Notes by Mindy C. Pugh: Much of this narrative is based on a family history written and published in Albion, Illinois (apparently in the 1890s) by George Bower, Jr. (1832-1909), one of Christian's younger brothers. It does a good job telling the story of the elder Bowers (George Bower, Sr. and his wife Catherine M. nee Kophvel) from their life in Europe, through their emigration experience to the U.S., and ending with the early 1850s. The four pages of the published history (in scanned form) are in the photo section here, so you can read it for yourself. I am rewriting it immediately below to be able to add some commentary.
Catherine Margaret Kophvel was born in Bavaria, Germany on July 9, 1794. She was the last of six children; her elder siblings (in order of birth) were Cunicunber (female), Henriette, John George, John Wolfeum, and John Adam. The family lived in Lansingdorf, Bavaria. Their mother died when Catherine was three and a half years old (apparently in early 1798). John George and John Wolfeum became innkeepers, while John Adam became a cloth manufacturer.
Catherine married George Bower (spelled Bauer in Germany) in 1813 in Lansingdorf. He had been born on January 30, 1788 and was a potter. Soon after their marriage they moved to the town of Bad Berneck and purchased a house, in time for the birth of their son Adam John on February 20, 1814. A second son, Casper, was born there on October 9, 1815 but died some months later in 1816.
After around two years George became dissatisfied with Bad Berneck and moved his family thirty miles away; at their new home their son John Wolfeum was born on March 18, 1817. The family remained at this third location for three years before taking a stage to Paris, travelling 600 miles in twenty-one days and arriving on August 25, 1818 (NOTE: the math doesn't add up; either the family remained at the third location for much less than three years, or arrived in Paris in either 1819 or 1820. These early details had been told to George, Jr. in the early 1850s by his elderly mother Catherine). In Paris, George, Sr. and took work with Christian Hiliganstine at No 62 De la Conde Searbe St. ("in whose service he continued for three years"). Their fourth child (and son) Christian was born in Paris on October 8, 1820.
George's Wanderlust soon returned and the family moved 100 miles from Paris, to La Foure, where his family lived for only eighteen months before returning to Paris and resuming work for Hiliganstine for a year. After that, George, Sr. became foreman at a pottery shop owned by a Mr. Osher on La Rochet St. for two years, "when the America fever caught them."
Leaving Paris, the family took a stage for Havre de Grace (a 100 mile journey) and bounded the ship "Louis" for America in around 1826. George Bower had a position awaiting him in New York City at the "Great China Factory" of Shierly & Co. When the company dissolved after around eighteen months the family purchased a horse and wagon and relocated to Pittsburgh, where George worked at a glass factory for half a year. Daughter Catherine Margaret was born in Pittsburgh on May 31, 1827.
Following Catherine Margaret's birth the family travelled by keel boat to Cincinnati, living there for around ten months before relocating (again by keel boat—no doubt on the Ohio River) to Vevay, Switzerland County, Indiana—where Christian was "left with some friends" when the family moved once again, this time to New Albany, Indiana.
George Bower, Jr.'s family history (with information provided by his mother in 1854) is in valuable in explaining why Christian ended up spending the latter half of his childhood—and then the first twenty years or so of his adulthood (ca. 1830-1858)—in and around Indiana's Switzerland County, and then across the Ohio River in Gallatin County, Kentucky. In 1831 his parents reached what was to their final residence in Albion, Edwards County, where they became landowners. George, Jr.'s family history does not indicate which of their children were still travelling with them when they settled in Illinois, though one assumes that Catherine Margaret (aged only around four in 1831) was still in their care and had not been left with others. Christian, therefore, was not on hand when his two youngest siblings (George, Jr. and Henry), were born at or near Albion on January 22, 1832 and September 17, 1834, respectively. For the first decades of the Bower family in Edwards County, Illinois (1830s through the 1850s) I refer the reader to the attached scans of George, Jr.'s history (pages 3 and 4) as I want to return to Christian as this is his biographical narrative.
I have not as yet discovered any public records for Christian in and around Switzerland County, Indiana from the early 1830s to the late 1840s. I still assume, however, that he lived in that area for at least an appreciable amount of time as his future wife's family, the Egglestons, also lived there (or across the River in Gallatin County, Kentucky).
On April 14, 1850, Christian married Theodotia Ann Eggleston (who was around twelve years younger than he) in Gallatin County, Kentucky—across the Ohio River from Switzerland County, Indiana. On August 7, 1850, the U.S. census was taken in Gallatin County, Kentucky and showed Christian Bowas, age 31, laborer, place of birth unrecorded, living with:
Dosia Bowas, age 16 (his young wife)
James Eggleston, age 3 (a nephew of "Dosia"—or perhaps an illegitimate child of hers?)
"Chris'" and "Dosia's" first child, Henry Abbott, was born in Gallatin County, Kentucky on July 1, 1852. Their second child, Christopher Columbus (who in later life went by Columbus C. Bower), was born on April 27, 1854 in Gallatin County.
The Bowers' next child, Edward, was born in Illinois in 1857—I assume in or near Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, as that is where Christian and Theodotia appear with their children in the 1860 U.S. census. So, after decades of separation, Christian was finally reunited with his elderly mother (Catherine Margaret) and some of his siblings in Illinois. We do not know the specific reasons, but Catherine Margaret was widowed and elderly for the time (she would die on April 12, 1858 at the age of 63) and perhaps discussions were underway for the management and eventual inheritance of her farm. It was also in Illinois that another child, Lura Louise ("Laura"), was born on May 6, 1859.
The U.S. census was taken in Albion, Edwards County, Illinois on September 6, 1860 and showed Christopher Bower, age 40, farmer, born in Indiana (incorrect—but an understandable error as he had reached adulthood there), living with:
Thedotza Bower, age 25, born in Kentucky
Henry Bower, age 9, born in Kentucky
Celumbers Bower, age 6, born in Kentucky
Edward Bower, age 3, born Illinois
Laura Bower, age 1, born Illinois
Christian was still residing in Albion, Edwards County as of August 31, 1863, when he and others were registered by the government as eligible for the military draft (the same record does not indicate whether her or the others actually served). The information provided for Christian is in accord with what we know from others sources (that he was born in France, was aged 42, of the white race, and living in Illinois' 13th Congressional District).
Not long after Arthur's birth in Albion on February 6, 1865 the Bowers left Illinois for Kansas. Theodotia died on September 18, 1869 in Coffey County, Kansas, ten days after giving birth to daughter Lilly (who herself died in or around September 30, aged 22 days).
On July 25, 1870 the U.S. census was taken in Burlington Township, Coffey County, Kansas and showed Christian Bower, age 50, farmer, born in France, living with his children:
Henry Bower, age 18, farm hand, born in Kentucky
Columbus Bower, age 16, farm hand, born in Kentucky
Edward Bower, age 13, farm hand, born in Illinois
Lura Bower, age 11, born in Illinois
Arthur Bower, age 5, born in Illinois
Christian apparently died not long after the 1870 census. His bother George Jr.'s history of the family (referenced above—and reproduced in the photo section here) states that "brother Chris died in Kansas about the year 1870 by arsenic poisoning from talking an overdose of Harter's Ague Tonic." Most of his children were already of working age (as shown in the 1870) and probably went to work for relatives or neighbors (if they were not already doing so). Lura probably was put to some sort of work as well. Young Arthur, however, was adopted by Solomon and Melissa (Patton) Kauffman and was thereafter known as Arthur Bower Kauffman.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE CHILDREN OF CHRISTIAN AND THEODOTIA BOWER (with some information not found in their own Find a Grave biographies).
1) HENRY ABBOT BOWER
Born: July 1, 1852 in Gallatin County, Kentucky, USA
Married: Naomi Eveline Scott (1854-1941) before 1880
Died: December 4, 1924 in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon, USA
Buried: West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Eugene, Lane County, Oregon, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #175456462
Henry enlisted in the military on July 24, 1872 in Drywood, Bourbon, Kansas. His record indicates he was 5 foot, 9 inches tall with blue eyes and brown hair. He married Naomi Scott prior to 1880. In 1880 and 1885 he was a blacksmith in Larned, Pawnee, Kansas. By 1900 he lived in Eugene, Lane, Oregon
2) CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (later COLUMBUS C.) BOWER
Born: April 27, 1854 in Gallatin County, Kentucky, USA
Married: Elizabeth Pearce (1852-1929) in 1876
Died: January 15, 1936 in Los Angeles County, California, USA
Buried: Masonic Cemetery, Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #41662483
3) EDWARD BOWER
Born: March 16, 1857 in Illinois, USA
Married: Laura E. Hughes (1853-1946)
Died: 1927 In Melvern, Osage County, Kansas, USA
Buried: Melvern Cemetery. Melvern, Osage County, Kansas, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #54606758
4) LURA LOUISE "LAURA" BOWER WHARTON
Born: May 6, 1859 in Illinois, USA
Married: Alvin T. Wharton (1849-1913) in 1878
Died: March 26, 1938 in Los Angeles County, California, USA
Buried: Masonic Cemetery, Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #257910552
5) ARTHUR BOWER KAUFFMANN
Born: February 6, 1865 at Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, USA
Married:
(1) Margaret H. Shand (1869-1907) in 1888
(2) Maude Gertrude Hare (1886-1956) in 1914
Died: July 24, 1954 at Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, USA
Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Section 7, Lot 16, Grave 2, Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #75325980. NOTE: The administrator of Arthur's Find a Grave Memorial has not linked it to his biological parents but rather to his adoptive ones. Please use its memorial number to locate and view it.
Soon after Christian's death Arthur was adopted by Solomon & Melissa [Patton] Kauffman and was apparently known thereafter as Arthur Bower Kauffman.
6) LILLY BOWER
Born: September 8, 1869 in Coffey County, Kansas, USA
Died: September 30, 1869 in Coffey County, Kansas, USA
Buried: Baker Cemetery, Burlington, Coffey County, Kansas, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #81850469
+ + + + + + + +
Also, the following information cannot be found on the memorials for the two eldest children (Henry Abbot Bower; Christopher Columbus Bower) and is therefore shared here:
From: William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas (Chicago: A.T. Andreas, 1883).
C. BOWER, of the firm of C. Bower & Bro. His brother, Henry A., became a partner in 1878. They manufacture wagons, buggies and do general blacksmithing, employ three men. Mr. C. Bower opened business alone in the spring of 1876. He first came to Burlington, Kan., in the fall of 1865; farmed until 1873, when he went to Dodge City and followed blacksmithing two years. He then came to Fort Larned and engaged in the same business two and one half years; he then located permanently in Larned. Erected his shops spring 1877. Size of which are 35x90 feet, two stories high, at a cost of $1,500. They do an annual business of $4,000. He was born near Lexington, Gallatin Co., Ky., April 27, 1854. Parents moved with their family to Edwards County, Ill., 1860, where he lived until 1865. Married January 1, 1876, to Miss Elisa Pierce, a native of Waukesha County, Wis. They have three children: Maude, Flora, and Frederick. He is a member of Masonic order and has been a member of the Larned City Council three terms.
Catherine Margaret Kophvel was born in Bavaria, Germany on July 9, 1794. She was the last of six children; her elder siblings (in order of birth) were Cunicunber (female), Henriette, John George, John Wolfeum, and John Adam. The family lived in Lansingdorf, Bavaria. Their mother died when Catherine was three and a half years old (apparently in early 1798). John George and John Wolfeum became innkeepers, while John Adam became a cloth manufacturer.
Catherine married George Bower (spelled Bauer in Germany) in 1813 in Lansingdorf. He had been born on January 30, 1788 and was a potter. Soon after their marriage they moved to the town of Bad Berneck and purchased a house, in time for the birth of their son Adam John on February 20, 1814. A second son, Casper, was born there on October 9, 1815 but died some months later in 1816.
After around two years George became dissatisfied with Bad Berneck and moved his family thirty miles away; at their new home their son John Wolfeum was born on March 18, 1817. The family remained at this third location for three years before taking a stage to Paris, travelling 600 miles in twenty-one days and arriving on August 25, 1818 (NOTE: the math doesn't add up; either the family remained at the third location for much less than three years, or arrived in Paris in either 1819 or 1820. These early details had been told to George, Jr. in the early 1850s by his elderly mother Catherine). In Paris, George, Sr. and took work with Christian Hiliganstine at No 62 De la Conde Searbe St. ("in whose service he continued for three years"). Their fourth child (and son) Christian was born in Paris on October 8, 1820.
George's Wanderlust soon returned and the family moved 100 miles from Paris, to La Foure, where his family lived for only eighteen months before returning to Paris and resuming work for Hiliganstine for a year. After that, George, Sr. became foreman at a pottery shop owned by a Mr. Osher on La Rochet St. for two years, "when the America fever caught them."
Leaving Paris, the family took a stage for Havre de Grace (a 100 mile journey) and bounded the ship "Louis" for America in around 1826. George Bower had a position awaiting him in New York City at the "Great China Factory" of Shierly & Co. When the company dissolved after around eighteen months the family purchased a horse and wagon and relocated to Pittsburgh, where George worked at a glass factory for half a year. Daughter Catherine Margaret was born in Pittsburgh on May 31, 1827.
Following Catherine Margaret's birth the family travelled by keel boat to Cincinnati, living there for around ten months before relocating (again by keel boat—no doubt on the Ohio River) to Vevay, Switzerland County, Indiana—where Christian was "left with some friends" when the family moved once again, this time to New Albany, Indiana.
George Bower, Jr.'s family history (with information provided by his mother in 1854) is in valuable in explaining why Christian ended up spending the latter half of his childhood—and then the first twenty years or so of his adulthood (ca. 1830-1858)—in and around Indiana's Switzerland County, and then across the Ohio River in Gallatin County, Kentucky. In 1831 his parents reached what was to their final residence in Albion, Edwards County, where they became landowners. George, Jr.'s family history does not indicate which of their children were still travelling with them when they settled in Illinois, though one assumes that Catherine Margaret (aged only around four in 1831) was still in their care and had not been left with others. Christian, therefore, was not on hand when his two youngest siblings (George, Jr. and Henry), were born at or near Albion on January 22, 1832 and September 17, 1834, respectively. For the first decades of the Bower family in Edwards County, Illinois (1830s through the 1850s) I refer the reader to the attached scans of George, Jr.'s history (pages 3 and 4) as I want to return to Christian as this is his biographical narrative.
I have not as yet discovered any public records for Christian in and around Switzerland County, Indiana from the early 1830s to the late 1840s. I still assume, however, that he lived in that area for at least an appreciable amount of time as his future wife's family, the Egglestons, also lived there (or across the River in Gallatin County, Kentucky).
On April 14, 1850, Christian married Theodotia Ann Eggleston (who was around twelve years younger than he) in Gallatin County, Kentucky—across the Ohio River from Switzerland County, Indiana. On August 7, 1850, the U.S. census was taken in Gallatin County, Kentucky and showed Christian Bowas, age 31, laborer, place of birth unrecorded, living with:
Dosia Bowas, age 16 (his young wife)
James Eggleston, age 3 (a nephew of "Dosia"—or perhaps an illegitimate child of hers?)
"Chris'" and "Dosia's" first child, Henry Abbott, was born in Gallatin County, Kentucky on July 1, 1852. Their second child, Christopher Columbus (who in later life went by Columbus C. Bower), was born on April 27, 1854 in Gallatin County.
The Bowers' next child, Edward, was born in Illinois in 1857—I assume in or near Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, as that is where Christian and Theodotia appear with their children in the 1860 U.S. census. So, after decades of separation, Christian was finally reunited with his elderly mother (Catherine Margaret) and some of his siblings in Illinois. We do not know the specific reasons, but Catherine Margaret was widowed and elderly for the time (she would die on April 12, 1858 at the age of 63) and perhaps discussions were underway for the management and eventual inheritance of her farm. It was also in Illinois that another child, Lura Louise ("Laura"), was born on May 6, 1859.
The U.S. census was taken in Albion, Edwards County, Illinois on September 6, 1860 and showed Christopher Bower, age 40, farmer, born in Indiana (incorrect—but an understandable error as he had reached adulthood there), living with:
Thedotza Bower, age 25, born in Kentucky
Henry Bower, age 9, born in Kentucky
Celumbers Bower, age 6, born in Kentucky
Edward Bower, age 3, born Illinois
Laura Bower, age 1, born Illinois
Christian was still residing in Albion, Edwards County as of August 31, 1863, when he and others were registered by the government as eligible for the military draft (the same record does not indicate whether her or the others actually served). The information provided for Christian is in accord with what we know from others sources (that he was born in France, was aged 42, of the white race, and living in Illinois' 13th Congressional District).
Not long after Arthur's birth in Albion on February 6, 1865 the Bowers left Illinois for Kansas. Theodotia died on September 18, 1869 in Coffey County, Kansas, ten days after giving birth to daughter Lilly (who herself died in or around September 30, aged 22 days).
On July 25, 1870 the U.S. census was taken in Burlington Township, Coffey County, Kansas and showed Christian Bower, age 50, farmer, born in France, living with his children:
Henry Bower, age 18, farm hand, born in Kentucky
Columbus Bower, age 16, farm hand, born in Kentucky
Edward Bower, age 13, farm hand, born in Illinois
Lura Bower, age 11, born in Illinois
Arthur Bower, age 5, born in Illinois
Christian apparently died not long after the 1870 census. His bother George Jr.'s history of the family (referenced above—and reproduced in the photo section here) states that "brother Chris died in Kansas about the year 1870 by arsenic poisoning from talking an overdose of Harter's Ague Tonic." Most of his children were already of working age (as shown in the 1870) and probably went to work for relatives or neighbors (if they were not already doing so). Lura probably was put to some sort of work as well. Young Arthur, however, was adopted by Solomon and Melissa (Patton) Kauffman and was thereafter known as Arthur Bower Kauffman.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE CHILDREN OF CHRISTIAN AND THEODOTIA BOWER (with some information not found in their own Find a Grave biographies).
1) HENRY ABBOT BOWER
Born: July 1, 1852 in Gallatin County, Kentucky, USA
Married: Naomi Eveline Scott (1854-1941) before 1880
Died: December 4, 1924 in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon, USA
Buried: West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Eugene, Lane County, Oregon, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #175456462
Henry enlisted in the military on July 24, 1872 in Drywood, Bourbon, Kansas. His record indicates he was 5 foot, 9 inches tall with blue eyes and brown hair. He married Naomi Scott prior to 1880. In 1880 and 1885 he was a blacksmith in Larned, Pawnee, Kansas. By 1900 he lived in Eugene, Lane, Oregon
2) CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (later COLUMBUS C.) BOWER
Born: April 27, 1854 in Gallatin County, Kentucky, USA
Married: Elizabeth Pearce (1852-1929) in 1876
Died: January 15, 1936 in Los Angeles County, California, USA
Buried: Masonic Cemetery, Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #41662483
3) EDWARD BOWER
Born: March 16, 1857 in Illinois, USA
Married: Laura E. Hughes (1853-1946)
Died: 1927 In Melvern, Osage County, Kansas, USA
Buried: Melvern Cemetery. Melvern, Osage County, Kansas, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #54606758
4) LURA LOUISE "LAURA" BOWER WHARTON
Born: May 6, 1859 in Illinois, USA
Married: Alvin T. Wharton (1849-1913) in 1878
Died: March 26, 1938 in Los Angeles County, California, USA
Buried: Masonic Cemetery, Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #257910552
5) ARTHUR BOWER KAUFFMANN
Born: February 6, 1865 at Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, USA
Married:
(1) Margaret H. Shand (1869-1907) in 1888
(2) Maude Gertrude Hare (1886-1956) in 1914
Died: July 24, 1954 at Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, USA
Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Section 7, Lot 16, Grave 2, Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #75325980. NOTE: The administrator of Arthur's Find a Grave Memorial has not linked it to his biological parents but rather to his adoptive ones. Please use its memorial number to locate and view it.
Soon after Christian's death Arthur was adopted by Solomon & Melissa [Patton] Kauffman and was apparently known thereafter as Arthur Bower Kauffman.
6) LILLY BOWER
Born: September 8, 1869 in Coffey County, Kansas, USA
Died: September 30, 1869 in Coffey County, Kansas, USA
Buried: Baker Cemetery, Burlington, Coffey County, Kansas, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #81850469
+ + + + + + + +
Also, the following information cannot be found on the memorials for the two eldest children (Henry Abbot Bower; Christopher Columbus Bower) and is therefore shared here:
From: William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas (Chicago: A.T. Andreas, 1883).
C. BOWER, of the firm of C. Bower & Bro. His brother, Henry A., became a partner in 1878. They manufacture wagons, buggies and do general blacksmithing, employ three men. Mr. C. Bower opened business alone in the spring of 1876. He first came to Burlington, Kan., in the fall of 1865; farmed until 1873, when he went to Dodge City and followed blacksmithing two years. He then came to Fort Larned and engaged in the same business two and one half years; he then located permanently in Larned. Erected his shops spring 1877. Size of which are 35x90 feet, two stories high, at a cost of $1,500. They do an annual business of $4,000. He was born near Lexington, Gallatin Co., Ky., April 27, 1854. Parents moved with their family to Edwards County, Ill., 1860, where he lived until 1865. Married January 1, 1876, to Miss Elisa Pierce, a native of Waukesha County, Wis. They have three children: Maude, Flora, and Frederick. He is a member of Masonic order and has been a member of the Larned City Council three terms.
Notes by Mindy C. Pugh: Much of this narrative is based on a family history written and published in Albion, Illinois (apparently in the 1890s) by George Bower, Jr. (1832-1909), one of Christian's younger brothers. It does a good job telling the story of the elder Bowers (George Bower, Sr. and his wife Catherine M. nee Kophvel) from their life in Europe, through their emigration experience to the U.S., and ending with the early 1850s. The four pages of the published history (in scanned form) are in the photo section here, so you can read it for yourself. I am rewriting it immediately below to be able to add some commentary.
Catherine Margaret Kophvel was born in Bavaria, Germany on July 9, 1794. She was the last of six children; her elder siblings (in order of birth) were Cunicunber (female), Henriette, John George, John Wolfeum, and John Adam. The family lived in Lansingdorf, Bavaria. Their mother died when Catherine was three and a half years old (apparently in early 1798). John George and John Wolfeum became innkeepers, while John Adam became a cloth manufacturer.
Catherine married George Bower (spelled Bauer in Germany) in 1813 in Lansingdorf. He had been born on January 30, 1788 and was a potter. Soon after their marriage they moved to the town of Bad Berneck and purchased a house, in time for the birth of their son Adam John on February 20, 1814. A second son, Casper, was born there on October 9, 1815 but died some months later in 1816.
After around two years George became dissatisfied with Bad Berneck and moved his family thirty miles away; at their new home their son John Wolfeum was born on March 18, 1817. The family remained at this third location for three years before taking a stage to Paris, travelling 600 miles in twenty-one days and arriving on August 25, 1818 (NOTE: the math doesn't add up; either the family remained at the third location for much less than three years, or arrived in Paris in either 1819 or 1820. These early details had been told to George, Jr. in the early 1850s by his elderly mother Catherine). In Paris, George, Sr. and took work with Christian Hiliganstine at No 62 De la Conde Searbe St. ("in whose service he continued for three years"). Their fourth child (and son) Christian was born in Paris on October 8, 1820.
George's Wanderlust soon returned and the family moved 100 miles from Paris, to La Foure, where his family lived for only eighteen months before returning to Paris and resuming work for Hiliganstine for a year. After that, George, Sr. became foreman at a pottery shop owned by a Mr. Osher on La Rochet St. for two years, "when the America fever caught them."
Leaving Paris, the family took a stage for Havre de Grace (a 100 mile journey) and bounded the ship "Louis" for America in around 1826. George Bower had a position awaiting him in New York City at the "Great China Factory" of Shierly & Co. When the company dissolved after around eighteen months the family purchased a horse and wagon and relocated to Pittsburgh, where George worked at a glass factory for half a year. Daughter Catherine Margaret was born in Pittsburgh on May 31, 1827.
Following Catherine Margaret's birth the family travelled by keel boat to Cincinnati, living there for around ten months before relocating (again by keel boat—no doubt on the Ohio River) to Vevay, Switzerland County, Indiana—where Christian was "left with some friends" when the family moved once again, this time to New Albany, Indiana.
George Bower, Jr.'s family history (with information provided by his mother in 1854) is in valuable in explaining why Christian ended up spending the latter half of his childhood—and then the first twenty years or so of his adulthood (ca. 1830-1858)—in and around Indiana's Switzerland County, and then across the Ohio River in Gallatin County, Kentucky. In 1831 his parents reached what was to their final residence in Albion, Edwards County, where they became landowners. George, Jr.'s family history does not indicate which of their children were still travelling with them when they settled in Illinois, though one assumes that Catherine Margaret (aged only around four in 1831) was still in their care and had not been left with others. Christian, therefore, was not on hand when his two youngest siblings (George, Jr. and Henry), were born at or near Albion on January 22, 1832 and September 17, 1834, respectively. For the first decades of the Bower family in Edwards County, Illinois (1830s through the 1850s) I refer the reader to the attached scans of George, Jr.'s history (pages 3 and 4) as I want to return to Christian as this is his biographical narrative.
I have not as yet discovered any public records for Christian in and around Switzerland County, Indiana from the early 1830s to the late 1840s. I still assume, however, that he lived in that area for at least an appreciable amount of time as his future wife's family, the Egglestons, also lived there (or across the River in Gallatin County, Kentucky).
On April 14, 1850, Christian married Theodotia Ann Eggleston (who was around twelve years younger than he) in Gallatin County, Kentucky—across the Ohio River from Switzerland County, Indiana. On August 7, 1850, the U.S. census was taken in Gallatin County, Kentucky and showed Christian Bowas, age 31, laborer, place of birth unrecorded, living with:
Dosia Bowas, age 16 (his young wife)
James Eggleston, age 3 (a nephew of "Dosia"—or perhaps an illegitimate child of hers?)
"Chris'" and "Dosia's" first child, Henry Abbott, was born in Gallatin County, Kentucky on July 1, 1852. Their second child, Christopher Columbus (who in later life went by Columbus C. Bower), was born on April 27, 1854 in Gallatin County.
The Bowers' next child, Edward, was born in Illinois in 1857—I assume in or near Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, as that is where Christian and Theodotia appear with their children in the 1860 U.S. census. So, after decades of separation, Christian was finally reunited with his elderly mother (Catherine Margaret) and some of his siblings in Illinois. We do not know the specific reasons, but Catherine Margaret was widowed and elderly for the time (she would die on April 12, 1858 at the age of 63) and perhaps discussions were underway for the management and eventual inheritance of her farm. It was also in Illinois that another child, Lura Louise ("Laura"), was born on May 6, 1859.
The U.S. census was taken in Albion, Edwards County, Illinois on September 6, 1860 and showed Christopher Bower, age 40, farmer, born in Indiana (incorrect—but an understandable error as he had reached adulthood there), living with:
Thedotza Bower, age 25, born in Kentucky
Henry Bower, age 9, born in Kentucky
Celumbers Bower, age 6, born in Kentucky
Edward Bower, age 3, born Illinois
Laura Bower, age 1, born Illinois
Christian was still residing in Albion, Edwards County as of August 31, 1863, when he and others were registered by the government as eligible for the military draft (the same record does not indicate whether her or the others actually served). The information provided for Christian is in accord with what we know from others sources (that he was born in France, was aged 42, of the white race, and living in Illinois' 13th Congressional District).
Not long after Arthur's birth in Albion on February 6, 1865 the Bowers left Illinois for Kansas. Theodotia died on September 18, 1869 in Coffey County, Kansas, ten days after giving birth to daughter Lilly (who herself died in or around September 30, aged 22 days).
On July 25, 1870 the U.S. census was taken in Burlington Township, Coffey County, Kansas and showed Christian Bower, age 50, farmer, born in France, living with his children:
Henry Bower, age 18, farm hand, born in Kentucky
Columbus Bower, age 16, farm hand, born in Kentucky
Edward Bower, age 13, farm hand, born in Illinois
Lura Bower, age 11, born in Illinois
Arthur Bower, age 5, born in Illinois
Christian apparently died not long after the 1870 census. His bother George Jr.'s history of the family (referenced above—and reproduced in the photo section here) states that "brother Chris died in Kansas about the year 1870 by arsenic poisoning from talking an overdose of Harter's Ague Tonic." Most of his children were already of working age (as shown in the 1870) and probably went to work for relatives or neighbors (if they were not already doing so). Lura probably was put to some sort of work as well. Young Arthur, however, was adopted by Solomon and Melissa (Patton) Kauffman and was thereafter known as Arthur Bower Kauffman.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE CHILDREN OF CHRISTIAN AND THEODOTIA BOWER (with some information not found in their own Find a Grave biographies).
1) HENRY ABBOT BOWER
Born: July 1, 1852 in Gallatin County, Kentucky, USA
Married: Naomi Eveline Scott (1854-1941) before 1880
Died: December 4, 1924 in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon, USA
Buried: West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Eugene, Lane County, Oregon, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #175456462
Henry enlisted in the military on July 24, 1872 in Drywood, Bourbon, Kansas. His record indicates he was 5 foot, 9 inches tall with blue eyes and brown hair. He married Naomi Scott prior to 1880. In 1880 and 1885 he was a blacksmith in Larned, Pawnee, Kansas. By 1900 he lived in Eugene, Lane, Oregon
2) CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (later COLUMBUS C.) BOWER
Born: April 27, 1854 in Gallatin County, Kentucky, USA
Married: Elizabeth Pearce (1852-1929) in 1876
Died: January 15, 1936 in Los Angeles County, California, USA
Buried: Masonic Cemetery, Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #41662483
3) EDWARD BOWER
Born: March 16, 1857 in Illinois, USA
Married: Laura E. Hughes (1853-1946)
Died: 1927 In Melvern, Osage County, Kansas, USA
Buried: Melvern Cemetery. Melvern, Osage County, Kansas, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #54606758
4) LURA LOUISE "LAURA" BOWER WHARTON
Born: May 6, 1859 in Illinois, USA
Married: Alvin T. Wharton (1849-1913) in 1878
Died: March 26, 1938 in Los Angeles County, California, USA
Buried: Masonic Cemetery, Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #257910552
5) ARTHUR BOWER KAUFFMANN
Born: February 6, 1865 at Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, USA
Married:
(1) Margaret H. Shand (1869-1907) in 1888
(2) Maude Gertrude Hare (1886-1956) in 1914
Died: July 24, 1954 at Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, USA
Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Section 7, Lot 16, Grave 2, Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #75325980. NOTE: The administrator of Arthur's Find a Grave Memorial has not linked it to his biological parents but rather to his adoptive ones. Please use its memorial number to locate and view it.
Soon after Christian's death Arthur was adopted by Solomon & Melissa [Patton] Kauffman and was apparently known thereafter as Arthur Bower Kauffman.
6) LILLY BOWER
Born: September 8, 1869 in Coffey County, Kansas, USA
Died: September 30, 1869 in Coffey County, Kansas, USA
Buried: Baker Cemetery, Burlington, Coffey County, Kansas, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #81850469
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Also, the following information cannot be found on the memorials for the two eldest children (Henry Abbot Bower; Christopher Columbus Bower) and is therefore shared here:
From: William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas (Chicago: A.T. Andreas, 1883).
C. BOWER, of the firm of C. Bower & Bro. His brother, Henry A., became a partner in 1878. They manufacture wagons, buggies and do general blacksmithing, employ three men. Mr. C. Bower opened business alone in the spring of 1876. He first came to Burlington, Kan., in the fall of 1865; farmed until 1873, when he went to Dodge City and followed blacksmithing two years. He then came to Fort Larned and engaged in the same business two and one half years; he then located permanently in Larned. Erected his shops spring 1877. Size of which are 35x90 feet, two stories high, at a cost of $1,500. They do an annual business of $4,000. He was born near Lexington, Gallatin Co., Ky., April 27, 1854. Parents moved with their family to Edwards County, Ill., 1860, where he lived until 1865. Married January 1, 1876, to Miss Elisa Pierce, a native of Waukesha County, Wis. They have three children: Maude, Flora, and Frederick. He is a member of Masonic order and has been a member of the Larned City Council three terms.
Catherine Margaret Kophvel was born in Bavaria, Germany on July 9, 1794. She was the last of six children; her elder siblings (in order of birth) were Cunicunber (female), Henriette, John George, John Wolfeum, and John Adam. The family lived in Lansingdorf, Bavaria. Their mother died when Catherine was three and a half years old (apparently in early 1798). John George and John Wolfeum became innkeepers, while John Adam became a cloth manufacturer.
Catherine married George Bower (spelled Bauer in Germany) in 1813 in Lansingdorf. He had been born on January 30, 1788 and was a potter. Soon after their marriage they moved to the town of Bad Berneck and purchased a house, in time for the birth of their son Adam John on February 20, 1814. A second son, Casper, was born there on October 9, 1815 but died some months later in 1816.
After around two years George became dissatisfied with Bad Berneck and moved his family thirty miles away; at their new home their son John Wolfeum was born on March 18, 1817. The family remained at this third location for three years before taking a stage to Paris, travelling 600 miles in twenty-one days and arriving on August 25, 1818 (NOTE: the math doesn't add up; either the family remained at the third location for much less than three years, or arrived in Paris in either 1819 or 1820. These early details had been told to George, Jr. in the early 1850s by his elderly mother Catherine). In Paris, George, Sr. and took work with Christian Hiliganstine at No 62 De la Conde Searbe St. ("in whose service he continued for three years"). Their fourth child (and son) Christian was born in Paris on October 8, 1820.
George's Wanderlust soon returned and the family moved 100 miles from Paris, to La Foure, where his family lived for only eighteen months before returning to Paris and resuming work for Hiliganstine for a year. After that, George, Sr. became foreman at a pottery shop owned by a Mr. Osher on La Rochet St. for two years, "when the America fever caught them."
Leaving Paris, the family took a stage for Havre de Grace (a 100 mile journey) and bounded the ship "Louis" for America in around 1826. George Bower had a position awaiting him in New York City at the "Great China Factory" of Shierly & Co. When the company dissolved after around eighteen months the family purchased a horse and wagon and relocated to Pittsburgh, where George worked at a glass factory for half a year. Daughter Catherine Margaret was born in Pittsburgh on May 31, 1827.
Following Catherine Margaret's birth the family travelled by keel boat to Cincinnati, living there for around ten months before relocating (again by keel boat—no doubt on the Ohio River) to Vevay, Switzerland County, Indiana—where Christian was "left with some friends" when the family moved once again, this time to New Albany, Indiana.
George Bower, Jr.'s family history (with information provided by his mother in 1854) is in valuable in explaining why Christian ended up spending the latter half of his childhood—and then the first twenty years or so of his adulthood (ca. 1830-1858)—in and around Indiana's Switzerland County, and then across the Ohio River in Gallatin County, Kentucky. In 1831 his parents reached what was to their final residence in Albion, Edwards County, where they became landowners. George, Jr.'s family history does not indicate which of their children were still travelling with them when they settled in Illinois, though one assumes that Catherine Margaret (aged only around four in 1831) was still in their care and had not been left with others. Christian, therefore, was not on hand when his two youngest siblings (George, Jr. and Henry), were born at or near Albion on January 22, 1832 and September 17, 1834, respectively. For the first decades of the Bower family in Edwards County, Illinois (1830s through the 1850s) I refer the reader to the attached scans of George, Jr.'s history (pages 3 and 4) as I want to return to Christian as this is his biographical narrative.
I have not as yet discovered any public records for Christian in and around Switzerland County, Indiana from the early 1830s to the late 1840s. I still assume, however, that he lived in that area for at least an appreciable amount of time as his future wife's family, the Egglestons, also lived there (or across the River in Gallatin County, Kentucky).
On April 14, 1850, Christian married Theodotia Ann Eggleston (who was around twelve years younger than he) in Gallatin County, Kentucky—across the Ohio River from Switzerland County, Indiana. On August 7, 1850, the U.S. census was taken in Gallatin County, Kentucky and showed Christian Bowas, age 31, laborer, place of birth unrecorded, living with:
Dosia Bowas, age 16 (his young wife)
James Eggleston, age 3 (a nephew of "Dosia"—or perhaps an illegitimate child of hers?)
"Chris'" and "Dosia's" first child, Henry Abbott, was born in Gallatin County, Kentucky on July 1, 1852. Their second child, Christopher Columbus (who in later life went by Columbus C. Bower), was born on April 27, 1854 in Gallatin County.
The Bowers' next child, Edward, was born in Illinois in 1857—I assume in or near Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, as that is where Christian and Theodotia appear with their children in the 1860 U.S. census. So, after decades of separation, Christian was finally reunited with his elderly mother (Catherine Margaret) and some of his siblings in Illinois. We do not know the specific reasons, but Catherine Margaret was widowed and elderly for the time (she would die on April 12, 1858 at the age of 63) and perhaps discussions were underway for the management and eventual inheritance of her farm. It was also in Illinois that another child, Lura Louise ("Laura"), was born on May 6, 1859.
The U.S. census was taken in Albion, Edwards County, Illinois on September 6, 1860 and showed Christopher Bower, age 40, farmer, born in Indiana (incorrect—but an understandable error as he had reached adulthood there), living with:
Thedotza Bower, age 25, born in Kentucky
Henry Bower, age 9, born in Kentucky
Celumbers Bower, age 6, born in Kentucky
Edward Bower, age 3, born Illinois
Laura Bower, age 1, born Illinois
Christian was still residing in Albion, Edwards County as of August 31, 1863, when he and others were registered by the government as eligible for the military draft (the same record does not indicate whether her or the others actually served). The information provided for Christian is in accord with what we know from others sources (that he was born in France, was aged 42, of the white race, and living in Illinois' 13th Congressional District).
Not long after Arthur's birth in Albion on February 6, 1865 the Bowers left Illinois for Kansas. Theodotia died on September 18, 1869 in Coffey County, Kansas, ten days after giving birth to daughter Lilly (who herself died in or around September 30, aged 22 days).
On July 25, 1870 the U.S. census was taken in Burlington Township, Coffey County, Kansas and showed Christian Bower, age 50, farmer, born in France, living with his children:
Henry Bower, age 18, farm hand, born in Kentucky
Columbus Bower, age 16, farm hand, born in Kentucky
Edward Bower, age 13, farm hand, born in Illinois
Lura Bower, age 11, born in Illinois
Arthur Bower, age 5, born in Illinois
Christian apparently died not long after the 1870 census. His bother George Jr.'s history of the family (referenced above—and reproduced in the photo section here) states that "brother Chris died in Kansas about the year 1870 by arsenic poisoning from talking an overdose of Harter's Ague Tonic." Most of his children were already of working age (as shown in the 1870) and probably went to work for relatives or neighbors (if they were not already doing so). Lura probably was put to some sort of work as well. Young Arthur, however, was adopted by Solomon and Melissa (Patton) Kauffman and was thereafter known as Arthur Bower Kauffman.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE CHILDREN OF CHRISTIAN AND THEODOTIA BOWER (with some information not found in their own Find a Grave biographies).
1) HENRY ABBOT BOWER
Born: July 1, 1852 in Gallatin County, Kentucky, USA
Married: Naomi Eveline Scott (1854-1941) before 1880
Died: December 4, 1924 in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon, USA
Buried: West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Eugene, Lane County, Oregon, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #175456462
Henry enlisted in the military on July 24, 1872 in Drywood, Bourbon, Kansas. His record indicates he was 5 foot, 9 inches tall with blue eyes and brown hair. He married Naomi Scott prior to 1880. In 1880 and 1885 he was a blacksmith in Larned, Pawnee, Kansas. By 1900 he lived in Eugene, Lane, Oregon
2) CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (later COLUMBUS C.) BOWER
Born: April 27, 1854 in Gallatin County, Kentucky, USA
Married: Elizabeth Pearce (1852-1929) in 1876
Died: January 15, 1936 in Los Angeles County, California, USA
Buried: Masonic Cemetery, Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #41662483
3) EDWARD BOWER
Born: March 16, 1857 in Illinois, USA
Married: Laura E. Hughes (1853-1946)
Died: 1927 In Melvern, Osage County, Kansas, USA
Buried: Melvern Cemetery. Melvern, Osage County, Kansas, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #54606758
4) LURA LOUISE "LAURA" BOWER WHARTON
Born: May 6, 1859 in Illinois, USA
Married: Alvin T. Wharton (1849-1913) in 1878
Died: March 26, 1938 in Los Angeles County, California, USA
Buried: Masonic Cemetery, Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #257910552
5) ARTHUR BOWER KAUFFMANN
Born: February 6, 1865 at Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, USA
Married:
(1) Margaret H. Shand (1869-1907) in 1888
(2) Maude Gertrude Hare (1886-1956) in 1914
Died: July 24, 1954 at Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, USA
Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery, Section 7, Lot 16, Grave 2, Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #75325980. NOTE: The administrator of Arthur's Find a Grave Memorial has not linked it to his biological parents but rather to his adoptive ones. Please use its memorial number to locate and view it.
Soon after Christian's death Arthur was adopted by Solomon & Melissa [Patton] Kauffman and was apparently known thereafter as Arthur Bower Kauffman.
6) LILLY BOWER
Born: September 8, 1869 in Coffey County, Kansas, USA
Died: September 30, 1869 in Coffey County, Kansas, USA
Buried: Baker Cemetery, Burlington, Coffey County, Kansas, USA
Find a Grave Memorial #81850469
+ + + + + + + +
Also, the following information cannot be found on the memorials for the two eldest children (Henry Abbot Bower; Christopher Columbus Bower) and is therefore shared here:
From: William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas (Chicago: A.T. Andreas, 1883).
C. BOWER, of the firm of C. Bower & Bro. His brother, Henry A., became a partner in 1878. They manufacture wagons, buggies and do general blacksmithing, employ three men. Mr. C. Bower opened business alone in the spring of 1876. He first came to Burlington, Kan., in the fall of 1865; farmed until 1873, when he went to Dodge City and followed blacksmithing two years. He then came to Fort Larned and engaged in the same business two and one half years; he then located permanently in Larned. Erected his shops spring 1877. Size of which are 35x90 feet, two stories high, at a cost of $1,500. They do an annual business of $4,000. He was born near Lexington, Gallatin Co., Ky., April 27, 1854. Parents moved with their family to Edwards County, Ill., 1860, where he lived until 1865. Married January 1, 1876, to Miss Elisa Pierce, a native of Waukesha County, Wis. They have three children: Maude, Flora, and Frederick. He is a member of Masonic order and has been a member of the Larned City Council three terms.
