Julia Ann Bower was born october 29, 1841, and departed this life July 22, 1926, age eighty four years, eight months and twenty three days.
At about the age of two years she suffered the loss of her parents and was taken into the home of Uncle Sam Bower and there she grew to womanhood.
In 1857 she was united in marriage to James Henson and to this union the following nine children were born, eight of whom are living, a daughter preceding her to the better land: Mrs. Peter Calahan (deceased); Mrs. Will Riseling of Ava, Illinois; Frank Henson of East St. Louis, Illinois; Mrs. I. O. Will of Herrin, Illinois/ Mrs. Hugh Overstreet of brunswick, Georgia; Mrs. L. A. Whisler of Ava, Illinois; and Mrs. Fred Steinkopf of East St. Louis, Illinois.
After the culmination of this marriage she was married to Berry Ledbetter, a Civil War veteran and two children came to bless this union. They are: Henry D. Ledbetter of East St. Louis, Illinois and C. E. Ledbetter of Akron, Ohio.
"Aunt Julia" as she has been familiarly known for the last quarter century, spent practically her entire life in Jackson County, having been born in Kinkaid Township, with that country was practically a wilderness.
She received a very meager education, as free schoolsl were unknown, the only school being a subscription school, and this she could not attend regularly, the distance being too great and the way leading across streams that were often swollen by rains which came flooding down from the hills. Her one book consisted of the typical "Blue Back Speller," and oftentimes she has told the writer of how she could repeat it from memory in its entirety. However, in spite of these handicaps, she could write a legible hand and read well.
In early life she heeded the call of her Master, gave her heart to Him and enlisted with the church, her membership at the time of her death being in the First Baptist Church of Ava, Illinois. She remained steadfast in the faith for she believed the words of Christ, "Be thou faithful until death and I will give thee a crown of life."
For a few years after the death of her second husband, she removed to East St. Louis but came again to Ava to make her home. She lived for short periods with her children, but each time she went to a home of her own, as she preferred a home where she could have quiet, and was maintaining her home until five weeks ago, when because of failing health induced by declining years, she was removed to the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. A. Whistler, and there her frail body being unable to withstand the ravages of nature any longer and in spite of all that tender and loving hands could do, her spirit took its flight to God who gave it.
She was a devoted mother, a kind neighbor and a loving friend to everyone, being always ready to relieve the sorrows and distresses of those about her. The hungry were never turned away without being fed, and her means she freely gave.
She leaves to mourn her departure eight children, thirty grandchildren, sixty great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, besides other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services were conducted at the Ava First Baptist Church Sunday afternoon by Rev. Fred Luedecke; interment in Ava Evergreen Cemetery.
Source: Obituary, The Ava Citizen, July 30, 1926, page 1
At about the age of two years she suffered the loss of her parents and was taken into the home of Uncle Sam Bower and there she grew to womanhood.
In 1857 she was united in marriage to James Henson and to this union the following nine children were born, eight of whom are living, a daughter preceding her to the better land: Mrs. Peter Calahan (deceased); Mrs. Will Riseling of Ava, Illinois; Frank Henson of East St. Louis, Illinois; Mrs. I. O. Will of Herrin, Illinois/ Mrs. Hugh Overstreet of brunswick, Georgia; Mrs. L. A. Whisler of Ava, Illinois; and Mrs. Fred Steinkopf of East St. Louis, Illinois.
After the culmination of this marriage she was married to Berry Ledbetter, a Civil War veteran and two children came to bless this union. They are: Henry D. Ledbetter of East St. Louis, Illinois and C. E. Ledbetter of Akron, Ohio.
"Aunt Julia" as she has been familiarly known for the last quarter century, spent practically her entire life in Jackson County, having been born in Kinkaid Township, with that country was practically a wilderness.
She received a very meager education, as free schoolsl were unknown, the only school being a subscription school, and this she could not attend regularly, the distance being too great and the way leading across streams that were often swollen by rains which came flooding down from the hills. Her one book consisted of the typical "Blue Back Speller," and oftentimes she has told the writer of how she could repeat it from memory in its entirety. However, in spite of these handicaps, she could write a legible hand and read well.
In early life she heeded the call of her Master, gave her heart to Him and enlisted with the church, her membership at the time of her death being in the First Baptist Church of Ava, Illinois. She remained steadfast in the faith for she believed the words of Christ, "Be thou faithful until death and I will give thee a crown of life."
For a few years after the death of her second husband, she removed to East St. Louis but came again to Ava to make her home. She lived for short periods with her children, but each time she went to a home of her own, as she preferred a home where she could have quiet, and was maintaining her home until five weeks ago, when because of failing health induced by declining years, she was removed to the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. A. Whistler, and there her frail body being unable to withstand the ravages of nature any longer and in spite of all that tender and loving hands could do, her spirit took its flight to God who gave it.
She was a devoted mother, a kind neighbor and a loving friend to everyone, being always ready to relieve the sorrows and distresses of those about her. The hungry were never turned away without being fed, and her means she freely gave.
She leaves to mourn her departure eight children, thirty grandchildren, sixty great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, besides other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services were conducted at the Ava First Baptist Church Sunday afternoon by Rev. Fred Luedecke; interment in Ava Evergreen Cemetery.
Source: Obituary, The Ava Citizen, July 30, 1926, page 1
Julia Ann Bower was born october 29, 1841, and departed this life July 22, 1926, age eighty four years, eight months and twenty three days.
At about the age of two years she suffered the loss of her parents and was taken into the home of Uncle Sam Bower and there she grew to womanhood.
In 1857 she was united in marriage to James Henson and to this union the following nine children were born, eight of whom are living, a daughter preceding her to the better land: Mrs. Peter Calahan (deceased); Mrs. Will Riseling of Ava, Illinois; Frank Henson of East St. Louis, Illinois; Mrs. I. O. Will of Herrin, Illinois/ Mrs. Hugh Overstreet of brunswick, Georgia; Mrs. L. A. Whisler of Ava, Illinois; and Mrs. Fred Steinkopf of East St. Louis, Illinois.
After the culmination of this marriage she was married to Berry Ledbetter, a Civil War veteran and two children came to bless this union. They are: Henry D. Ledbetter of East St. Louis, Illinois and C. E. Ledbetter of Akron, Ohio.
"Aunt Julia" as she has been familiarly known for the last quarter century, spent practically her entire life in Jackson County, having been born in Kinkaid Township, with that country was practically a wilderness.
She received a very meager education, as free schoolsl were unknown, the only school being a subscription school, and this she could not attend regularly, the distance being too great and the way leading across streams that were often swollen by rains which came flooding down from the hills. Her one book consisted of the typical "Blue Back Speller," and oftentimes she has told the writer of how she could repeat it from memory in its entirety. However, in spite of these handicaps, she could write a legible hand and read well.
In early life she heeded the call of her Master, gave her heart to Him and enlisted with the church, her membership at the time of her death being in the First Baptist Church of Ava, Illinois. She remained steadfast in the faith for she believed the words of Christ, "Be thou faithful until death and I will give thee a crown of life."
For a few years after the death of her second husband, she removed to East St. Louis but came again to Ava to make her home. She lived for short periods with her children, but each time she went to a home of her own, as she preferred a home where she could have quiet, and was maintaining her home until five weeks ago, when because of failing health induced by declining years, she was removed to the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. A. Whistler, and there her frail body being unable to withstand the ravages of nature any longer and in spite of all that tender and loving hands could do, her spirit took its flight to God who gave it.
She was a devoted mother, a kind neighbor and a loving friend to everyone, being always ready to relieve the sorrows and distresses of those about her. The hungry were never turned away without being fed, and her means she freely gave.
She leaves to mourn her departure eight children, thirty grandchildren, sixty great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, besides other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services were conducted at the Ava First Baptist Church Sunday afternoon by Rev. Fred Luedecke; interment in Ava Evergreen Cemetery.
Source: Obituary, The Ava Citizen, July 30, 1926, page 1
At about the age of two years she suffered the loss of her parents and was taken into the home of Uncle Sam Bower and there she grew to womanhood.
In 1857 she was united in marriage to James Henson and to this union the following nine children were born, eight of whom are living, a daughter preceding her to the better land: Mrs. Peter Calahan (deceased); Mrs. Will Riseling of Ava, Illinois; Frank Henson of East St. Louis, Illinois; Mrs. I. O. Will of Herrin, Illinois/ Mrs. Hugh Overstreet of brunswick, Georgia; Mrs. L. A. Whisler of Ava, Illinois; and Mrs. Fred Steinkopf of East St. Louis, Illinois.
After the culmination of this marriage she was married to Berry Ledbetter, a Civil War veteran and two children came to bless this union. They are: Henry D. Ledbetter of East St. Louis, Illinois and C. E. Ledbetter of Akron, Ohio.
"Aunt Julia" as she has been familiarly known for the last quarter century, spent practically her entire life in Jackson County, having been born in Kinkaid Township, with that country was practically a wilderness.
She received a very meager education, as free schoolsl were unknown, the only school being a subscription school, and this she could not attend regularly, the distance being too great and the way leading across streams that were often swollen by rains which came flooding down from the hills. Her one book consisted of the typical "Blue Back Speller," and oftentimes she has told the writer of how she could repeat it from memory in its entirety. However, in spite of these handicaps, she could write a legible hand and read well.
In early life she heeded the call of her Master, gave her heart to Him and enlisted with the church, her membership at the time of her death being in the First Baptist Church of Ava, Illinois. She remained steadfast in the faith for she believed the words of Christ, "Be thou faithful until death and I will give thee a crown of life."
For a few years after the death of her second husband, she removed to East St. Louis but came again to Ava to make her home. She lived for short periods with her children, but each time she went to a home of her own, as she preferred a home where she could have quiet, and was maintaining her home until five weeks ago, when because of failing health induced by declining years, she was removed to the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. A. Whistler, and there her frail body being unable to withstand the ravages of nature any longer and in spite of all that tender and loving hands could do, her spirit took its flight to God who gave it.
She was a devoted mother, a kind neighbor and a loving friend to everyone, being always ready to relieve the sorrows and distresses of those about her. The hungry were never turned away without being fed, and her means she freely gave.
She leaves to mourn her departure eight children, thirty grandchildren, sixty great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, besides other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services were conducted at the Ava First Baptist Church Sunday afternoon by Rev. Fred Luedecke; interment in Ava Evergreen Cemetery.
Source: Obituary, The Ava Citizen, July 30, 1926, page 1
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