wait on troop trains.
"Hope you are well. I will send your flower seed.
"With Love, Edith
"PS: Aunt Randa you can tell the rest of the folks for I don't just know their address."⁵

     Dora Alice Bowers was born on 15 Jul 1876 at Richland County, Illinois.² She was the daughter of George Washington Bowers and Louvina Rogers.¹ Dora Alice Bowers married (2) John Edgar Atteberry on 11 Feb 1902 at Richland County, Illinois.^3,4 Dora Alice Bowers died at 8:00 A. M. On 5 Apr 1906 at age 29. The cause of death is given as peritonitis with appendicitis as a contributing condition.¹ She was buried at Green Hill Cemetery, Decker Township, Richland County, Illinois.¹
     Her obituary states: "Mrs. Dora Arterberry, wife of John Arterberry died at her home in South Decker Twp., April 5, 1906. She leaves her husband two children, two step-children, mother and one sister. Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery."⁵

     Edna Evelyn Bowers was born on 13 Oct 1891.^1,2 She was the daughter of Samuel Peter Bowers and Malvina Ernestine Houser. Edna Evelyn Bowers married Lafayette I. McCarty on 4 Mar 1915 at the home of her parents, Richland County, Illinois.³ Edna Evelyn Bowers died on 8 Oct 1926 at Salem, Marion County, Illinois, at age 34.^2,1 She was buried at Mt. Olive Cemetery, Richland County, Illinois. Her tombstone there reads "Edna E. McCarty, October 13, 1891 - October 8, 1926."^1,4
     Before her marriage, Edna taught in the rural schools of the area. Her last residence was at Salem, Illinois.¹
     Her obituary states:
               "Edna Evelyn McCarty"
"Edna Evelyn Bowers, second child of Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Bowers was born October 13, 1891, and departed this life October 8, 1926, at her home at Salem, Ill., being at the time of her death, 34 years, 11 months, and 25 days old. On March 4, 1915, she was united in marriage to L. I. McCarty. To this union were born three children, Leon 9, Mary Ernestine 6, and Elaine 5 years old.
"During the winter of 1916, under the pastorate of Rev. J. C. Foutz, she and her husband were converted in a revival meeting held at Mt. Olive and laterwere[sic -- space is omitted] baptized and united with the church at that place. Edna grew to young womanhood and spent practically all her life in this community, up to seven years ago, when she and her family moved to Salem, Illinois.
"News of her death came as a great shock to her many friends in her old home neighborhood, her fatal illness having been of but a few hours duration. Those left to mourn her passing, are, the bereaved husband and three children, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Bowers, four sisters, Mrs. Chas Adams of East Chicago, Mrs. Raymond Ribley of Salem, Mrs. Osco McCarty of Prarieton, Mrs. Herschel Henry, of Harvey, and two brothers, Clark of Memphis, Tennessee, and Ed of Salem."

     Esther Ernestine Bowers was born on 9 Dec 1893 at Richland County, Illinois.¹ She was the daughter of Samuel Peter Bowers and Malvina Ernestine Houser.¹ Esther Ernestine Bowers married Ramon Roscoe Ribley on 31 Dec 1916 at the home of the bride's parents, Richland County, Illinois.¹ Esther Ernestine Bowers appears in the Social Security Death Index as having died 14 Nov 1994 with the last place of residence listed as Noble, Richland County, Illinois. Esther Ernestine's SSN was issued in Illinois. Also, her birth date is given as 9 Dec 1893.² She died on 14 Nov 1994 at age 100.³ She was buried on 17 Nov 1994 at Mt. Olive Cemetery, Richland County, Illinois. The minister for the funeral service at Zirkle Funeral Home was Dr. Bruce Owens and her Casket Bearers were Phillip Rich, Loren Ribley, David Stadge, Warren Ribley, Michael Miller, Mark Dickerson, Clark Dickerson, and Rodney Dickerson.³
     She graduated on 26 Aug 1910 from The Richland County Public Schools, Olney, Richland County, Illinois. The program calls this the "First Annual Commencement Exercises of the Richland County Public Schools. It was for the eighth grade and Elmer Van Arsdall was the County Superintendent.⁴
     Before her marriage, Esther taught in the rural schools of Richland County. For a while the family lived at Salem, Illinois, but, 1979, she was living in Olney and employed at one of the stores there.¹ She was listed in Doris Olds' address list, probably typed in the 1990s, as: 715 N. Boone St., Olney, Illinois.
     Her obituary states:
      "Esther Ribley dies at age 100
OLNEY -Esther Ernestine Ribley, 100, of Olney died 8:45 p.m. Monday (Nov. 14, 1994) in her daughter’s home in Noble. Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday in Zirkle Funeral Home, Olney. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery, south of Claremont. Memorials: Immanuel United Methodist Church, Olney.
Mrs. Ribley was born Dec. 9, 1893, in Richland County, daughter of Samuel and Malvina Houser Bowers. She had worked at the New Olney Hotel, Litz Hotel, Olney Sanitarium and Janet Shop, all in Olney. She was a member of Immanuel United Methodist Church. She married Ramon R. Ribley on Dec. 31, 1916, in Richland County. He preceded her in death in 1932.
Surviving are her daughters, Norma Miller of St. Joseph; Marilyn Dickerson of Noble; sister, Lila Henry of Claremont; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two greatgreat-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, Jack, one daughter, Irene Rich, two brothers, Edwin and Clark Bowers; three sisters, Edna McCarty, Lora McCarty and Mary Adams, and two greatgrandchildren."⁵

     Evelyn Martha Bowers was born on 10 Aug 1900.^1,2 She was the daughter of Daniel W. Bowers M. D. and Elise Rebecca Canby.¹ Evelyn Martha Bowers married (1) Lawrence E. Allen on 21 Jul 1928 at Lawrenceville, Lawrence County, Illinois.^1,3 Evelyn Martha Bowers was buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Bonpas Township, Richland County, Illinois.⁴ She died on 21 May 1980 at Crestview Nursing Home, Vincennes, Indiana, at age 79.⁵ She was buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Bonpas Township, Richland County, Illinois.⁶
     This poem by Evelyn is from the Olney Advocate and found in the scrap book of Maranda Ridgely:
The Spirit of the Home Folks
[By EVELYN M. BOWERS]
We haven't a thought the livelong day
But is shadowed with pain since you're away.
We haven't a joy, be it ever so fair,
But is dimmed in its brightness when you cannot share.
But we haven't an impulse that's noble and true
But is better by far for the proud thought of you,
And no matter how noble, the proud things are few
That rank even next to "Old Glory" and you.
So march on! The American spirit shall never give in
To the master of tyrants—the Beast of Berlin.
And some day, brave hero, we'll welcome the lads
Who have shattered his dreams who would trample our flag.
All the heartache and sorrow—what matters it then
So the Star Spangled Banner shall welcome our men!⁷
     Evelyn was a graduate of the Claremont High School, Class of 1921. Before her marriage she did some teaching in rural schools. At the age of four she was taught to read by her grandfather, Peter Bowers. As Evelyn stood in front of him, he held the book on his knees, right side up for him but upside down for Evelyn, and read to her. So Evelyn learned to read upside down. When handed a book in the correct position, she turned it around to read it. Evelyn says her name was first Martha Evelyn but has become Evelyn Martha. She and Everett lived at Berryville, Illinois, for several years, but are now [1978] living at Bicknell, Indiana. She had the Peter Bowers Bible.
Evelyn and Everett adopted David Wayne.^1,8
     Her obituary states:
     Evelyn Bowers Peace of Bicknell, Indiana, died 21 May 1980 at Vincennes, Indiana. She is survived by husband Everett A. Peace of Bicknell, son David W. of South Bend, Ind. and sister Anna Fritchey of Claremont, Illinois.⁹
     Her obituary states:
     "Evelyn M. Peace, 79, Bicknell, Ind. and former W. Salem resident, died Wednesday at 10:35 a.m. at the Crestview Nursing Home in Vincennes, Ind.
"Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Wampler-Shaw Funeral Home in Bicknell with Paul Shelton presiding. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Walnut Grove Cemetery in Richland County.
"She was born in Bonpas Township on Aug. 10, 1900, daughter of Daniel and Elise (Canby) Bowers. She married Laurence Allen, who died in 1938. In Allendale in 1957, she married Everett A. Peace, who survives. She was a member of the Walnut Grove Church of the Brethren.
"Other survivors are a son, David W., South Bend, In., and a sister, Mrs. Alden (Anna) Fritchey, Claremont.
"She was preceded in death by two brothers."⁴

     Fannie Bowers was born on 6 Oct 1858 near Batavia, Jefferson County, Iowa.^1,2 She was the daughter of Peter Bowers and Mary Brown.¹ Fannie Bowers married Sylvester E. Rifner on 31 Jan 1886 at the home of Peter Bowers, near Berryville, Richland County, Illinois. He is listed as a farmer who would be age 33 at his next birthday.^3,4,5 Fannie Bowers married William Benton Bunn Sr. on 26 Jun 1892 at Richland County, Illinois.^6,7,3,8 Fannie Bowers died on 24 Jan 1962 at Olney, Richland County, Illinois, at age 103.^9,10 She was buried at Mt Olive Cemetery, Claremont Township, Richland County, Illinois. Her casket bearers were Walter Bunn, Max Bunn, Orville G. Wright, Wayne Bunn, Kenneth Preston and Don Petty. Brothers Lyle Berry and Loyal Hall officiated at the service.^11,12
     Fannie Bowers was but a little girl when the family moved from Iowa to Indiana and soon to Illinois. What trips those must have been! No wonder she came to think the automobile was the invention that most changed the life of Americans. She was six years old when President Lincoln was shot and remembered how sad people were when they heard that news.
     "For a time, Fannie was again in the home of her parents, until in 1892, she married William Benton Bunn, Sr., a farmer of Bonpas Township, Richland County. He was a widower with a grown daughter. With the exception of a year or so when the family lived in Claremont, the farm in Bonpas Township was the Bunn family home. Fannie and Benton had seven children, including two sets of twin boys; however, only one of each pair survived for long."
     "After the death of her second husband, Fannie was left with a family not yet grown and a farm to manage. She must have done well with both, for the farm was kept in operation and her children not only loved her as a mother but also respected and admired her as a person. They remember she was always ready to help them with their problems, whether school work, hurt pride, or character building. After her youngest son Sam married, he and his wife Ella lived on that farm too. Later, when they moved to Olney, Fannie went with them. The last several years of her life was with Sam and Ella in Olney.
"Fannie had outlived all of her brothers and sisters when she died at the age of 103. So far as our records show, this was longer than any other member of the Bowers family, although her father, Peter Bowers, had passed his 100th birthday. ... As she advanced in years, she still kept alert, and callers were surprised at her keen interest in people and events. This interest, together with her pleasant smile and beautiful white hair, made her a most attractive lady."¹³
     Fannie Bunn died 24 Jan 1962 of Decompensated arteriosclerotis, heart disease, due to advanced arterioslerosis.¹⁴
     Her obituary states:
     "County's Oldest Citizen, Fannie Bunn, 103, Dies
"Mrs. Fannie Bunn, age 103, one of Richland county's grandest persons, passed away last evening at the home of her son, Sam W. Bunn on Olney Route 1.
"Mrs. Bunn was born in Batavia, Jefferson county, Iowa, but had lived in Richland county most of her long lifetime. She was, at the time of her death, Richland county's oldest and certainly one of its finest citizens.
"She was married to William Benton Bunn Sr. on June 26, 1892. This union was blessed with seven children including two sets of twins. Her sons Lee and Sam Bunn had twin brothers who died in young childhood.
"'Aunt Fannie,' as she became affectionately known, was a person of wonderful character. She was respected by all who come in contact with her. She maintained her advanced age was due to family heritage. Her father, Peter Bowers, lived to be 100 years of age, and two sisters and a brother also attained advanced ages.
"She maintained an active interest in things about her and in spite of failing eyesight she kept in touch with the happenings of the day.
"She suffered a broken hip a few weeks ago, and her physical condition had deterioriated rapidly since.
"She leaves five of her children: W. Benton Bunn of Lakeland, Fla., Benjamin B. Bunn of Urbana, Lee B. Bunn and Sam W. Bunn, both of Olney, and Mrs. Mary Esther Petty of Sumner. There are 8 grandchildren and 14-great-grand children.
"Funeral services for Mrs. Bunn will be held on Saturday after noon at 2:00 o'clock in the Memorial Chapel of the Summers-Rainey Funeral Home with Bro. Lyle Berry and Bro. Loyal Hall officiating. Interment will be in the Mt. Olive cemetery south of Claremont. Friends may call after 7 o'clock this evening."

     George Bowers was born on 31 Jul 1832.¹ He was the son of John Bowers and Johanna "Hannah" Empfield. George Bowers was baptized on 3 Dec 1832 at Brush Valley Lutheran Church, Brush Valley Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The baptismal record says George was born 31 July 1832, the son of "John Bower and Hannah".¹
     He was age 18 in the 1850 census and called himself the third son in his petition for probate of his father's estate. A George W. Bowers, born 1832, died 18 July 1873, is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Canoe Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania.

     George Washington Bowers was born at 10:00 p.m. On 3 Apr 1849 near Batavia, Jefferson County, Iowa.^1,2 He was the son of Peter Bowers and Mary Brown.¹ George Washington Bowers married Louvina Rogers on 14 Sep 1871 at Richland County, Illinois; They were married by Michael Forney, Minister of the Gospel.³ George Washington Bowers died on 17 Dec 1881 near Noble, Richland County, Illinois, at age 32.¹
     Little information has been found about the life of George W. Bowers. Much of the following information is based on stories as remembered by relatives. George moved with his parents to Indiana in 1864 and then to Illinois in 1869. He was by that time no longer a boy but a young man. In fact, it seems that is one reason the family settled near Noble, Illinois. George was a young man needing work, and here was work not only for the father, Peter Bowers, but also for the sons. On the birth certificate of his fourth child, George's occupation was given as farmer. The Richland County land records show that in 1875 he bought 20 acres from Elijah A. Rogers, described as the south half of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 29, Town 3 north, Range 9 east, for which he paid $400 and then he sold it to David H. Anderson in 1876 for $500. These records also say that George was a Justice of the Peace. He and his wife Louvina lived in Richland County, Illinois, in or near Decker Township. They were the parents of four girls, one of whom died young.

There were two different stories of the death of George Bowers and there may be truth in both of them. One is that he died from infection following an injury. Another one is that he had some kidney ailment, and when he was quite ill, the doctor who came catheritized him. Soon after the doctor left, George is supposed to have said, "That doctor has killed me." The news of George's death got back to the doctor's office before the doctor did. It is believed he was buried in the Decker Cemetery, Richland County, Illinois, although no stone was found for his grave. There may never have been a stone, and a temporary marker would have soon disappeared.

Three daughters of George W. Bowers were left fatherless at an early age, and life for them was not always easy. Each of the girls spent some time with their father's relatives and sometimes attended school from those homes. However, their mother kept the family together and did not let the girls stay permanently with the aunts and uncles who were willing to give them a home. After Louvina remarried, there were stepbrothers and stepsisters and soon half brothers and half sisters. As often happened, especially in large families, the Bowers girls "worked out" about as soon as they were big enough.
George Washington Bowers appeared on the census of 2 Jun 1880 at Decker Township, Richland County, Illinois, as follows: The listing shows George W. Bowers, age 31, wife Luvina, age 27, and three daughters, "Rnirett"?, age 5, Dora A., age 3, and Clara, age 1.⁴
     On 3 Dec 1917, Maranda Ridgely wrote to her son Howard at camp in Kentucky and included this: "I am not much surprised you did not know who Clara Long is, and yet I did not think but that you'd know. My brother Geo. had 4 girls -- Laura died when quite small - Louella was married to Jno. Arteberru - then Wm. Shultz, Clara to Luther Long - and Dora to another Jno. Arteberry. Dora is dead too. Claud and Sherman are her boys. Clara had 4 boys and one girl. One boy fell off the wheat drill on to the oil can and run the spout into his brain."⁵

     Gerald Lee Bowers was born on 22 Mar 1924 at Olney, Richland County, Illinois.¹ He was the son of Samuel Peter Bowers and Flossie Lee Seymour.¹ Gerald Lee Bowers appears in the Social Security Death Index as having died 3 May 2005 with the last place of residence listed as Oregon, Lucas County, Ohio. Gerald Lee's SSN was issued in Illinois. Also, his birth date is given as 22 March 1924.² He died on 3 May 2005 at his home, Oregon, Ohio, at age 81.³ He was buried on 7 May 2005 at Haven Hill Cemetery, Olney, Richland County, Illinois.³
     About 1978, they lived in Oregon, Ohio, and Gerald was a computer programmer with Owens-Corning Fiber Glass.¹
     His obituary states:
     "Gerald L. Bowers, 81, of Oregon, Ohio, died Tuesday, May 3, 2005, at his home.
"Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. on Thursday at Eggleston Meinert Pavley Funeral Home at 440 S. Coy Road at Starr Avenue in Oregon, Ohio. Funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home with Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church in Toledo, Ohio.
"Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Haven Hill Cemetery in Olney.
"Mr. Bowers was born on March 22, 1924, in Olney, the son of Samuel and Flossie (Seymour) Bowers.
"He was employed by Owens Corning as a computer program analyst. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Toledo, Ohio. He enjoyed antiquing and was involved with drag racing.
"Mr. Bowers is survived by his children, Myron Bowers and his wife, Kim, Yvette Vandegrift and her husband, Eric, Tom, Michael and his wife Beth, and Christine Rokicki; grandchildren, Myron Daniel, Glen Michael, Derek, Joshua, Kurt, Cheyenne, Evan, Leslie, Kellie, Erika, Kyle, Andrea, and Claire; and a great-grandchild, Cody.
"He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Richard and Claude "Billy".
"Memorials may be made to Catholic Diocese of Toledo, Ohio."³

     Harrison Bowers was born on 18 Sep 1836.^1,2 He was the son of John Bowers and Mary Fisher. Harrison Bowers was baptized on 29 Jul 1837 at Brush Valley Lutheran Church, Brush Valley Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The baptismal record says that "Harison" was born 18 Sep 1836, the son of "John Bower and Mary".² He died in 1910.³
     He and his wife Adeline Bowers (1852 - 1941) are buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery. The dates are from their tombstones. Stewart's 1913 history⁴ says he lived in Indiana County. In the 1870 and 1880 census records of Pine Township, his wife was listed as Harriet. In 1900, his wife was Adeline, they had been married 8 years and she had three children, all living. At age 73 he is enumerated in the 1910 census of Pine Township with second wife Adda, age 46, to whom he had been married 18 years.

     Isaac Bowers was born on 7 Aug 1830.¹ He was the son of John Bowers and Johanna "Hannah" Empfield. Isaac Bowers was baptized on 14 Nov 1830 at Brush Valley Lutheran Church, Brush Valley Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The baptismal record says Isaac was born 7 Aug 1830, the son of "John Bower and Hannah".¹
     He is age 20 in 1850, age 31 in 1860. He married Nancy _____ and they were in Indiana County in 1860 An Adam Bowers, age 20, was listed with this family. This census also shows a 6 year old son named Elliott. Perhaps this was the person shown in the tintype marked "Elled Bowers", owned by Maranda (Bowers) Ridgely. She said he was a relative who had visited Peter Bowers in Illinois. In the 1870 census of the same family, address P. O. Penn Run, Pine Township, Indiana County, he is listed as "Ellen" marked over with "Elled", age 16, male.
     Elled Bowers came to visit the relatives around here once. He stayed and stayed at various places and wouldn't do much. I guess he finally wore out his welcome and grandpa sent him home.²

     Jacob Bowers was born on 23 Jan 1840 at Brush Valley Lutheran Church, Brush Valley Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of John Bowers and Mary Fisher. Jacob Bowers was baptized on 31 Aug 1842 at Brush Valley Lutheran Church, Brush Valley Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The baptismal record says Jacob was born 23 Jan 1840, the son of "John Bowers and Mary".¹
     Jacob stayed in Pine Township, Indiana County, after father died. He is listed there in the 1870 census at age 20, with his mother, Mary age 55, and brother Charles, age 8. In 1880, Jacob was age 29, his wife Eliza was age 26, their son Franklin was 8, and his mother Mary was 62. He was living in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1913 and was deceased by 1925. In 1910 he is enumerated in Johnstown at age 67, with his wife Eliza, age 58, to whom he had been married 39 years.

     Jemima Bowers was born c 1855. She was the daughter of John Bowers and Mary Fisher.
     She married Samuel Barr. They signed a receipt 26 March 1874 for $30 from her father's estate and in June 1895 for $42, the remainder in full. She was living in Altoona about1913 and in 1925.

     John Bowers was born on 11 Jul 1790 at Morrison's Cove, Bedford County, Pennsylvania.^1,2 He was the son of John? or Peter? Bowers. John Bowers married Johanna "Hannah" Empfield, daughter of George Empfield and Barbara (?), s 1815. John Bowers married (2) Mary Fisher c 1834. John Bowers died on 19 Feb 1865 at Indiana County, Pennsylvania, at age 74.³ He was buried at Brush Valley Lutheran Church, Brush Valley Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania.⁴ His estate was probated in Mar 1865 at Indiana County, Pennsylvania.⁵
     JOHN BOWERS begins the proven line. This John Bowers was a native of Morrison's Cove in Blair County (actually in Bedford or Huntingdon County when he was born) who came to Indiana County at the age of 20.⁶ The 1807 tax lists of Indiana County show only three Bowers men -- George, Henry, and John -- all farmers in Wheatfield Township.⁷ He is not listed separately in the 1810 census of Indiana County. If he was in Indiana County at that time, perhaps he was one of the two young men age 16-26 in the household a John Bowers in Wheatfield Township or the three such men in the household of Dan'l Bower of Mahoning Township or the one in the household of Jas. Bower in Wheatfield Township. The only other Bower(s) head of household in Indiana County in 1810 was George whose listing shows no males in this age group. A John Bowers, Jr., appears in the 1815 tax list of Wheatfield Township and may be listed as early as 1813. He held no land at that time.⁸

John Bowers married Hannah, daughter of George Empfield, about 1815 . The family of John Bowers, Jr., is listed in the 1820 census of Wheatfield Township as:
1 m. b. 1810 - 1820 [?]
1 m. b. 1804 - 1810 [?]
1 m. b. 1802 - 1804 [?]
1 m. b. 1775 - 1795 [John]
2 f. b. 1810 - 1820 [Sarah? and Barbara?]
1 f. b. 1794 - 1804 [Hannah]
Perhaps some members of this group were brothers and sisters of Hannah, whose father had died in 1810.

According to a church history⁹, John Bowers was a charter member of the Brush Valley Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brush Valley Township of Indiana County. John Bowers, b. 11 July 1790, was confirmed on 11 Jan. 1823 and communed on 12 Jan. 1823 as one of 44 charter members whose names and birth dates are given. The list is one numerical sequence, 1 - 44. Names 1 - 19 are men, listed in order of birth. Names 20 - 44 are women, in order of birth EXCEPT for "25. John Bower, born March 31st, 1796" . It is quite possible that this entry is intended for Hannah Bowers (Mrs. John). It does seem that many of the other names could be similarly paired as husband and wife.

By deed dated 11 June 1825, John Bowers and "Hannah his wife Alias Hannah Emfield" sold to Peter Bowers an equal undivided share in the land and tenements of the late George Empfield in Wheatfield Township, the share being the property of said John and Hannah his wife alias Hannah Empfield heir-at-law and devisee under the last will and testament of George Empfield, deceased. This Peter Bowers was probably born 17 Dec. 1785⁹, had married Sarah Empfield, a sister of Hannah, and his estate was probated in 1859¹⁰.

The county tax lists show John Bowers, Jr., who was first taxed as a land holder in 1829 when he had 75 acres. No deed for his acquisition of this land was found. John Bowers, Sr., who had previously been taxed for 50 acres (1825 - 1828) appears in the lists of 1829 and 1830 without land.

In the 1830 census, the family of John Bowers is listed in Green Town ship as:
1 m. b. 1825 - 1830 [Isaac]
1 m. b. 1820 - 1825 [Peter]
1 m. b. 1815 - 1820 [ ?]
1 m. b. 1780 - 1790 [John]
2 f. b. 1825 - 1830 [Rachel? and Margaret?]
1 f. b. 1820 - 1825 [Julia Ann?]
2 f. b. 1815 - 1820 [Sarah? and Barbara?]
1 f. b. 1790 - 1800 [Hannah]

Hannah (Empfield) Bowers died during the next decade, perhaps about 1832. Her grave has not been located. John Bowers married (2nd) Mary Fisher.⁶ The census of 1840 shows the family in Green Township as:
2 m. b. 1835-1840 [Harrison and Jacob?]
1 m. b. 1830-1835 [George]
1 m. b. 1825-1830 [Isaac]
1 m. b. 1820-1825 [Peter]
1 m. b. 1790-1800 [John]
1 f. b. 1835 - 1840 [Mary]
1 f. b. 1825-1830 [Rachel? and Margaret?]
1 f. b. 1820-1825 [Julia Ann?]
1 f. b. 1800-1810 [Mary]

On 13 June 1840, Mary Bowers and Mary Ann Bowers were confirmed into the Brush Valley Lutheran Church by Rev. Jacob Medtart⁹, but no ages are given so no identification has been made. It was during this decade that Peter Bowers left his father’s family and went to Bedford County, then to Iowa.

The 1850 census is the first one that specifically names all household members. On 9 Aug. 1850, in Green Township, the family is listed as follows:
John Bowers, Sr., age 60
Mary, age 35
Rachel, age 21
Isaac, age 20
George, age 18
Harrison, age 14
Mary, age 11
Jacob, age 9
John, age 8
Maria, age 5
William, age 3
Nancy, age 2
All were born in Pennsylvania.

Among those confirmed at Brush Valley on 1 Oct. 1853 by Rev. Dr. Peter Sahm were Isaac Bowers, John Bowers, Mary Bowers, Rachel Bowers, Ellen Bowers, Nancy Bowers, Jemima Empfield, and Frances Bowers. Some of these were probably members of the family considered here. On 16 Dec. 1860, Mrs. and Mrs. Isaac Bowers joined this church by certificate from the M . E. Church.⁹

On 25 Dec. 1857, George and Sarah Empfield of Cherryhill Township sold 169 acres in Pine Township to John Bowers. George had obtained the land from Peter and Mary Coy in 1852. This is the same land later included in John Bowers’ estate, although the description in the recorded deed is incomplete and also differs somewhat from the inventory.¹¹

From the 1860 census of Pine Township the following information is obtained:
The chilidren, except for Harrison and Jemima, are listed as being in school

John Bowers died 19 Feb. 1865 and is buried at the Brush Valley Lutheran Church, where his tombstone, showing dates of birth and death, may be seen. Mary Bowers was a native of Blair County and died 6 Feb. 1894 in Pine Twp. of Indiana Co. at the age of 76.¹² She is buried in the Mt. Zion cemetery where her tombstone gives her age as 75y. 1m. 1d.¹³

On 26 Jan 1869, Peter Bowers of Henry County, Indiana, gave a Power of Attorney to John Martin in connection with the "estate of John Bowers, my father, late of Indiana County, Pennsylvania".¹⁴

The papers filed in connection with John Bowers' estate⁵ and the baptismal records of the Brush Valley Lutheran Church provide the names of eighteen children. The 1850 and 1860 census records of Indiana County provide the ages of some of them. Stewart’s History of Indiana County⁶, in the biography of John S. Bowers, says there were ten children by each wife but names only the last ten. The obituary of John S. Bowers shows where the survivors among these ten children were living in 1925.¹⁵ In 1921, Peter Bowers told Lois (Ridgely) Murphy that there were twenty children in his family: "My father and mother had ten children and my mother died when I was between ten and eleven years old and my father married a girl younger than my oldest sister and they had ten children".¹⁶ Benton Bunn said there were ten or eleven children by each wife.¹⁷ My record names only eight children of the first wife and ten children of the second. John was confirmed on 11 Jan 1823 at Brush Valley Lutheran Church, Brush Valley Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. This confirmation record gives his name as "Johann Bauer" and his birthdate as 11 July 1790. Also confirmed at this time were: Adam Bauer, born 19 Jan 1795; David Bauer, born 2 May 1802; Heinrich Bauer, born 1 Jun 1780, Heinrich Bauer, born 12 Jul 1794; Peter Bauer, born 17 Dec 1785; Katarina Bauer, born 9 Oct 1804; Sally Bauer, born 6 Apr 1887 [sic]; Sally Bauer, born 26 Mar 1796. A Sally Bauer was also baptised on this day. On 14 March 1825, Georg Bauer, b. __ Oct. 1803 and John Bauer, born 8 May 1809, were confirmed.¹⁸
     In March 1865, the probate of the estate of John Bowers began. On March 3rd, Mary Bowers (widow, signed by mark) and Harrison Bowers signed the following request, witnessed by Wm. Lydy and addressed to the Registrar of Indiana County.
"We the undersigned lineal heirs of John Bowers late of Pine Township dec'd. do hereby renounce our right as admr. of said dec'd and we recommend to you our neighbor John Martin and request you to appoint him admr. of said dec'd."

On March 9, John Martin, John Duncan and Wiliam Martin filed a two thousand dollar bond for John Martin as the administrator of John Bowers. On March 14, Roland D. Williams and Thomas R. Mulvehill filed at "Inventory and Appraisement of all and singular the Goods and Chattels, rights and credits where were of John Bowers late of the Township of Pine in the County of Indiana, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, deceased at the time of his death". The value of this inventory amounted to $794.57, as follows:
Ten Plate Stove               5.00
old Table                    1.00
old mantle Clock               1.00
Carbon oil lamp                .80
Lot of old chairs               1.00
Small chest               1.00
Dough tray               1.00
one Bedsted & Bedding               15.00
Half Bushel of Flaxseed               1.00
Beans & Barrell per Bushel 1.75               2.62
one Bedstead and Bedding               10.00
one Bedstead & Bedding               11.00
12 Bushel of wheat per Bushel               12.00
29 Bushel of Buckwheat               29.00
Half Bushel                .25
one old chest                .50
Cooking Stove & utensils               18.00
Two Flax Hackles               1.00
Loom & Fixtures               6.00
Cupboard & Contents               7.00.⁵
ToDo:
     Enter more of the information from John Bowers estate papers of 1865.

     John S. Bowers was born on 3 Jan 1842.^1,2 He was the son of John Bowers and Mary Fisher. John S. Bowers was baptized on 12 Jun 1842 at Brush Valley Lutheran Church, Brush Valley Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. "John" was born 3 Feb 1842, the son of "John Bowers and Mary".³ He died on 15 Jun 1925 at age 83.⁴
     He married Sarah J. Dearmin on 25 Dec. 1862. He was a veteran of the Civil War. His obituary notice names his four children (Edward, Charles, Mrs. David Wike, and Mrs. Wm. Holmes and his four surviving brothers and sisters (Amos, William, Mrs. Samuel Barr, and Mrs. Emanuel Deyarmin). He was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery. In 1910 he is enumerated in the town of Indiana at age 68, with his wife Sarah J., age 66, to whom he had been married 48 years. Her 68 year old, single, brother Isaac Dearmin was living with them.⁴

     The name of the father of John Bowers (b. 1790) is unknown to me, but there is a little traditional evidence and some possibilities to be considered.

     The surname is probably of German origin (Bauer = farmer). When our family first appears in the records of Brush Valley Lutheran Church (Indiana County, Pennsylvania) the name was spelled Bauer, then Bower was used and finally Bowers. The traditional history of this family begins with three brothers(!) who came from Germany. Benton Bunn talked with Peter Bowers about the Bowers family and, according to his notes¹, Peter Bowers' "grandfather and two brothers immigrated from Germany to the United States about 1770. Their names were George, John G., and Peter. George served in the Revolutionary War ... These three brothers first settled in Maryland, but moved in a short time to northwest Pennsylvania in Indiana County". Benton interpreted his old notes to mean that it was Peter who was the father of John Bowers who was the father of Peter Bowers (1821 - 1922). Other family records trace the line only to John Bowers and Hannah Empfield of Indiana County.

Although no contemporary evidence has been found to show the immigration of these three brothers and no definitive evidence links any of them to John Bowers, born 1790, the paragraphs below outline some of the data that may relate to this family. None of these three people appear in the first records of the Brush Valley Lutheran Church of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, where our family appears in 1822. The first church constitution was adopted on 22 May 1830 and the signatures include David Bauer (of Henrich), Henry Bauer, Sr., Veronica Bauer, and Mary Bauer, all in German, and Margaret Bower, in English.

GEORGE: George Bowers, b. ca. 1758, died in Indiana County, Pa., on 15 Dec. 1847, but neither his Revolutionary War pension application² (which states that he was in the battles of Camden, Guilford Courthouse, and Cowpens and wounded in the leg) nor his will³ names many of his family connections. He is in the Indiana County census records for 1810 - 1840. He had a son George C. Bowers, a son Joseph, and his will names two grandsons, George (son of John) and George (son of Henry). The 1800 census shows that the family of a George Bowers in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, b. 1755- 1774, included one male b. 1790-1800 in his household. The tax lists of Green Township in Indiana County for 1841 - 1843 clearly differentiate John Bowers, son of John, and John Bowers, son of George. Indiana County, PA⁴. Barbara Sue Yurkshat⁵ found some information on her great-grandfather William Tomer Bowers in a history of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and she also refers to a clerk-copied Bible record submitted for his Civil War Pension. In these records, he stated that:
     George Bowers was born in Lancaster Co., 1761
He served in George Washington’s Maryland Line
     He married Mary Clapp
          He moved to Indiana County, Pennsylvania, where he died and was buried in Brush Valley Cemetery in 1853 (She believes the date should be 1847).
     He had the following children: John, George (#2), Henry, “Kate” who m. George Kellar, “Lizzie” who m. William Strong. All except George remained in Indiana County and farmed. George (#2) was born about 1804 in Indiana County and moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1826, and married Hannah Tomer in 1832. They had six children: (i)George #3, never married, was Capt. in 101^st PA Vol; (ii)John R. (blacksmith); (iii)Henry, never married, Sgt. 136^th PA Vol; (iv)Amelia V. m. Francis Marion Kendig who d. within 9 months; (v)William Tomer m. Lavinia Krebs, 1890, grandparents of Barbara Sue Yurkshat; (vi)Joseph.

JOHN: The 1810 and 1820 census records of Wheatfield Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, show a John Bowers born before 1765, but the 1830 census does not. He appears to have been there since at least 1807 and perhaps died or left the county about 1830. A John Bowers, Jr., appears in the 1820 census and on the tax rolls as early as 1813.⁴ The 1800 census shows a John Bowers in Bedford County, b. before 1755, with 2 males b. 1790 - 1800, among others. It appears from the tax lists of Indiana County that John, Jr., is also called John of John⁴ and it is reasonable that he was the John who was born in 1790.

PETER: No records of a Peter Bowers of this generation have been found in Indiana County. The 1790 federal census does show a John, George, and Peter Bower in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and the same names also appear in several other places in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The 1800 Pennsylvania census shows a Peter Bower in Berks County, born 1755 - 1774, who had 2 males b. 1790 - 1800 in his household, among others. In 1810, a Peter Bowers in Georgetown Township of Fayette County was over age 44 and had one male age 16-25.

These traditions and records have provided no definite proof of the identity of our Bowers ancestor in the colonial generation. Each does have a male child of the proper age to be our ancestor, John Bowers, b. 1790.

     Julia Ann Bowers was born on 22 Jan 1824.¹ She was the daughter of John Bowers and Johanna "Hannah" Empfield. Julia Ann Bowers was baptized on 21 Mar 1824 at Brush Valley Lutheran Church, Brush Valley Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The baptismal record says "Juliana" was born 22 Jan 1824, the daughter of "Johann Bauer and Johanna".¹
     She is named in her father's estate as wife of William Lyda whom she may have married before 1850. A tombstone at Brush Valley may be that of their son Amos.²

     Julia Ann Bowers was born at 8:00 A. M. On 20 Apr 1851 near Batavia, Jefferson County, Iowa.^2,3 She was the daughter of Peter Bowers and Mary Brown.¹ Julia Ann Bowers married Francis T. Hardin on 22 Nov 1877 at the home of the bride's parents, Richland County, Illinois.^2,4 Julia Ann Bowers died on 13 Sep 1939 at Sedalia, Pettis County, Missouri, at age 88.^2,5 She was buried at Memorial Park, Sedalia, Pettis County, Missouri.⁶
     "Julia was the oldest daughter of Peter and Mary (Brown) Bowers. She was born in Iowa, moved with the family to Indiana in 1864 and to Illinois, south of Noble, in 1869. She remembered travel in a covered wagon. Following her marriage, she and Frank must have lived with his parents in Olney for a time, since they are listed there in the 1880 census. The birth of their third child is recorded in Richland County, Illinois, but the record gives Julia's residence as Sedalia, Missouri, so the family must have left Illinois in 1880 or 1881. From then on Sedalia was her home, and that is where she and Frank raised their family. A letter written to her mother before 1900 would lead one to believe there were times when she longed for Illinois, probably because, until 1902, she was the only one of the Peter Bowers children who was not in Richland County. But this feeling was surely only temporary, for her children and grandchildren remember her as pleasant, contented, and never complaining, even though in later years her eyesight was poor. It was tradition in that family that all new members of the family -- whether entering the family by birth or marriage -- must be taken to be shown to Julia as soon as possible. This pleased her. She and her daughter Mayme lived together on Harrison Street in Sedalia the last several years of her life."⁷
     in 1991, Evelyn McAleece sent to Doris Olds a post card that Maranda had written to her sister Julia Hardin at 1617 S. Harris Ave., Sedalia, Missouri.
"Dear Sister I thought I would send that apple butter this week but Oscar is using the team and Homer took the horse and buggy up to his grandma's Sun. He is helping Howard shuck corn. We have the apple butter made and want to start it from Claremont expect to go up next week. We are all well Lois and Leah are at school. Bertha is at home sewing I am ironing this morning Doras is talking. Yours M. Ridgely
The weather is warm tomato vines are still green. Nov. 10 1915."⁸
     Her obituary states:
     "Mrs. Julia A. Hardin
"Mrs. Julia A. Hardin, widow of the late Frank T. Hardin, passed away at her home, 1617 South Harrison avenue, about 10:30 o'clock Wednesday night. She had been in poor health for some time.
"Mrs. Hardin, nee Julia Bowers, was born April 20, 1852 [sic] near Batavia, Iowa, and when twelve years old moved with her parents to Sulphur Springs, Indiana, and later to Nobel [sic], Illinois; where she grew to womanhood.
"She was married to Frank T. Hardin, November 22, 1877 and then moved to Sedalia in 1880 and continued to make this city their home. To this union were born eight children, one child, Myrtle Jane, passing away in infancy.
"Surviving are Edward L. Hardin, R. F. D. 4, Mrs. Mamie Buckner of the home, Mrs. Jessie Brummet, 1701 South Harrison avenue, Mrs. Alice Wells of Port Arthur, Texas, Major T. F. Hardin of Los Altos, California, Mrs. Mildred Sanders and Mrs. Edith Dietzman both of Phoenix, Ariz. Fifteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren also survive, as do four sisters and one brother.
"The body was taken to the Gillespie Funeral home and will be returned to the family home Saturday morning.
"Funeral services will be held at the Cumberland Presbyterian church, of which she was a member, at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon. The Reverend A. W. Kokendoffer, pastor of the First Christian church will officiate.
"Interment will be in the Memorial Park cemetery beside the grave of her husband.
"Pallbearers will be friends of the family."⁹

     Lora Myrtle Bowers married Henry Osco McCarty.¹ Lora Myrtle Bowers was born on 23 Sep 1898.¹ She was the daughter of Samuel Peter Bowers and Malvina Ernestine Houser.¹ Lora Myrtle Bowers and Henry Osco McCarty obtained a marriage license in Mar 1921 at Richland County, Illinois.² Lora Myrtle Bowers died on 30 Nov 1963 at Olney, Richland County, Illinois, at age 65.¹ She was buried at Mt. Olive Cemetery, Richland County, Illinois.¹
     Lora taught school for a while.¹
     For some time Lora and Osco lived on a farm on the "County Line Road". Here a reporter for the Prairie Farmer magazine found her, and the October 6, 1956, issue of that magazine carried her picture as she sat on her porch reading her Bible. She said her favorite verse was the 16th verse of the 3rd chapter of John. The reporter wrote that along that road he found no one of great wealth but people who knew now to live.
     Her obituary states:
     "Mrs. Lora M. McCarty, 65, of Claremont died Saturday at the Richland Memorial Hospital. She was a native of Bonpas township.
"She is survived by her husband, Osco McCarty, three sons John McCarty, of Gary, Ind., Clark of Hammond, Ind., and Ray of Hull, Ill; two daughters, Mrs. Ruby Giese of Onarga, and Mrs. Faye Malone of Rt. 4, Olney, eleven grandchildren, three sisters, Mrs. Mary Adams, of Sumner, Mrs. Esther Ribley of Olney and Mrs. Lila Henry of Rt. 4, Olney, and one brother, Ed Bowers of Carbondale.
"Mrs. McCarty was a member of the Mt. Olive Methodist Church. Funeral services will be held there at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow with Rev. Chester Hout officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Olive Cemetery. Friends may call at the Sivert Funeral Home in Sumner.³

     Maranda Bowers was born on 3 Oct 1867 near Sulphur Springs, Henry County, Indiana.^1,2,3 She was the daughter of Peter Bowers and Mary Brown. Maranda Bowers married Ira Oscar Ridgely, son of George Willis Ridgely and Susan Woods, on 19 Sep 1888 at Richland County, Illinois. The marriage was performed at the bride's parents home by B. R. Gerhart, M. G. and the witnesses were B. R. Gerhart, Geo. W. Ridgely, S. P. Bowers, and H. M. Findley.^45,6 Maranda Bowers died about 5:20 a. m. Thursday morning, on 23 Jun 1960 at her Inglewood Farm home, Bonpas Township, Richland County, Illinois, at age 92.⁷ She was buried on 25 Jun 1960 at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Bonpas Township, Richland County, Illinois.^8,9
     In October, 1869, when Maranda was two years old, she with her parents, three brothers, and four sisters came from Indiana to Richland County, Illinois. The family settled in Decker Township south of Noble. The first school she attended was a spring term in 1874 at Decker School. The teacher was Jennie McWilliams. Maranda kept a paper showing her grades as spelling 56, reading 55, and writing 50, with 60 given as the perfect score. She told of many good times she had while the family was in Decker Township. The Alvord family was often mentioned. She had played with the Alvord children and later worked for Mrs. Alvord. The Bowers family left that area and moved to Bonpas Township in 1885.
When Maranda was barely 18, she began teaching school. Her mother did not encourage her in this for she probably thought girls were better off in the home, but her father approved her teaching if she wished. Maranda went to Sedalia, Missouri, to stay with her sister Julia and attend Broadway School there for a summer term or two. It is not clear just what kind of course she may have taken there, but it was meant to improve her teaching. Perhaps it was just reinforcement and review of what she had learned in the rural schools. Anyway, she passed the teacher's examination and became a school teacher. This she enjoyed. She taught school in Richland County from 1885 to 1889. Some of the schools she taught were Red Head, White, and Harrison (also known as No. 5). They were rural, one room schools with grades 1 through 8. There are none in that area anymore. Her pupils were of all grades and all ages, some older than she, for it was not too unusual to attend these schools until age 21 or so. At least one term she had over 60 pupils and felt sad that she had to turn away the five year olds. There simply wasn't room. Books were few and audio-visual aids were unheard of. Many of the older pupils could not attend regularly because they must stay home and help with the work during the busy season. There was no janitor service; so Maranda went early to build fires and stayed late to clean, unless some older boy took over those chores. Maranda was teaching the Harrison School the fall that she and Oscar were married. Since his parents lived near that school, she and Oscar lived with them that winter.
Then her school teaching days were over. She was from then on a homemaker, for Oscar said he would make the living and she would make the living worthwhile. Over the next 25 years they became the parents of six children. She kept her interest in teaching and encouraged her children to do well in school. She kept a large map of Illinois behind the kitchen door. When any place on it was mentioned, it was located, thus reinforcing the study of geography as well as interest in places beyond the local area. Constellations were pointed out on clear nights when stars were bright in the country air. One child read aloud or pronounced words for spelling while others were washing dishes. It is surprising how many ways she found to mix teaching with daily living. This must have made an impression on her children, for each of the six was at some time a school teacher.
Both Maranda and Oscar were active members of the Walnut Grove Church of the Brethren, and church attendance and activities held an important place in their lives. She was baptized into the Church of the Brethren in Jan. 1891 by David Troxel.[from a brief manuscript autobiography by Maranda Ridgely (for a Brethren history?)] Her mother wrote that the ice had to be broken for the baptism but "she did not mind it at all". Over the years Maranda served as Sunday School teacher, Sunday School superintendent, organizer of summer Bible Schools, and delegate from her church to the Church District Meetings. In 1955, she wrote that she was "still a school teacher at 88" because she was teaching a Sunday School class at Walnut Grove Church of the Brethren.

On March 4, 1889, not quite six months after their marriage, Oscar and Maranda Ridgely established their home on a farm located 1/2 mile south of Red Head School in Bonpas Township of Richland County, Illinois. This was part of the farm of 120 acres which they later named Inglewood. When they retired from farming, they sold this farm to their older son, George Howard, but they built a small house beside his and continued to live there. It served as a Ridgely farm for over 90 years. Here all six of their children were born and raised. Here they celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. And here they lived until their deaths, his in 1941 and hers in 1960. She had lived 71 years on the same farm. This is truly the "Home Place".¹⁰
     One record of her teaching is from her diary of 7 Apr 1953 when she wrote: "Will Alrich died in Olney. He was one of the pupils in my first school -- he had not been in America from Germany long. A good boy. I'll never forget his coming over one p. m. when Oscar and I were both sick with the 'flu' and did the feeding. carried in wood, brought in all I wanted from the smoke house, fed chickens etc. etc. not long after we moved here." Also, on 7 Dec. 1953, she wrote "I did some writing -- wrote to Mrs. C. F. Snyder -- as I had received a card from one of her daughters telling me of the death of C. F. Snyder Sr. in Fla. He was one of my pupils when I taught the "No. 5" or Harrison School in 1887 and 1888 and an esteemed friend."¹¹
     Inglewood is now (1999) owned by their granddaughter, Karen (Murphy) Stremme who has been active in restoring and maintaining the place and, with her husband Don, farms it along with much of the nearby land.
Maranda Ridgely and Ira Oscar Ridgely appeared on the census of 18 Jun 1900 at Bonpas Township, Richland County, Illinois, as follows: The listing shows:
Ridgley, Oscar Head, b. Dec 1866, age 33, married 11 years, farmer, he and his parents b. in Illinois
, Maranda, wife, b. Oct. 1867, age 32, married 11 years, had three children, all living, b. in Indiana, parents b. in Penn.
, Bertha, daughter, b. Jan. 1890, age 10
, Howard, son, b. Aug 1893, age 6
, Homer, son, b. Sep 1897, age 2.¹²
     in 1991, Evelyn McAleece sent to Doris Olds a post card that Maranda had written to her sister Julia Hardin at 1617 S. Harris Ave., Sedalia, Missouri.
"Dear Sister I thought I would send that apple butter this week but Oscar is using the team and Homer took the horse and buggy up to his grandma's Sun. He is helping Howard shuck corn. We have the apple butter made and want to start it from Claremont expect to go up next week. We are all well Lois and Leah are at school. Bertha is at home sewing I am ironing this morning Doras is talking. Yours M. Ridgely
The weather is warm tomato vines are still green. Nov. 10 1915."¹³
     Maranda Bowers left a will dated 7 May 1947 at Richland County, Illinois.
     "I, Maranda Ridgely, in the County of Richland and State of Illinois being of sound mind and memory, do therefore, make, ordain and publish and declare this to be my LAST WILL and TESTAMENT

"FIRST: I order and direct that my Executor herinafter named, pay all my just debts and funeral expenses as soon after my decease as conviently may be.

"SECOND: After payment of such funeral expenses and debts, I give, devise and bequeath unto my son, GEORGE HOWARD RIDGELY, the cottage in which I now reside to be his absolute estate forever.

"THIRD: I give and bequeath unto my son, GEORGE HOWARD RIDGELY, all personal property in the cottage where I now reside, consisting of furniture, dishes, bedding, etc, except that each of my said children shall have the right and privilege of taking all articles which they have given to me, and each child shall have the privilege of taking some article of mine which is not attached to the cottage as a keepsake. All articles desired by the children to be removed at their earliest convenience, unless my son, George Howard Ridgely, shall authorize the children to leave such articles of personal property in the cottage.

"FOURTH: I give and devise onto my son, GEORGE HOWARD RIDGELY, the following described real estate, to wit:
          The North Half of the North West Quarter of the South West Quarter of Section Three (3) Town Two (2) North, Range Thirteen (13) West of the second principal meridian, situate in the County of Lawrence and State of Illinois, to be his absolute estate forever in fee simple, in part payment for his many kindnesses to me.

"FIFTH: I give and bequeath all personal property of which I may die seized not hereinbefore bequeathed unto my children - BERTHA E. RIDGELY SWANK, GEORGE HOWARD RIDGELY, HOMER EDWIN RIDGELY, LOIS IRENE RIDGELY MURPHY, LEAH MARGARET RIDGELY McNAMARA and DORIS NAOMI RIDGELY OLDS, share and share alike to be their absolute estate forever.

"SIXTH: I give, devise and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my property of which I may die seized, both real, personal and mixed, of every kind and character unto my children, - BERTHA E. RIDGELY SWANK, GEORGE HOWARD RIDGELY, HOMER EDWIN RIDGELY, LOIS IRENE RIDGELY MURPHY, LEAH MARGARET RIDGELY McNAMARA, AND DORIS NAOMI RIDGELY OLDS, share and share alike to be their absolute estate forever.

"LASTLY: I make, constitute and appoint George Howard Ridgely to be the Executor of this, my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by made.
"IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed my seal, the 7th day of May in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and forty seven.
"Maranda Ridgely (SEAL)
"This instrument was on the day of the date hereof signed, published and declared by the said Testator, Maranda Ridgely, to be her last Will and Testament in presence of us and at h.. request we have subscribed our names thereto at withess, in her presence, and in the presence of each other.
Ella H. Bunn
Betty Worrell
Carrie L. Winter"

The report of final settlement, March 12, 1962, showed a value of $985.20 in cash, checking and savings accounts. After funeral expenses, court costs and attorney's fees of $777.35, the balance of $207.85 was distributed. Each of the living five children received $34.64 and three grandchildren Eunice Swank, Eugene R. Swank and Evelyn Swank Johnson, received $11.55.¹⁴
     This quote from Maranda's diaries indicates the interest she had in her family of the past. This was about the time that Benton Bunn was working on his book (Lighting Ancestral Lamps, 1954) which includes the Bowers family. He was probably sharing as well as gathering information.
26 Nov 1953. Thanksgiving Day. "After we were at home [from church] awhile Murphy's and Olds' came, Geo. and Mary came over. Each family brought "eats" one turkey, a goose, guineas and quail and a duck as well as plenty of good things to eat. Before we were quite through eating Benton Bunn, his wife Lucille, Sam Bunn and his wife Ella came. We had a very pleasant and happy visit together -- talking of our ancestors -- how they worked and lived and where and when etc."¹¹
     Her obituary states:
"Mrs. Maranda Bowers Ridgely, 92, passed away at her home near Parkersburg Thursday.
"She is survived by five children, George H. Ridgely of Parkersburg, Homer Ridgely of Olney, Mrs. Lois Murphy of Robinson, Mrs. Leah McNamara of Villa Park and Mrs. Doris Olds of Olney. Also surviving are one sister, Mrs. Fannie Bunn and fifteen grandchildren.
"She was preceded in death by her husband, and one daughter Bertha Swank.
"Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Walnut Grove Church. Friends may call at the King Funeral Home in West Salem."¹⁵
     Her obituary states:
     "Ridgely, Maranda Bowers, was born Oct. 3, 1867 and died June 23, 1960. On Sept. 19, 1888, she was married to Oscar Ridgely, who preceded her in death. She was a member of the Walnut Grove church, Ill. She is survived by five children, fifteen grandchildren, and one sister. The funeral service was conducted by Bro. W. T. Hackman [Heckman]. Interment was in the church cemetery. -- Mrs. D. A. Ridgely, Parkersurg, Ill."¹⁶

     Margaret Bowers married Dennis G. Morgan.¹ Margaret Bowers was baptized on 26 Jun 1826. The baptismal record says "Margareth" was born 26 Jun 1826, the daughter of "Johann Bauer and Hannah".² She was born on 26 Jun 1826.² She was the daughter of John Bowers and Johanna "Hannah" Empfield. Margaret Bowers died c 1874.³
     Margaret Morgan and Dennis G. Morgan appeared on the census of 1860 at South Bedford Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, as follows: He is listed as D. G. Morgan, a day laborer, age 25, b. PA, and she was age 33. Their daughters were Lea Ann, age 6, and Mary A., age 3. All were born in Pennsylvania.⁴ She is the only one of Peter Bowers' brothers or sisters known to have come to live in Illinois. She is listed as age 40 in the 1870 census of Richland County, Ilinois, but was probably older than this. She married Dennis G. Morgan on 4 Oct. 1855.¹

They were still living in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, in Sept. 1866, according to her father's estate papers. Dennis and Margaret had two children -- Leah Ann (Mrs. David M. Fildes) and Mary A. (Mrs. Frank Holman). Maranda (Bowers) Ridgely remembered her Aunt Margaret and said she was buried at Noble, Ilinois, but no tombstone has been found. Dennis Morgan's Civil War stone in the Calhoun (Ill.) Cemetery was put up when his grave location was no longer known, although he is buried in that cemetery.⁵
Margaret Morgan and Dennis G. Morgan appeared on the census of 1870 at Noble Township, Richland County, Illinois, as follows: He was age 37, b. MD, and she was age 40, b. PA. Layann was age 15, b. PA, and Mary A was 13, b. PA.⁶

     Maria Bowers was born c 1844. She was the daughter of John Bowers and Mary Fisher.
     She married Alexander Dearmin and was living in Cambria County, Pennsylvania about 1913 and was deceased by 1925.

     Mary Bowers was born on 5 Nov 1856 near Batavia, Jefferson County, Iowa. The Bible record states that she was born in the morning.^1,2,3,4 She was the daughter of Peter Bowers and Mary Brown. Mary Bowers married Hugh Marion Findley on 28 Feb 1878 at Richland County, Illinois.^1,4,5,6 Mary Bowers died on 18 Oct 1948 at Parkersburg, Richland County, Illinois, at age 91.^2,3,4 She was buried on 22 Oct 1948 at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Bonpas Township, Richland County, Illinois.^2,3
     Mary Bowers was born in Iowa, lived for a time in Indiana, then, with the other members of the Peter Bowers family, came to Illinois in 1869. The rest of her life was spent in Richland and Edwards Counties. She attended school in Decker Township of Richland County. The school desks were double ones, and sometimes even three pupils shared the same desk as well as the same books. Mary found this difficult, for being nearsighted, she needed books of her own.
Hugh and Mary lived on several places. Just after their marriage, they lived for a few years in Decker Township. Then, about 1883, they were the first of the Bowers family to move to Bonpas Township. This move was to a farm owned by a man in Olney and located one mile south of the old Red Head School. When Ed Wilson became State Treasurer, he employed Hugh to look after his livestock, etc. This took Hugh and Mary to Olney. In a letter to her daughter Julia, Mary (Brown) Bowers write that Mr. Wilson paid Hugh $500 per year. At another time, Hugh and Mary lived on the Richland Farm east of Parkersburg, which Hugh managed. Here there was quite an orchard of apples, and the farm was known for its high quality livestock, especially horses.
Hugh and Mary owned a farm, named Cedar Front Farm, in north Edwards County. The family lived there for awhile. Another move was to Grand View Farm just south of Parkersburg. Here they built what was then quite a modern house with a nice basement, central heat, and a bathroom. The running water was provided by a hand force pump which pumped the water into a higher storage tank, for this was before the days of electricity in the area.
During their last few years, Hugh and Mary lived in Parkersburg. After Hugh died, their daughter Clara and her husband Bert moved into the same house and the three made their home together. About four years before her death, Mary fell and broke her hip. From then on until her death she was nearly bedfast, but being the kind, patient person she had always been, she was never hard to care for. Her death came on 18 Oct. 1948, when she was almost 92 years old.
An episode which shows some of the character of both Mary and her parents took place when Hugh and Mary joined the Christian Church. Mary felt that "church" to her parents meant only the Church of the Brethren, and she did not want her joining another demonination to hurt them. After joining the Christian Church, Mary told her mother (who had already heard it) and asked what her father had said. Mary's mother reported that her father's response was "They may be just as good as we are." Mary was relieved to know that they were broad minded enough to accept it well.⁷
     Aunt Mary died of a partial heart block with associated coronary occlusion and general ateriosclerosis.⁸
     Her obituary states:
     "Death of Mrs. Mary Findley
"Mrs. Mary Bowers Findley, age 91, the widow of Hugh M. Findley, passed away last night at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Bert Moore, in Parkersburg.
"Mrs. Findley had been in ill health for some time. She was born Nov. 5, 1856 in Iowa, but had spent nearly her entire life in Edwards and Richland counties. For the past 30 years she had resided near Parkersburg.
"She is survived by the following children: Mrs. Gertrude Summerfield of Parkersburg, Mrs. Alta E. Robertson, of Plankinton, S. D., Mrs. Helen B. Edenburn, of Ames, Ia., Delbert L. Findley of St. Louis, Mo., James M. Findley of Flora and Mrs. Clara B. Moore of Parkersburg. Also surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Fannie Bunn of Olney and Mrs. Randa Ridgely of Parkersburg, and one sister-in-law, Mrs. Elise Bowers of Berryville.
"Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later.
"The body is at the Summers Funeral Home."⁹
     A second obituary states:
     "Funeral Thursday For Mrs. Findley
"Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Bowers Findley, who passed away Monday night, will be held in the Christian church at Parkersburg on Thursday afternoon at 2:00 'clock with Rev. Esco Robinson in charge. Interment will be in the Walnut Grove Cemetery.
"The body will remain in the Summers Funeral Home until time for the service."¹⁰

     Mary Bowers was born on 28 Apr 1838.¹ She was the daughter of John Bowers and Mary Fisher. Mary Bowers was baptized on 25 Aug 1839 at Brush Valley Lutheran Church, Brush Valley Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The baptismal record says "Polly" was born 28 Apr 1838, the son of "John Bowers and Mary".¹
     She married Benjamin Gifford. In Sept. 1866, she was living in Warren County, Iowa, according to her father's estate papers. She was living in Arkansas about 1913 and deceased by 1926. They may have been the Benjamin (age 44) and Mary Gifford in the 1870 census of Walnut Township, Madison County, Iowa.

     Mary Bowers married Mortimer W. Olds, son of Clarence L. Olds and Alma Willis.¹ Mary Bowers was born in Jan 1873 at Michigan.²
     Mary Olds and Mortimer W. Olds appeared on the census of 14 Jun 1900 at Batavia Township, Branch County, Michigan, as follows:
     Olds, Mortimer, head, b. Jan 1876, 24, marr. 6 yrs, b. Mich., father b. Mich., mother b. Ohio, farmer
      , Mary E., wife, b. Jan 1873, 27, marr. 6 years, 0 children, 0 living, b. Mich., father b. N. Y., mother b. Mich.
[The previous family was that of Libbeus Bowers, 59, b. N.Y. and Lavina Bowers, 57, b. Mich., who had one child living. The family before that was that of Clerence and Alme E. Olds.]²