Bernice Bower

Dies of Burns
Four Year Old Daughter of Harlow Bower, North of Fairbury, the Victim
Bernice Bower, four year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harlow Bower, living about eight miles northeast of Fairbury, was fatally burned Sunday evening. Her father and mother were at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Milby across the road, a few rods away, leaving the children with their grandmother, Mrs. Rock. The old lady stept out for a minute, to gather the eggs for the night and while she was out doors, the child came running outside, with her clothing on fire. Mrs. Rock seized her and rolled her clothes about her, extinguishing the flames, but not until she was so badly burned she died the next morning at five o'clock.

Just how she caught fire is not known, but it is supposed she had some matches and was trying to light her Christmas candles, or playing that she was doing so. She was in a tableau at the Bower Christian church Christmas eve and was the smallest of the little angels.

She was born April 14th, 1908 and was aged 4 years, 8 months and 16 days. The funeral was held at the church in that neighborhood on Wednesday morning at 10:30, services being conducted by Rev. W.H. Clark, and the remains were buried in the Bower cemetery.

[The Fairbury Journal, Friday, January 3, 1913]

Lavinia Bower

We are pained to record the death of Mrs. Levinia Bower, which occurred on the 23rd of last month of kidney trouble. She was married to Burnett Bower on the 12th of last October and went with him to Utah to live. The climate did not agree with her and she returned to her home here last December. The funeral was held at the Bower church, Saturday, conducted by Dr. Buxton, and the remains interred in the Bower cemetery.

The family and relatives of the deceased desire us to extend sincere thanks for the many kindnesses shown them during their late sorrow.

[The Jefferson County Journal, Saturday, March 4, 1899]

Lavina Bowers

Death of Mrs. Lavina C. Bowers Deceased was born in New York state, May 18, 1832 and died at Fairbury, Nebr., February 16, 1907. Her last illness was of about ten days duration and was the result of a general breakdown.

On Dec. 14, 1852, she was married to Chas G. Bowers and in 1866, they moved to a homestead near Junction City, Kans where they remained for five years when they moved to Nebraska, finally locating at Fairbury.

Seven children were born to them, of whom two survive, being Mrs. Cora Bradshaw and Mrs. Mary E. Gardner, both of Fairbury.

The funeral was held at 2:30 Thursday afternoon at the M.E. church, Rev. Orrill officiating and the remains were intered in the Fairbury cemetery.

[The Fairbury Journal, Friday, February 22, 1907]

Obituary Index

Home