Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 509-510 & 513; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
King David Bowers, a well-known farmer of Young Hickory
Township, is one of its most public-spirited and enterprising citizens.
One of his most prominent characteristics is his thorough loyalty,
coupled with a grateful remembrance of the services rendered by the
brave boys who gave up home and friends to battle for the Union. Two of
his own sons gave up their lives for their country and he himself
experienced some of the trials which befell Union men where the
majority was against them. The farm of Mr. Bowers consists of
eighty-four acres on section 10 and eighty acres on section 9, watered
by Swigle Creek, and having the practically inexhaustible soil of the
bottom lands.
Mr. Bowers was born in Franklin County, Pa., near Waynesboro,
September 25, 1816, and was two years old when his parents removed to
Washington County, Md. Seven years later they changed their abode to
Frederick County, where the lad was reared on a farm, beginning to
share in its cultivation when but ten years old. The only schooling
which he ever had was at a subscription school for three months, where
he learned to read and write. He is pre-eminently self made and many
who have had the best of school privileges have not so good a knowledge
of general topics and current events as he. When fifteen years old he
began working by the month, doing men's work and receiving men's wages
of $8 per month. He has spent many a day cradling grain and performing
other labor which is now generally accomplished by machinery.
Mr. Bowers was married April 20, 1840 to Miss Susan Zeiger, the
ceremony taking place at the bride's home in Mercersburg, Franklin
County, Pa. That capable, industrious woman was born in the Keystone
State and reared on the farm of her father, Jacob Zeiger. The latter
was a soldier in the War of 1812. After his marriage Mr. Bowers removed
to Morgan County, Va., where, after working for wages a year, he rented
a farm in the vicinity of Bath. Two years later he went to Franklin
County, Pa., and worked out by the month for a year, his wages being $9
per month. On this he kept his family, which included two children, and
after paying $30 a year for house rent, was able to live as well as
now. At the end of a year he bought five acres of land near Mercersburg
and shortly afterward added six acres, it being a part of the estate of
his mother-in-law. He chopped trees, hewed logs, and himself put up a
log house in which many happy hours were spent by his little family. He
set out an orchard and otherwise improved the place which he cultivated
while at the same time working as a carpenter, being very handy in the
use of tools and in wood work. Until he came West, Mr. Bowers continued
to do carpenter's work, finally contracting for small buildings, making
shingles and coopers' stuff, but making a specialty of building double
corn cribs. He also continued to do some farm work, particularly in the
harvest field, as otherwise he would have been boycotted by his
neighbors. He became particularly expert in cradling grain and found
plenty to do, being even sent for by farmers in Virginia. There he
received $2.50 per day as he could work much faster than the slaves,
while at home he received but $1.50 a day. In 1855 he sold his farm and
goods and started with a team toward the setting sun. At Pittsburg he
embarked on the "Star of the West" from which he disembarked at
Copperas Landing. The team had been shipped and he drove on to
Liverpool, then to Fairview where he lived a year. During the summer he
busied himself at carpenter's work there and in the fall worked at
London Mills. He bought eighty-four acres of his present estate which
was raw land but took possession of a rented farm on Spoon River.
Being drowned out on the Spoon, Mr. Bowers returned to Fairview
whence he teamed to Copperas Creek and other points for a year. He next
moved on to the Harshbarger farm and after renting it a year, built on
his own land and removed thither. He got out the timber from his own
woods, hewed it to a frame, scored and put it up, and hauled lumber
from Avon for the lighter parts of the building. He broke the land and
gradually made the various improvements upon it, devoting the spring
and summer to farm work and laboring at his trade from harvest time
until winter. Until a year ago he was able to build but he has now
given up carpenter's work.
Mr. Bowers was able ere long to buy adjoining land and added a
quarter section to his estate. He sold a part of this, however, leaving
his acreage one hundred and sixty-four. It is all neatly fenced and is
well stocked and supplied with necessary buildings. The residence
stands on one side of the road and the barns on the other. Three acres
were given by Mr. Bowers to the Narrow Gauge Railroad as a right of way
and he also subscribed to the fund raised to push the road through this
part of the county. The land is excellent for pasturage and well
adapted to the raising of hay and grain. Mr. Bowers, therefore, does
general farming and feeds stock of various kinds. He raises about
fourteen head of good roadsters and draft horses, together with cattle
and hogs. In all his work uses the latest farm machinery. Of the
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowers we note the following: William H.,
died here in 1857; Daniel W. and Joseph enlisted in 1861 in the One
Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry, Company B, were mustered in at
Peoria and served until killed; Daniel died at Jackson, Tenn., in 1863,
and Joseph was killed by the falling of a tree when on picket duty as
Resaca. The latter had accompanied Sherman on the march to the sea and
had been in all the battles of his regiment during the three years of
his service; Jacob lives in Peoria; Martha V., Catherine R., and John
G., triplets, are unmarried and at home; Rinaldo is also at home;
Winfield Scott died in the East.
Mr. Bowers has been School Director nine years and is much
interested in the advancement of the cause of education. Other projects
and enterprises which will tend to elevate the material, moral and
intellectual status of the community, receive a helping hand from him.
He contributes to the building fund of churches and gave $115 toward
the soldiers' monument at Midway. He was formerly a strong Abolitionist
and is now an equally stanch supporter of Republican principles. He has
been a delegate to the county and Congressional conventions. Mrs.
Bowers is a consistent and honored member of the United Brethren Church.
John Bowers, the grandfather of our subject, was born in
Lancaster County, Pa., and farmed there during his earlier life. He
removed to Washington County, Md., where he continued to farm and also
did teaming. He finally made his home in Williamsport, living to an
extreme old age. He was a famous shot and a great fighter, and although
left-handed, was never known to be beaten by an opponent. He was the
son of a man who emigrated from Germany.
John Bowers, Jr., the father of our subject, was likewise born
in Lancaster County, Pa., and took part in the War of 1812 while still
a single man. He afterward went to Maryland, operated a rented farm for
a time, then settled in Frederick County, where he spent the remainder
of his life, dying at the age of sixty-eight years. Although a good
soldier, ready to take up arms in defense of his country, he possessed
a very peaceable disposition. His religious leaning was toward the
Lutheran Church. He married Sarah, daughter of Jacob Coon, who was born
in Washington County, Md., and reared on a farm. She spent her entire
life in her native State, dying in Cavetown. Grandmother Coon lived to
the extreme age of ninety-nine years. The family are of German descent.
The parental family included nine children besides our subject, he
being the first-born. Elizabeth and John died in Maryland, and Henry in
Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Christian lives in La Salle County, this State;
Samuel, near Greenbush; Susan, in Franklin County, Md.; Nancy, in
Smithburg, Md.; Katie F., and George are also in that State.
